Resources
Below you will find a selection of manuals and other resource materials which may be of use to you in improving your personal security.
Front Line Defenders will be happy to receive any other resource material which you might like to share with other human rights defenders.
Digital Security
Human rights defenders are increasingly using computers and the Internet in their work. Although access to technology is still a huge issue around the world, electronic means of storing and communicating information are getting more and more common in human rights organisations. However, Governments are also developing the capacity to manipulate, monitor and subvert electronic information. Surveillance and censorship is growing and the insecurity of digitally stored or communicated information is becoming a major problem for human rights defenders in some countries.
For further information log onto Front Line Defenders' Digital Security Programme
Training workshops
Front Line Defenders has also organised training workshops for human rights defenders with experts in the field of digital security in Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Jordan (for Iraq and Syria) Russia (also for Central Asia), Tunisia (for the Middle East region), United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Front Line Defenders' Handbook for Human Rights Defenders: What protection can EU and Norwegian Diplomatic Missions offer?
The Front Line Defenders' Handbook for Human Rights Defenders: What protection can EU and Norwegian Diplomatic Missions offer? was researched and written by Chris Collier and published by Front Line Defenders.
The European Union (EU) and Norway have undertaken to promote the implementation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in "third countries" through their foreign policies. They have adopted guidelines on how they will contribute to supporting and protecting HRDs.
This handbook summarises the provisions of the EU Guidelines on HRDs and Norwegian guidelines on HRDs. It also draws on the results of the EU's own evaluation of the implementation of its guidelines carried out in the first half of 2006, which stipulated many steps that should be taken to implement the guidelines. The handbook details the ways in which the EU and Norway have committed themselves to supporting and protecting human rights defenders. It also makes suggestions to HRDs regarding how they might benefit from these policies.
Insiste Persiste Resiste Existe - Women human rights defenders' Security Strategies (Resiste)
Insiste, Persiste, Resiste, Existe: Women’s Human Rights Defenders’ Security Strategies (Resiste) by Jane Barry and Vahida Nainar is presented by Front Line Defenders, the Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights and Kvinna Till Kvinna.
Resiste brings us the voices of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from all over the world. Each woman speaks from her personal experience of combating violence and discrimination in complex contexts – in situations of overt or hidden conflict, organised armed violence as well as rising fundamentalisms in Iran, Colombia, Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Algeria, Tunisia, Bosnia, Serbia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Summary of Insiste Persiste Resiste Existe
Front Line Defenders' Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Online Manual
The Front Line Defenders' Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Online Manual examines how economic, social and cultural rights may be usefully, effectively and practically translated to the benefit of humankind.
Front Line Defenders' Civil and Political Rights Online Manual The Front Line Defenders' Civil and Political Rights Manual is designed for human rights defenders working on civil and political rights. It is an interactive manual, designed to be used online rather than as a printed document. It is a resource for all human rights defenders, including those who do not have a legal training.
Other Resource Materials
Workbook on Security: Practical Steps for Human Rights Defenders at Risk
The Workbook on Security is designed to raise awareness about security issues and to help human rights defenders consider how to mitigate threats. The workbook takes human rights defenders through the steps to producing a security plan - for individuals and for organisations. It follows a systematic approach for assessing their security situation and developing risk and vulnerability reduction strategies and tactics.
Front Line Defenders' Guidelines on Application Process for Schengen Visa
This guidebook is a useful tool for anyone who wants to better understand the Schengen visa procedure and find their way in a labyrinth that may be seen as arbitrary and bureaucratic.
It is however first aimed at human rights defenders at risk who need to come to Europe for temporary relocation, in order to flee extremely insecure and stressful environments.
Besides general information on the Schengen visa procedure, whose main source is the aforementioned European Commission Handbook, this document provides useful tips based on past experiences by human rights defenders and international human rights organisations, with a view to help speed up the visa delivery process.
Such a guidebook cannot be definite. Rules are moving and new experiences can be recorded almost everyday. Therefore it is intended to update it on a regular basis thanks to the contributions of its readers.
If you have any comments, suggestions for change or more importantly, informative experiences to share, please contact us at euoffice@frontlinedefenders.org.
Any further versions will be numbered and dated.
Front Line Defenders' Guidelines on Application Process for Schengen Visa
This guidebook is a useful tool for anyone who wants to better understand the Schengen visa procedure and find their way in a labyrinth that may be seen as arbitrary and bureaucratic.
It is however first aimed at human rights defenders at risk who need to come to Europe for temporary relocation, in order to flee extremely insecure and stressful environments.
Besides general information on the Schengen visa procedure, whose main source is the aforementioned European Commission Handbook, this document provides useful tips based on past experiences by human rights defenders and international human rights organisations, with a view to help speed up the visa delivery process.
Such a guidebook cannot be definite. Rules are moving and new experiences can be recorded almost everyday. Therefore it is intended to update it on a regular basis thanks to the contributions of its readers.
If you have any comments, suggestions for change or more importantly, informative experiences to share, please contact us at euoffice@frontlinedefenders.org.
Any further versions will be numbered and dated.
Trial Observation Manual for Criminal Proceedings This Manual, by the International Commission of Jurists, provides trial observers with practical guidance on how to prepare for a trial observation mission, carry out the observation and write the follow-up report. It also provides a synthesis of the basic legal standards applicable in relation to (i) the right to a fair trial, (ii) the right to remedy of victims of human rights violations, and (iii) combating impunity. This is the first trial observation manual which includes analysis of international standards on the right to remedy of victims of human rights violations or combating impunity. Available in English, Spanish, Arabic and Russian.
Human Rights Defenders Fact Sheet
This Fact sheet is designed to provide Governments and a wide range of professionals who frequently come into contact with human rights defenders with a rapid understanding of what a “human rights defender” is and what activities defenders undertake. The document is also designed to support the right to defend human rights; to strengthen the protection of human rights defenders from any repercussions of their work; and to provide a tool for human rights defenders in conducting advocacy and training activities.
Claiming Rights Claiming Justice - A guidebook on women human rights defenders
A guidebook on women human rights defenders. This guidebook was produced by APWLD in collaboration with individuals and organisations in the International Campaign on Women Human Rights Defenders. It is aimed to help women human rights defenders name the specific risks, violations and constraints they face in their work. It presents a practical discussion of the useful mechanisms developed by the state and also the civil society to provide redress and remedy, and to protect women human rights defenders.
LIST of MATERIALS and RESOURCES for Women Human Rights Defenders
This compilation of resources for women human rights defenders at risk is to provide women human rights defenders with a reference tool of existing resources that may be useful to their work and to those facing risks. It lists existing research materials dealing with the safety, security and protection of defenders, resources that women activists can consult concerning their wellbeing and self-care, manuals dealing with how to document and monitor violations of women’s rights and how to conduct trial observation, as well as manuals on the rights and mechanisms available to women human rights defenders at risk. It is the result of a research endeavor launched by the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) in collaboration with the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition
New Tactics in Human Rights: A Resource for Practitioners The New Tactics Workbook offers tactical innovations for those striving to advance human rights.
Human Wrongs, Human Rights: A guide to the human rights machinery of the United Nations A guide to the human rights machinery of the United Nations this guide will help NGOs, lawyers and individuals to find their way around the various human rights mechanisms of the United Nations.
UN and Regional Mechanisms for Human Rights Defenders This guide describes regional UN programs in Europe, Asia and Africa.
The International Criminal Court - Information for Human Rights Defenders - Information for Human Rights Defenders Information on how to utilise the ICC and who to contact.
