Protection International’s e-learning programme “Security and Protection Management for Human Rights Defenders and Social Organisations” is an educational and training initiative for all those who face security risks because of the human rights, humanitarian or social development work they do.
Since 2011, Protection International (PI) has offered its e-learning course to human rights defenders. In 2021, we revamped the programme to incorporate the new approaches and methodologies that PI staff have learned over the years. In September 2023, the course contents were re-structured and some new contents were incorporated. The e-learning course is offered three times per year, in English, Spanish and French.
Key information
- Tutors: Esset Samatova, Sylvain Lefebvre
- Administator: Ángela Díaz
- Designed for: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), human rights defenders and their communities, social development or social justice organisations, humanitarian aid workers.
- Duration: 72 hours over 12 weeks (approximately 6 hours per week)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to learn about new tools, methodologies and best practices for managing your security and protection, then this is the course for you. You will have the opportunity to engage with our experienced experts on preventative protection strategies for human rights defenders and engage with other activists who may be facing similar challenges to you. The course is divided into the following modules:
- Introduction: The Right to Defend Human Rights
- Module 1: Risk Analysis
- Module 2: Protection Strategies and Responses
- Module 3: Security Management
This revised edition of the course encourages greater interactivity and student participation. Teaching modifications accommodate different learning styles, including gamification, allowing for a more enjoyable learning experience.
For this edition, Protection International has adopted an integrated and situated approach to conducting risk analyses and designing protection plans. This means that we have incorporated the physical, digital and emotional dimensions of security into the lessons and materials. Our instructors will walk you through concrete situations of risk faced by defenders and the various ways to interpret risk depending on the different identities of defenders (applying a gendered and intersectional approach).
This programme is for members of organisations who may experience risk because their work involves human rights, social development and humanitarian aid.
This programme will prioritise the enrolment of people commissioned by an organisation, association or community, who will be able to apply what they have learned in the course to a broader group or collective. We will also prioritise groups of 2-3 people within said organisation, association or community.
Each week, participants are expected to dedicate approximately 6 hours to the course, which includes time spent reading documents and complementary materials and completing written exercises. Under the guidance of a tutor, students will take responsibility for their own learning, using their experiences to identify and acknowledge what they need to improve upon in consideration of their own specific contexts. Beyond the written exercises, we will also work through case studies to allow for knowledge exchanges between participants.
- A computer (PC, laptop, tablet or a smartphone);
- Access to the Internet (Mozilla Firefox is recommended);
- The ‘’New Protection Manual for Human Rights Defenders’’, which can be downloaded for free (in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Indonesian and Swahili) here.
FIRST SESSION: 24 February – 18 May 2025 (inscriptions deadline: 25 January 2025)
SECOND SESSION: 5 May – 27 July 2025 (inscriptions deadline: 21 March 2025)
THIRD SESSION: 8 September – 30 November 2025 (inscriptions deadline: 25 July 2025)
Upon the successful completion of the mandatory activities, students will obtain a certificate. Each module contains activities and exercises that are mandatory for receiving the certification.
Course content comments:
- We enjoyed the course content, and feel more confident in our knowledge in protection of HRDs. The didactic material and complimentary readings were very helpful and insightful. We would like to express our gratitude for the course developers for such a comprehensive work.
- Very systematic pool of knowledge, useful methodology and practical visual tools and top notch.
- Me gusta mucho el contenido del curso, es muy digerible y práctico de poder absorber y poner en practica en las tareas diarias.
- Consideramos que el curso es relevante e importante para fortalecer los conocimientos de las organizaciones defensoras de derechos humanos en materia de protección y seguridad holística.
- Le contenu de la formation cadre bien avec les activités quotidiennes des DDH sur le terrain.
Course staff comments:
- Tutors were very supportive and encouraging. We very much liked the interaction with Esset.
- Le personnel de la formation est toujours disponible et à l’écoute des besoins des participant.e.s.
Course working methodology:
- Excellent.
- Les outils de formation sont adoptés aux activités des DDH et faciles à exploiter.
Course comprehensive evaluation:
- Considero que el costo está muy bien y los contenidos se adecuan a los objetivos del curso. Además, todos los conocimientos del curso se apegan a la realidad de como poder implementarlos. Estoy satisfecha.
- C’est une formation très pertinente et tout DDH devrait la suivre afin de mieux gérer sa sécurité et au travail et dans son milieu de vie.
For detailed information about the course, please contact Ángela Díaz at e-learning@protectioninternational.org.