Raising awareness
Central to our approach is raising the profile of human rights defenders working in some of the most dangerous environments in the world.
Whether they are fighting for social equality, access to justice and a fair trial, or land, environmental and indigenous rights, the risks these individuals take are many. We believe their stories set an example of solidarity and humanity that needs to be heard.
We aim to shine a light on the stories of extraordinary human rights defenders taking a stand against injustice: community leaders fighting to protect collective land rights against mining companies; women struggling for gender equality; human rights lawyers risking their own safety to defend the rights of activists.
Nobel Peace Prize nomination
Portraits of Resilience, Hope and Solidarity
Shoulder to Shoulder
Shoulder to Shoulder
The 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders was a milestone in human rights history. It recognised that human rights are not only granted by law, but upheld by those who struggle for their protection. The responsibility to protect human rights lies with all of us; every person can and should be a Human Rights Defender.
While the UN Declaration recognised the crucial role of defenders in upholding human rights, its framework has not prevented the killing of over 3500 defenders in the more than 20 years since. Many more continue to suffer escalating threats, attacks and criminalisation. If we are to build protections that are fit for purpose for the next 20 years, we must listen to the voices of at-risk defenders as they reflect on the successes and failures of the current system.
Our campaign shared the stories of PBI-supported human rights defenders from around the world. Their experiences show viscerally the dangers involved in their work, in a context where human rights are suffering pushback across the globe and those who suffer most are those already marginalised.
But their stories also provide inspiring examples of what non-violent civil society activism can achieve: challenging injustice and impunity, defending the marginalised, building functional legal systems. Their perspectives also provide crucial guides for the future of defender protection.
Throughout October, we focused on grassroots voices: marginalised communities who have fought back against state and corporate assaults on their lands, resources and rights.
In November, we showed how civil society activism can succeed in reforming repressive and corrupt systems, building peace founded on democratic participation and the rule of law.
In December we shared the perspectives of at-risk defenders on the action needed from states, corporations and the international community to make the promises of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders a reality.
Nobel Peace Prize nomination
In 2018 we campaigned for the global community of Human Rights Defenders to win the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. From the initial nomination by Ann Clwyd MP and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Rights, to an open letter signed by over 200 civil society organisations and a public petition with thousands of signatures, we were overwhelmed by the support the campaign received.
PBI UK co-authored two opinion pieces in support of the nomination with UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders Michel Forst, published in The Independent and Reuters humanitarian news. We were delighted to see the global community of Human Rights Defenders reach #2 on the Norwegian Peace Council’s list of favourites for the prize.
