ProtectDefenders.eu, the EU Human Rights Defenders mechanism implemented by International Civil Society, is organising its Annual Meeting 2017, under the motto "Champions of change - Human Rights Defenders at the forefront of Development and Democracy", on November 8th, 2017.

Join us at this event, which will allow taking stock of the most pressing protection challenges for human rights defenders at risk and operating as leaders of today's human rights and development agenda.

Unique and prime EU gathering of defenders working on the frontlines for change

It will allow to identify best practices from protecting human rights defenders, based on the achievements of the first two years of ProtectDefenders.eu, and draw relevant conclusions on how to counter some of the most difficult protection challenges, while setting a positive narrative for human rights defenders as champions of change for human rights, social justice and development.

The meeting will provide a remarkable opportunity to engage and share experiences directly with a cross section of Human Rights Defenders working across the globe in particularly difficult environments and often under great risk, and who have benefited from the support of the EU’s Human Rights Defenders mechanism, ProtectDefenders.eu, over the last two years. The meeting will be joined by leading experts and personalities on and in the protection of human rights defenders, universal and regional protection mechanisms, and representatives of various EU institutions implicated in the protection of human rights defenders and today’s development agenda.

In a distinctive feature, the meeting will also include members of the EU Temporary Relocation Platform, providing a growing vital lifeline and rest and respite support to defenders under threat with the support of Protectdefenders.eu

Setting a progressive development and protection agenda:

The meeting will highlight the crucial role and impact of human rights defenders around the world as promoters of a sustainable development, and will engage development actors in how to integrate the protection of human rights defenders as part of an effective development and protection agenda. It is those actors on the ground who will be the key protagonist of the meeting.

This meeting will also address the widespread attempts to de-legitimise human rights' discourse and human rights defenders' work worldwide, by promoting apositive narrative grounded on the universality and indivisibility of human rights and its contribution to more advanced and developed societies. Human rights defenders and high level speakers will share strategies to enhance the protection of those who strive to defend human rights, and to develop a positive narrative on the human rights' work, legitimising their work at the local level and taking back the human rights discourse to the centre of the international agenda.

This unique occasion will contribute to provide the necessary tools for reflection from the field in order to shape the international and EU agenda for the protection of human rights defenders, by bringing together the key stakeholders involved in the international human rights scene and addressing the most challenging issues faced by the human rights defenders' community.

Interpretation will be provided into English, French, Spanish and Arabic.

The working agenda of this event is available here.

In the meantime, you can have a look at the highlights of last year's meeting.

Registrations are closed

ProtectDefenders.eu Annual Meeting