There have been cases of human right defenders not reporting back to their organisations because they had a private affair. The organisation had already alerted its emergency contact only to find out that the defenders were perfectly fine and unaware of the trou- ble caused. This type of situation obviously gives others an oppor- tunity to discredit the organisation and the defender concerned by drawing attention to the image and ethical implications. Some emergency contacts might even decide to withdraw from the organisation’s early warning system.

- The problem is not the affair, but how the affair may affect com- munication and security. We reiterate that it is not a moral or health issue but a security one. It is important that the organisa- tion is able to deal with these issues in a clear way and that it look for ways to address them.

- What if a defender’s friend is viewed as suspicious by others in the organisation? Can the organisation interfere?

- In what ways can information be passed on to friends, families and relatives? Is the human right defender responsible for how that information might be used?

How defenders use free time therefore has a potential security impact. The point is not to deny the need to enjoy free time but rather see how it can be enjoyed.

All defenders’ organisations at risk need a policy for the enjoyment of free time, from evenings to holidays. Special mention is necessary for the public use of alcohol and other drugs, how hidden relationships may interfere with security and how free time may affect the image and security of the organisation?