Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

Who are women human rights defenders?

To address violations of women’s human rights, women activists have worked courageously for the defence of their own rights, and for the defence of the rights of others. We call them women human rights defenders.
‘Women human rights defenders’ include women active in human rights defence who are targeted for who they are as well as all those active in the defence of women’s rights who are targeted for what they do. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists participate in many human rights struggles, including the advocacy for sexual rights. They become vulnerable to violence because of who they are and the work they do, especially when that work is directly related to sexuality. We refer to them as women human rights defenders, too.

For whom is this guidebook?

This guidebook is written primarily for women human rights defenders. It is one of the many tools intended to enhance their understanding that regardless of whether they define themselves as activists or advocates, if their actions strive towards the realisation of human rights, they are entitled to protection.
While the term ‘women human rights defenders’ refers not only to women but also to other activists who defend the rights of women, this guidebook focuses particularly on the roles, risks, and vulnerabilities of defenders who are women. This book was written on the premise that men who defend women’s rights do not experience the degree of discrimination and disadvantage that women activists, lesbian, or trans gender advocates do.
Reading, reflecting, and testing out the concepts and tools in this guidebook with colleagues is always the best way to begin imagining solutions to the problems we encountered in defending human rights for all. We hope that using this guidebook will move defenders towards creating better networks and frameworks for the defence of their rights than any that have existed till now. We expect that it will assist women human rights defenders to gain recognition for their work, defend their rights, challenge impunity, and seek justice and accountability.

What are its aims?

The guidebook was developed with the following aims:
• To bring greater recognition to women human rights defenders and their work;
• To further the legitimacy and credibility of women human rights defenders;
• To strengthen the documentation and monitoring of threats, challenges
and violations experienced by women engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights;
• To seek justice, redress and reparation for women human rights defenders who are victims and survivors of these violations;
• To strengthen networks of solidarity and support that have been built by women human rights defenders and their supporters around the world.
This guidebook is a tool for women human rights defenders to claim rights and claim justice.