Human Rights Defenders

Human rights defenders peacefully promote human rights and strive for their protection and realization.

They come from many different backgrounds and professions, including grassroots activists, lawyers, journalists, whistleblowers, students, medical staff and community leaders.

Around the OSCE region, many defenders face harassment, threats, violence and even imprisonment. Women, minorities, migrants, and those working in conflict settings or in exile are often especially at risk. Shrinking civic space and restrictions on freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly make their work even harder.

ODIHR supports human rights defenders through two main streams of work: monitoring and capacity-building, both online and offline.

On the monitoring side, ODIHR works directly with human rights defenders, monitors their situation, engages in quiet diplomacy and speaks publicly about individual cases and worrying trends, including risks linked to restrictions on civic space. Linked to its monitoring work, ODIHR also provides expert advice and policy guidance to strengthen the protection of human rights defenders, including through resources such as the Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.

On the capacity-building side, ODIHR works to empower and support defenders by equipping them to operate safely and effectively in both physical and digital spaces. This includes training activities, practical tools and the FreedomLab eLearning platform.

FreedomLab is ODIHR’s online learning platform for human rights defenders. 

It offers practical training materials, tutorials and digital tools to help defenders strengthen their advocacy, security, fundraising and human rights work. 

Through shared knowledge and support, FreedomLab helps human rights defenders build the skills and networks needed to monitor and report abuses, seek redress and promote human rights.

Starlight Stadium is a game designed to teach human rights defenders about the human rights monitoring methodology. Through undertaking a gamified human rights investigation, players can learn what practically goes into protecting and promoting human rights.

Through four episodes you can join Stefan, Anna, Jules and Aleks at the Balronian Center for Human Rights as they investigate human rights abuses occurring at a construction site in Balronia, a fictional country.

Starlight Stadium was created as a gamification of the Human Rights Monitoring curriculum developed by ODIHR. The human rights monitoring cycle was designed to provide a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities required for human rights monitors to undertake effective human rights monitoring missions.

Designed with human rights defenders in mind, Starlight Stadium can be played by anyone who has an interest in the human rights monitoring cycle. Whether you are a seasoned, experienced human rights defender, an independent activist, or a student wanting to learn more about the process, this game is for you.

ODIHR supports and promotes the protection of human rights defenders across the OSCE region. This includes monitoring risks linked to retaliation for engagement with ODIHR.

Human rights defenders and civil society representatives should be able to take part in human dimension meetings safely and without fear of intimidation or punishment.

Individuals facing retaliation linked to engagement with our human dimension meetings can contact us at defenders@odihr.pl.