ProtectDefenders.eu

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
We stand with women human rights defenders who continue their vital work despite the risks.
Protecting them means protecting everyone’s rights.

Uganda’s 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act was a turning point , and its harshest provisions remain intact. But the backlash against LGBTIQ+ rights is now continent-wide.
Our analysis explains why, read here: https://tinyurl.com/murkuckm

🚨 In October 2025, Israeli forces intercepted two civilian flotillas in international waters, detaining humanitarians & journalists delivering aid to Gaza. This is illegal, inhumane, and a violation of press freedom. Read the reportage https://tinyurl.com/bsvtd6s2
#ProtectDefenders

Exile doesn’t silence defenders — it reshapes their activism.”
From Brussels, we spoke with Mostafa & Sarah of @HuMENANetwork on resilience, exile, and building transnational networks for rights defenders across the MENA region.
Read more ⤵️

#HumanRights #HuMENA

Youth in Morocco are rising up. 🚨 #GenZ212 protests demand better healthcare, education & jobs after tragic hospital deaths. Reports of excessive force & arrests spark concern for human rights. 🇲🇦 #ProtectDefenders #HumanRights

🇨🇩 In Kisangani, DRC, activists from LUCHA and other movements were arrested after peaceful protests denouncing corruption and mismanagement.
Jedidia Mabela was sentenced to 6 months for “spreading false rumours.”
Civic space in the DRC is shrinking ✏️ https://tinyurl.com/2wmzstnz

Today we mark the anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, a landmark in the protection of freedom & dignity.
Yet, rights, and those who defend them, remain under attack.
Our commitment continues.

👀 Stay tuned for new research soon.

Endurance and defense of rights | ProtectDefenders.eu Bulletin A journalist from Peru received emergency relocation support to ensure safety and continue their work on freedom of expression following detention and enforced disappearance.

📊 October: 32 attacks on HRDs reported, 616 defenders supported through the EU HRD Mechanism.
🏳️‍🌈 From a Syrian activist relocated after threats to 18 Tajik defenders protected after cyberattacks, every number tells a story of resilience.
👉 https://tinyurl.com/4rw4p3vh

Mental health and solidarity, this month’s focus in our new newsletter.
Plus: updates from Morocco, Palestine, and the DRC, and stories of courage from defenders around the world.
Read more 👇 https://tinyurl.com/4rw4p3vh

In #Uganda, one year after the Anti-Homosexuality Act, #LGBTQI defenders continue to face persecution, arrests & violence. Yet, they persist, documenting, protecting, and advocating for equality. ✊🏾

We stand in solidarity with them.
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/4yrv4p8s
#HumanRights

ProtectDefenders.eu - You have the right to defend rights THE EUROPEAN UNION HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS MECHANISM THE EUROPEAN UNION HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS MECHANISM You have the right to defend rights If you are a human rights defender at risk as a result of your work, ProtectDefenders.eu is to support you Are you at risk or under threat? Our protection offic…

📰 Dive into stories that matter! On our webpage, we share interviews, articles, and features on mental health, human rights defenders, and more. Hear directly from the voices making change happen. 💬💡

🔗 Check it out https://protectdefenders.eu/

#Togo: Human rights under attack.
Activists, artists & journalists face arrests, torture & disappearances.
Content creator René “A votre avis” Koffi was abducted, tortured & now joins a hunger strike with other political prisoners.

Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/2zpnazhk

Human rights defenders face burnout, trauma & constant risk.
At ProtectDefenders.eu, we believe protection must include mental health. 🧠
Because safety is not only physical, it’s emotional too, read here our stories: https://tinyurl.com/49ky7j57

Pro-democracy voices in Thailand at risk In recent weeks, Thailand has witnessed a surge in convictions and arbitrary detention of pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders, underscoring the authorities’ continued reliance on restrictive laws to silence dissent. On 3 and 5 September 2025, courts upheld or handed down heavy priso

🇹🇭 Crackdown continues in Thailand: activists face harsh sentences under lèse-majesté laws.
284+ people, incl. 20 minors, prosecuted since 2020.
Read more in our Sept Newsletter and the article here: https://tinyurl.com/49ky7j57

Threats against human rights defenders in Chiapas Human rights defenders in Chiapas face an increasingly hostile environment, marked by intimidation, criminalization, and violence. Recent incidents underscore the urgent risks confronting civil society actors and the communities they serve. The home of Dora Roblero, director of the Centro de Derecho

🇲🇽 In Chiapas, defenders face rising attacks, raids, intimidation & killings.
Groups like CDH Frayba remain under constant threat.
Learn more in our Sept Newsletter, and read the article here: https://tinyurl.com/mbazzxpp

At ProtectDefenders.eu, we work to ensure human rights defenders never stand alone. 💪🌍

➡️ Emergency support & temporary relocation
➡️ Security advice & field monitoring
➡️ Training & advocacy
➡️ Creation of shelters

Stay informed with our latest news, engage with us ✨

#HumanRights #ProtectDefenders

Today is #InternationalDayOfDemocracy.
Democracy cannot exist without those who defend it.

Defending Education, Defending Human Right - ProtectDefenders The 9 September, the world observes the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. Established by the United Nations, the...

On #ProtectEducationDay we stand with Afghan girls denied schooling, with the Wiwa people displaced in Venezuela, and with Nicaraguan students forced into exile.

Education is a right, and a form of resistance. ✊

Read here: tinyurl.com/ytewwenn
#ProtectDefenders

The #SOTEU stressed the fight for our shared values, Europe must stand united & resilient.
At ProtectDefenders, we support change & democracy worldwide by protecting those who defend rights.
Because democracy thrives where defenders are safe. ✊🌍

#ProtectDefenders

⚡ When defenders are in danger, ProtectDefenders.eu provides urgent support, relocation, training & advocacy.
Because defending rights should never mean risking your life.

🌍 We are the EU Human Rights Defenders mechanism, protecting defenders at risk worldwide. Follow us for updates, stories & solidarity. ✊ #HumanRights #HRDs