The Right to Defend Human Rights, not for all? A Case Study of Public Policies on Human Rights Defenders in the DRC
Megan Thomas In the regions of North and South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) faces significant challenges due to structural constraints and active efforts by authorities to limit civic space. While the introduction of protective edicts offers hope, various obstacles hinder their full implementation. […]
The gender perspective in the protection of women human rights defenders – the experiences of Mexico and Honduras
Protection International, JASS and CEJIL come together in this publication to deepen understanding of the gender perspective and violence against women human rights defenders and to demand effective action from states. This publication aims to identify how the gender perspective has been incorporated into practices, strategies, regulations and programmes for the protection of human rights […]
The Worldwide Growth of National Policies for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
[5 August 2022] Over the years, and especially since 2012, we have seen a growing number of countries adopt national public policies for the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs). For the purposes of this work, it is broadly understood that public policies for the protection of HRDs includes any piece of legislation, decree, policy […]
Human Rights Defenders Poetry Book
We are very proud to publish the Human Rights Defenders poetry book. This book is a result of the Human Rights Defenders Poetry Challenge, where we asked HRDs to tell us their stories and reflect on their struggles in defending human rights. The right to defend human rights is the right of everyone, individually and […]
The Psychosocial Approach, Applied to the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Protection International aims to enable and protect the free exercise of the right to defend human rights. To achieve this, we promote a comprehensive approach to the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs). Our approach is multifaceted, interdisciplinary and ever-evolving. There are a few core elements that constitute the foundation for our interventions at the […]
Germain Rukuki: Timeline of the Case
In July 2017, the human rights defender Germain Rukuki was arrested in his home and later charged with “rebellion”, “threatening state security”, “attacking the authority of the State” and “participation in an insurrectionist movement”, although no conclusive evidence was ever presented to back the prosecution’s counts. Four years later, Germain has been released from prison. […]
Basic elements of computer security for defenders
The current situation of insecurity and the computer-related risks that people who are conducting activities in defence of human rights experience daily have increased during the crisis caused by COVID-19. Social isolation and mobility-restricting measures have led us to carry out most of our activities online, in many cases from our own homes and with […]
The Right to Defend Human Rights, From a Critical Approach
Protection International aims to enable and protect the free exercise of the right to defend human rights. To achieve this, we promote a comprehensive approach to the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs). Our approach is multifaceted, interdisciplinary and ever-evolving. There are a few core elements that constitute the foundation for our interventions at the […]
Three Tools for the Evaluability of Public Policies for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Three Tools for the Evaluability of Public Policies for the Protection of Human Rights DefendersFramed by the research that is carried out in different countries, Protection International has been designing conceptual and practical tools to better monitor, analyse and promote best practices for public policies that protect the right to defend the human rights and […]
Understanding Death Threats Against Human Rights Defenders
“Understanding Death Threats Against Human Rights Defenders” is a reflection paper written by Enrique Eguren and Mauricio Angel of Protection International. This paper sheds light on the issue of death threats against human rights defenders (HRDs) and how they impede their right to defend human rights. It is based on an earlier submission to the […]