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Working Session at EU parliament


On the 4th of June the Net4Defenders project organized a cross-party event in the European Parliament in which the Civic Space Report was presented. The event brought together civil society partners and HRDs from across Europe, Brussels-based networks, high-level policymakers from the European Commission and members of the European Parliament. The report documents the space for civil society in EU and Western Balkans states and has become the go-to guide for understanding the state of civic space in Europe. During the event, ECF will present its key findings from the report, followed by a roundtable discussion amongst policy makers, HRDs and civil society, which will focus on unpacking strategies to protect the shrinking civic space in Europe. This includes the need for an EU-wide protection mechanism and Early Warning and Alerts system, as well as reflections on the upcoming Civil Society Strategy and Democracy Shield. The event is being organized as part of the Net4Defenders project, co-funded by the European Union, which aims to build the capacities of activists on the ground to monitor and respond to civic space restrictions and illiberal tendencies; developing national protection hubs to provide support to civil society under attack; and advocating for a thriving civic space. The project partners will share their expertise on needs, gaps and strategies to protect HRDs and civic space.

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The Right to Protest: Principles on the protection of human rights in protests

Article 19 (2016) The Right to Protest: Principles on the protection of human rights in protests

Report by Article 19 which sets a series of principles aiming at setting minimum standards for the respect, protection and fulfilment of the right to protest, while promoting a clear recognition of the limited scope of permissible restrictions. The principles are also intended to be used by civil society organizations, activists, HRDs, lawyers, judges, elected representatives, public officials and other stakeholders in their efforts to strengthen the protection of the right to protest.


Available at:
https://www.article19.org/data/files/medialibrary/38581/Right_to_protest_principles_final.pdf

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Holistic Security. A Strategy Manual for Human Rights Defenders

Tactical Technology Collective (2016) Holistic Security. A Strategy Manual for Human Rights Defenders

Report by Tactical Technology Collective which adopts a ‘holistic’ approach to security and protection strategies for HRDs. It attempts to integrate digital security, psycho-social well-being and organizational security processes and highlight their interrelatedness. The manual is designed to guide the process of establishing or improving security strategies for individuals, collectives, or organizations.

Available at: https://holistic-security.tacticaltech.org/ckeditor_assets/attachments/61/hs_complete_hires.pdf

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Protecting our space: Human rights defender strategies to protect civil society space

International Service for Human Rights (2016) Protecting our space: Human rights defender strategies to protect civil society space

Report by International Service for Human Rights based on consultations with HRDs from around the world. It examines and lists several elements of successful strategies and lessons learnt from unsuccessful experiences related to targeted advocacy to defend civil society space.

Available at: https://www.ishr.ch/sites/default/files/documents/protecting_civil_society_space-final_version.pdf

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Human rights defenders under threat. A shrinking space for civil society

Amnesty International (2017) Human rights defenders under threat. A shrinking space for civil society.

Report by Amnesty International which provides an overview of the dangers HRDs face and calls on those in power to take immediate measures to ensure that human rights defenders are recognized, protected and equipped to conduct their work without fear of attack in a safe environment.

Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act30/6011/2017/en/

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E-library

The E-Library is an online learning space offering a collection of self-paced courses designed to strengthen the digital capacities of civil society actors and human rights defenders. Through this platform, participants can explore key tools and strategies to better protect civic space, drive social change, and ensure that technology aligns with human rights values.

Developed as part of the Digital Organising program, the E-Library empowers journalists, activists, and civil society organisations across the Euro-Mediterranean region. It promotes critical awareness of digital environments, and supports communities to leverage technology for activism while addressing risks such as surveillance, bias, and online repression.

The platform features 10 autonomous but interconnected modules, with practical exercises, case studies, and certification upon completion.

 Active courses available in the E-Library:

  1. Movement Building in the Digital Era
  2. Strategic Nonviolent Action in the Digital Age
  3. Systemic Conflict Analysis in Designing Digital Campaigns
  4. Fighting Impunity: Documenting Human Rights Violations
  5. Open Source Intelligence for Justice
  6. Digital Ecosystems: Aligning Communities and Infrastructures
  7. Digital Security: Essentials to Protect our Activism
  8. Strategic Communication for Citizen Journalism
  9. Digital Storytelling: The Call for Action
  10. Digital Campaigning: Amplify Your Advocacy

Explore the E-Library and start learning here: https://academy.novact.org

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Diritto non Crimine. Per la Madre Terra, la giustizia sociale, ambientale e climatica (2024)

In Difesa Di and Osservatorio Repressione (2024) Diritto non Crimine. Per la Madre Terra, la giustizia sociale, ambientale e climatica

Collaborative report promoted by In Difesa Di and Osservatorio Repressione through an informal working group in the aftermath of the academic visit of UN Special Rapporteur for Environmental Defenders Michel Forst under the Aarhus Convention to Italy in April 2023. The report reflects on the narratives and targeted laws aimed at delegitimizing, criminalizing and discrediting defenders of the environment in Italy and the Italian government’s violations and undermining of international commitments concerning human rights.

Available at: https://www.indifesadi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DIRITTO_NON_CRIMINE.pdf

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Security Guidelines for Human Rights Defenders

Civil Rights Defenders (2020) Security Guidelines for Human Rights Defenders

Report by Civil Rights Defenders describing and countering the various threats faced by HRDs, specifically in the Western Balkans but also applicable to other regions where civil society faces repression. It outlines the types of potential threats faced by NGOs and journalists and provides solutions as well as graphics and illustrations.

Available here: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://crd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Security-guidelines-for-HRDs1.pdf&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1721295368075840&usg=AOvVaw3X5x-R2YXfhXsMFnIvZvlI

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Fighting Back: A Global Protection Strategy for Earth Rights Defenders

EarthRights International (2018) Fighting Back: A Global Protection Strategy for Earth Rights Defenders

Report by Earth Rights International as part of a roadmap and strategy to protect the rights of earth defenders facing repression and violence linked to land disputes, natural resources, and climate change. The report presents Earth Rights International’s analysis of the causes of threats and attacks against defenders, drivers, and perpetrators of abuses. It also outlines a global protection strategy to address this issue based on ‘protect, prevent, reveal and redress’ principles.

Available at: https://earthrights.org/publication/fighting-back-a-global-protection-strategy-for-earth-rights-defenders/

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Human Rights Defenders in the Western Balkans

Civil Rights Defenders (2019) Human Rights Defenders in the Western Balkans

Report by Civil Rights Defenders covering the position of human rights defenders in the Western Balkans region. The report draws on extensive research on the challenges and position of HRDs in the six Western Balkan states and offers recommendations to national authorities, the international community, media, and HRDs.

Available at: https://crd.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Human-Rights-Defenders-Report.pdf