Resource list

Protection Organizations for Human Rights Defenders

  • Front Line Defenders
    FLD is an international human rights organization founded in Dublin in 2001 to protect human rights defenders at risk (HRDs). They provide protection grants, support with risk analysis, temporary relocation, well-being support and digital protection.

  • Protect Defenders.eu
    Protect Defenders is the European Union Human Rights Defenders mechanism founded in 1996 and led by a Consortium of 12 NGOs active in the field of Human Rights. The main areas of support are emergency support grants and support with temporary relocation.

  • CSO Lifeline
    The Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund was launched with the support of 12 governments in June 2011 to push back against a global trend of closing civil society space. CSO Lifeline is facilitating several different protection grant programs.

  • Access Now
    Access Now is a non-profit organization founded to defend and extend the digital civil rights of people worldwide. 

  • Civil Rights Defenders
    Civil Rights Defenders was founded to monitor compliance with the human rights provisions of the Helsinki Final Act. They are supporting defenders with physical security, capacity building and emergency grants.

  • Open Briefing
    Open Briefing helps nonprofits and foundations achieve social change by supporting their campaigns and decision-making with open-source intelligence and investigations. In 2021, they launched a rapid response mechanism which covers physical and digital security, as well as psychosocial support.

Global

Support for Women and LGBTQIA+ Defenders

  • Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism
    The Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights is a global women's fund that protects, strengthens and sustains women and transgender human rights defenders at critical moments by providing rapid response grants. They support only Women/Trans/Non-Binary Led organizations.

  • Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund
    The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) supports local and grassroots women’s civil society leaders and their organizations in conflict and crisis settings worldwide.

  • Rainbow Railroad
    Rainbow Railroad is a global not-for-profit organization that helps at-risk LGBTQI+ people get to safety worldwide. Based in the United States and Canada, they are an organization that helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. 

  • Dignity for all
    The Dignity for All: LGBTQI+ Assistance Program is a consortium of six leading human rights and LGBTQI+ organizations that provides emergency assistance, advocacy funding, and security support to human rights defenders and civil society organizations under threat or attack due to their work for LGBTQI+ rights.

  • Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI)
    Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) launched the Global Initiative to Address Criminalization of, and Impunity against Indigenous Peoples. A part of the Global Initiative is the Legal Defense and Sanctuary Fund. The Fund is IPRI’s mechanism in providing emergency support for Indigenous leaders, human rights defenders and communities needing legal support and/or protection for security measures.

  • MENA Rights Group

    MENA Rights Group is a Geneva-based legal advocacy NGO defending and promoting fundamental rights and freedoms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Adopting a holistic approach, we work at both the individual and structural level. We represent victims of human rights violations before international law mechanisms.

Support for Indigenous Defenders

  • African Defenders
    AfricanDefenders (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network) is a network of five African sub-regional organizations, dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) across the African continent.

  • Defend Defenders
    DefendDefenders was established as the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project and registered as an NGO in Uganda. DefendDefenders exists to strengthen the work of human rights defenders (HRDs).

  • Natural Justice
    Natural Justice specializes in pursuing social and environmental justice.

  • Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network
    The SouthernDefenders embodies an ironclad commitment to protecting human rights defenders (HRDs) in the face of attacks and shrinking civic space, both offline and online. It coordinates regional efforts to provide rapid, practical, comprehensive, and inclusive protection support to HRDs at high risk, defend civic space, and empower HRDs to mitigate the effects of repression.

Regional - Africa

  • Forum Asia
    FORUM-ASIA is a network of 85 member organizations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. FORUM-ASIA strengthens movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond.

  • Safeguard Defenders
    Safeguard Defenders (SD) is a human rights NGO that undertakes and supports local field activities that contribute to the protection of basic rights, promote the rule of law, and enhance the ability of local civil society and human rights defenders in some of the most hostile environments in Asia.

  • Asian Pacific Forum
    The Asia Pacific Forum (APF) has created a strong and united platform that brings together National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from all corners of the Asia Pacific to address some of the region's most severe human rights challenges.

Regional - Asia

  • Fundacion Accesso
    Fundación Acceso is an organization that contributes to the strengthening of the capacities of organizations in Central America. Their work has acquired different emphasis, based on the needs identified among the organizations that defend rights in the region. At present, they are focused on promoting digital security and comprehensive protection for organizations and people working in the defense of human rights.

Regional - Latin America & Caribbean

  • Gulf Centre for Human Rights
    The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) is an independent, non-profit NGO that provides support and protection to human rights defenders (HRDs) in order to promote human rights, including but not limited to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

  • SMEX
    SMEX is a non-profit that advocates for and advances human rights in digital spaces across West Asia and North Africa. 

Regional - SWANA/MENA

Handbooks, Resources and Training Manuals to enhance holistic safety & security of Human Rights Defenders

  • Workbook on Security: Practical Steps for Human Rights Defenders at Risk (English), Front Line Defenders

  • Event Safety Guide for Climate Justice Activists (English), Safety Hub

  • Women Human Rights Defenders’ Security Strategies (English)
    UAF, Front Line Defenders, Kvinna till Kivinna Foundation

  • A Guide for the Collective Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Rural Areas (English),  Protection International

  • Holistic Security Protocol for Human Rights Defenders (English)
    Open Briefing

1. Physical security

  • Security in-a-box: digital security tools and tactics (English/French),  Front Line Defenders

  • Surveillance Self-Defense: Tips, Tools and How-tos for Safer Online Communications (English), Electronic Frontier Foundation

  • Do-it-Yourself Online Safety (English)

  • Preparation for Internet Shutdowns (English), Access Now

  • Digital safety guide for LGBTQ+ activists in Africa (English), Access Now

2. Digital security

  • Collective Protection (English), Open Briefing

  • Psychological First Aid (English), Open Briefing

3. Psychosocial Well-being