Brussels, 03/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - A new mechanism for human rights defenders was officially launched on Wednesday 2 December.
This mechanism is initially planned for three years and has a budget of €15 million. Its goal is to be complementary to the continuous support to human rights defenders provided by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights.
The new mechanism will thus enable emergency aid to be provided, including physical and/or digital protection, legal support, medical support, trial and prison monitoring, urgent relocation, support to families, and a permanent helpline for human rights defenders that will be open 24/7. Medium-term support is also planned, including the monitoring of human rights defenders' situations, early warning, reinforcement of capacity, training on risk prevention and security (including digital security), temporary relocation and legal support in lengthy judicial procedures. In addition, the mechanism enables long-term support, including support to national networks, lobbying, and strategy development to counter restrictions and sanctions imposed on human rights defenders by states (including defamation, laws on foreign funding and criminalisation of human rights defenders).
The mechanism will implemented by a consortium of 12 international independent civil society organisations, which will ensure coverage of the whole world. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)