Civil Society Europe and the European Civic Forum, leading an informal coalition of civil society organisations1 which includes Protection International, present the Mapping paper and the Pathways paper for a Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Civil Society Organisations in Europe.
The papers aim to map the existing protection landscape and, based on the gaps and challenges, propose ways to build a stronger ecosystem for the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society organisations (CSOs).
Why these papers?
The new Commissioner-designate for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law has been requested to “work to strengthen protection of civil society, activists and human rights defenders in their work”. This is an important component of the Commissioner’s mission for the next four years and builds on signals over the past 18 months of the increasing need to shore up the protection of HRDs.
It is those individuals and communities who stand up and protect all our rights who find themselves increasingly under attack. Smear campaigns are launched, designed to confuse and sever trust, organisations have had their offices attacked and the number of lawsuits against HRDs is rapidly increasing.
While the European Union has guidelines to support HRDs from outside the EU and nearly a decade ago set up Protect Defenders to rapidly support HRDs at risk, nothing similar exists within the EU. Defenders find themselves illusively searching for support at a moment when they are also under severe stress.
What do the papers cover?
Mapping paper: this mapping document aims to provide a concise overview of the existing protection landscape in Europe in order to inform a short paper and potential policy options to be considered by the new European Commission and Parliament and the Council of Europe. It looks at what exists and what the gaps are, who is protected, what are the main risks and what HRDs and CSOs would like to see.
Pathways to protection paper: supported by the Mapping paper, the Pathways to Protection paper is based on the gaps and needs in the system for HRDs’ protection in Europe and identifies critical elements and areas for reflection of different approaches. The paper is organised around options for a protection hub for Europe and focuses on structures to bring together various actors to create a protection system for HRDs and CSOs in Europe.
Both papers highlight existing expertise but point to the need for greater coherence to ensure a framework that provides:
- Alerts and investigations so that HRDs can officially report attacks, triggering investigation and action; and
- Rapid response ensuring holistic protection both as a preventive measure and immediately following an attack. Support might include physical, psychosocial, legal or digital protection.
Both papers are available for download at the bottom of this page.
What’s next?
Over the next months, a concerted effort is needed to elaborate the components of an effective protection ecosystem for Europe. Realising this aim will ensure that HRDs are in a better position knowing that they can seek appropriate support when the risks of protecting rights are intensified.
1 The coalition is composed of Civil Society Europe and the European Civic Forum (hosts); Amnesty International – EU Institutions Office; Araminta, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre; Civil Liberties Union for Europe, Civil Rights Defenders; European Partnership for Democracy; International Federation for Human Rights; Front Line Defenders; Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM); and Protection International.
2 Images credit: designed by www.freepik.com
Mapping paper
Pathways to protection