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Brussels, Bangkok, Nairobi, Guatemala City, Bogotá, 7 May 2026

Protection International (PI) expresses deep concern regarding the cancellation of RightsCon 2026. This decision is a further worrying signal of the shrinking civic space for the global digital rights community and a setback for the collective safety of human rights defenders (HRDs).

In line with our Global Strategic Framework 2024–2028, we reaffirm that duty bearers have a clear and binding obligation to respect, protect, and facilitate the Right to Defend Human Rights (RDHR)¹. An enabling environment is one in which state authorities actively remove unjustified legal, administrative, and practical barriers to freedom of peaceful assembly, and guarantee that all individuals, regardless of identity, status, or the issues they advocate, can exercise this right safely and without undue interference, including censorship, intimidation, or unlawful surveillance.

RightsCon is an internationally recognised and respected conference, which brings together human rights defenders from across the entire globe. This year’s event was expecting 2,600 participants in person, and 1,100 online, representing over 150 countries and 750 institutions². It was carefully planned, as always, over months with all stakeholders, notably the host government. The imposition of restrictive conditions on international forums like RightsCon undermines the pluralism and international cooperation necessary for a safe, free and open digital world. 

By restricting freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the Right to Defend Human Rights, these actions create a climate of fear and uncertainty that threatens the ability of human rights defenders and movements to sustain their work, both online and offline.

Protection International calls on governmental authorities worldwide to:

1. Uphold the right to defend human rights by guaranteeing safe, inclusive, and predictable spaces for civil society to convene.
2. Dismantle barriers to assembly and expression by refraining from using “national values” or “security” as justifications for excluding specific groups or censoring critical opinions and debate.
3. Ensure operational transparency when hosting international human rights forums, prioritizing the physical and digital safety of all participants.
4. Protect digital security and privacy of human rights defenders attending international forums, recognising that surveillance of participants constitutes a direct attack on the right to defend human rights.

We stand in solidarity with Access Now and the global digital rights community. Protection International remains committed to advocating for environments where defenders are not merely tolerated, but actively protected and empowered to carry out their essential work.

1 _{For more on Protection International’s position on enabling environments for the Right to Defend Human Rights, access our position paper Towards a Safe and Enabling Environment for the Right to Defend Human Rights.}

_{2 https://www.rightscon.org/rc26-statement/}