Network Resources
Well-Being and Resilience
Programs that provide mental health services
The CommUNITY Mental Health Program is an excellent resilience resource for human rights defenders. Their mental health services are free and open to all digital rights defenders, regardless of location. Services include: Psychosocial Coaching, Individual and Group Sessions, and Crisis Support.
Global list of torture treatment centers from the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
Research and guides
From a “Culture of Unwellness” to Sustainable Advocacy: Organizational Responses to Mental Health Risks in the Human Rights Field - This study examines how organizations may respond to advocates/HRDs mental health. It also addresses some steps that organization can take to improve the well-being of human rights advocates.
Self-Care as a Political Strategy (article) -- Adopting a self-care approach not only ensures the sustainability of social movements, but also constitutes an ethical-political viewpoint that looks at the practices and relations established at work at the personal and collective level. This article also discusses the experience of Casa La Serena, a place of rest and healing for women human rights defenders.
Mental Health Guide for Journalists Facing Online Violence by the International Women’s Media Foundation provides:
- Downloadable exercises to help manage the mental health toll of online abuse
- Information to understand the psychological reasons why abusers attack online
- Self-assessments to address how online violence affects one’s well being
- Resources and organizations that can support journalists when facing online violence
Well-being and resilience grants
Lifeline rapid response resiliency grants provide support to at-risk CSOs to proactively avoid or mitigate the threats they face and help them continue to work in high-risk environments. These grants are highly flexible and support a range of activities including digital or physical security training; technical training on how to respond to restrictive CSO legislation; building peer-to-peer support networks, or establishing temporary collaborative space to help CSOs return to work.
Temporary relocation programs for study, rest and respite
Shelter City is a global movement of cities, organizations and people who stand side by side with human rights defenders at risk. We offer them a safe and inspiring space where they re-energize, receive tailormade support and engage with allies to reinforce their local actions for change.
The International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) is an independent organisation of cities and regions offering shelter to writers and artists at risk, advancing freedom of expression, defending democratic values and promoting international solidarity. ICORN Member Cities offer long-term, but temporary, shelter to those put at risk as a direct consequence of their creative activities.
The Elisabeth-Selbert-Initiative provides threatened human rights defenders with a safe place to recuperate, cope with trauma, and when possible, to network and further develop their professional skills.
Protective Fellowship Scheme for Human Rights Defenders at Risk at the Centre for Applied Human Rights at the University of York (United Kingdom) - Human rights defenders are invited to come to York for periods ranging from three to six months. During this time, they benefit both from time away from a difficult environment, and from educational resources designed to increase their effectiveness and their ability to influence policy and practice when they return home.
Scholars at Risk - Scholars at Risk works with its global network of higher education institutions around the world to arrange short-term, temporary research and teaching positions for threatened scholars. They also provide advisory, referral, and career support services for scholars.
Front Line Defenders Rest & Respite Programme enables human rights defenders to take some time out and to recharge their batteries in a safe environment while at the same time enhancing their skills so that they can work more effectively when they return home. Rest & Respite opportunities are offered on an invitation-only basis. The Marianne Initiative has a Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects (for HRDs in France), and selects fellows who will benefit from personalised support within a place of exchange and training, open to all those involved in the cause of human rights.
Security and Protection
Resources: guides, online courses, helplines, communities of practice
Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline works with individuals and organizations around the world to keep them safe online. If you’re at risk, we can help you improve your digital security practices to keep out of harm’s way. If you’re already under attack, we provide rapid-response emergency assistance. 24/7 services are available with support in nine languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Arabic, and Italian. They respond to all requests within two hours.
Surveillance Self-Defense: Tips, Tools and How-tos for Safer Online Communications -- This is an online resource from the Electronic Frontier Foundation that provides up-to-date guidance on basic digital security techniques, tools and further learning. It's very helpful! Resources are available in: EN, ES, AR, FA, FR, RU, Bur, Vie, and many more
Totem Project is a collection of online courses designed by human rights and journalist organizations from around the world. It is maintained and hosted by Greenhost and Free Press Unlimited. I have personally worked with them on a course related to human rights documentation. Many of their courses are related to digital security and privacy. This is a great way to learn about good security practices, and understanding why certain techniques are recommended. Courses are available in: EN, ES, AR, FA, FR, RU
Holistic Security is a strategy manual to help human rights defenders maintain their well-being in action. The holistic approach integrates self-care, well-being, digital security, and information security into traditional security management practices.
Committee to Protect Journalists’ resource center shares critical resources to help journalists prepare for an assignment or respond to an emergency. Digital First Aid Kit is a free resource to help rapid responders, digital security trainers, and tech-savvy activists to better protect themselves and the communities they support against the most common types of digital emergencies.
Freedom of the Press Foundation Guides and Training on digital security
Organisational security community wiki - a resource created by and for security practitioners from all backgrounds to share useful resources and document innovative approaches to long-term security work.
Regional protection networks for human rights defenders
Africa
DefendDefenders promotes, protects, & strengthens the work of human rights defenders in the East & Horn of Africa sub-region.
West African Human Rights Defenders Network(Réseau Ouest Africain des Défenseurs des Droits Humains)
Southern Defenders -- Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network
Asia
Americas
The Mesoamerican Women Human Rights Defenders Initiative (IM-Defensoras) is a local to regional alliance of diverse women human rights defenders (WHRDs), organizations and networks.
Peace Brigades International - Mexico
MENA
Europe
Global
Legal support
Amera International Pro Bono Directory - list of organisations and individuals that provide free legal assistance and support refugees (and asylum seekers) in the listed countries
Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network works to advance the rights and inclusion of refugees and other people in need of protection in the Asia Pacific region—including refugees, asylum seekers, torture survivors and complainants, trafficked persons, IDPs, stateless persons, migrants in vulnerable situations, and returnees—so they may have equal and adequate access to assistance and protection, and to timely durable solutions
Forcibly Displaced People Network (FDPN) is the first registered LGBTIQ+ refugee-led organisation in Australia. We work to support LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants from non-Western countries to be safe in Australia. Circle Green helps people new to Australia who need professional legal migration advice and are disadvantaged in accessing legal services.
Emergency grants
ProtectDefenders.eu provides a range of services to human rights defenders at risk, including an emergency helpline (run by Front Line Defenders), emergency grants, and temporary relocation.
Lifeline (an initiative by Freedom House and Front Line Defenders) provides small, short-term emergency grants to CSOs threatened because of their human rights work. Lifeline grants can address security, medical expenses, legal representation, prison visits, trial monitoring, temporary relocation, equipment replacement, and other urgently needed expenses.
Front Line Defenders Protection Grants can pay for provisions (grants are for amounts up to a maximum of €7,500) to improve the security and protection of human rights defenders and their organisations including, but not limited to:
- improving physical security of an organisation or individual, digital security and communication security;
- supporting legal fees for HRDs who are being judicially harassed;
- paying for medical fees for HRDs who have been attacked or who have suffered a medical condition as a result of their peaceful human rights activities;
- providing family assistance for imprisoned HRDs or family members who are at risk because of a HRD's activities.
Relocation and resettlement support specifically for HRDs at risk
Canada Global Refugee Stream for Human Rights Defenders - The Canadian government has established a dedicated refugee stream for human rights defenders for resettlement to Canada. Journalists in Distress Network resources for journalists who have received serious threats or are in distress in relation to their work, and may need emergency relocation
Strategic Advocacy
New Tactics in Human Rights Strategy Toolkit - activities and resources for developing an advocacy strategy. available in EN and AR
Advocacy in Restricted Spaces: A Toolkit for Civil Society Organizations is a practical resource that emphasizes that advocacy is possible even in restrictive contexts. The toolkit places the planning process within the context of risk assessment and mitigation, which is essential in these environments. Available in AR, FR, ES, RU, VI, FA, EN
Resources by language
Research by topic
Research on transnational repression -- This wiki page is a collection of research on the topic of transnational repression, including digital transnational repression.
Resisting Digital Authoritarianism - a recorded panel discussion from the Resistance Bureau.
Security resources by topic
- Secure your devices - These resources will help you understand when to use full disk encryption and antivirus.
- Protect your accounts using strong passwords, pw managers, 2fa - These resources include videos that explain why strong passwords are so important, how to use password managers, and how to use two factor authentication to protect your accounts.
- Safe internet browsing using VPN and Tor browser - These resources will help you keep your internet activities private by using a virtual private network (VPN) or the Tor internet browser. These are very helpful tools if you think an adversary has the capacity and interest to monitor and surveil your activities online.
- Protect your information
- Protect your communication
- How the internet works
- Emergency support
- Assessment and planning tools
