Human rights defenders work peacefully promote and protect human rights. They can come from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions, from grassroots activists, lawyers, journalists, whistleblowers, students, to medical staff or community leaders.
Defenders often face harassment, threats, violence and even imprisonment. Women, minorities, migrants and those working in conflict settings or in exile are especially at risk. Shrinking civic space and restrictions on free expression, association and peaceful assembly make their work even harder.
ODIHR helps by working directly with human rights defenders, monitoring their situation and engaging with authorities or speaking publicly about cases of concern. We offer expert advice and policy guidance, such as the Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, and provide training and practical tools, including through the FreedomLab eLearning platform.
