Pathways Paper: Realising Protection for Human Rights Defenders and Civil Society Organisations in Europe

by European Civic Forum

Published | 2024

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Summary

This paper proposes structured pathways to establish a protection ecosystem for human rights defenders and civil society organisations within Europe, advocating mechanisms for rapid response, alert systems, and sustainable support structures to address increasing threats.

Why read

Civic space actors will benefit from reading this report as it outlines practical, innovative steps towards a coordinated, inclusive protection ecosystem that addresses both immediate and long-term needs, while fostering greater institutional and community resilience for HRDs and CSOs.

Description

Building on identified gaps from the Mapping Paper, this document explores several critical protection mechanisms for human rights defenders and civil society organisations in Europe. It considers options for centralised and decentralised rapid response systems, a cohesive alert platform for reporting threats, and engaging National Human Rights Institutions in protective roles. Recognising the evolving needs of HRDs, the paper recommends inclusive, multi-stakeholder solutions that incorporate flexible funding, targeted legal and psychosocial support, and enhanced policy protections. The paper concludes with a call to co-develop sustainable, responsive systems that empower HRDs and CSOs, while holding perpetrators to account, and invites further institutional and private investment in a resilient civic space across Europe.

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