ManualEnglish-2009.qxp 03/04/2009 11:32 PÆgina 1 NNEEWW PPRROTECTIONOTECTION MMANUANUALAL FFOROR HHUMANUMAN RRIGHTIGHTSS DDEFENDERSEFENDERS RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN BY ENRIQUE EGUREN AND MARIE CARAJ ManualEnglish-2009.qxp 03/04/2009 11:32 PÆgina 1 New protection manual for human rights defenders NEW PROTECTION MANUAL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN BY ENRIQUE EGUREN, AND MARIE CARAJ, PROTECTION INTERNATIONAL (PI) PUBLISHED BY PROTECTION INTERNATIONAL 1 ManualEnglish-2009.qxp 03/04/2009 11:32 PÆgina 2 Published by Protection International 2009 Rue de la Linière, 11 B-1060 Brussels, Belgium. Third edition Copyright© 2008 by Protection International. This manual has been produced for the benefit of human rights defenders and may be quoted from or photocopied for non commercial purposes as long as the source/authors are acknowledged. For its inclusion in other publications or other uses please ask for authorization. Printed copies of the New Manual from Protection International Rue de la Linière, 11. B-1060 Brussels (Belgium) Tel: +32(0)2 609 44 05 / +32(0)2 609 44 07 / Fax: +32(0)2 609 44 07 [email protected] It can be downloaded for free from www.protectionline.org Prices of printed copies: Southern organisations: free Northern organisations: 20 Euros plus post and packaging (reductions for bulk orders) The New manual is available in English, French and Spanish (it is also being translated into other languages by Protection International) protection manual for human rights defenders ISBN: 978-2-930539-00-3 New 2 ManualEnglish-2009.qxp 03/04/2009 11:32 PÆgina 3 New protection manual for human rights defenders FForeword to the first edition by Hina Jilani In my work as Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders I have noted with grave concern an increase in the number of reports of serious human rights abuses against defenders and a notable shift away from low-targeting, such as intimidation and harassment, to more serious violations, such as attacks on and threats to physical integrity of defenders. In 2004 we worked on reports of at least 47 defenders who had been killed because of their work. It is clear that the primary responsibility for the protection of human rights defenders lies with Governments, as set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders1. We must continue to work to get all governments to take seriously their obligations in this regard and take effective measures to ensure protection of human rights defenders. However, the gravity of the risks faced on a daily basis by human rights defenders is such that it is also important to pursue other means to strengthen their protection. In this regard I hope that this Protection Manual will support human rights defenders in developing their own security plans and protection mechanisms. Many human rights defenders are so engaged by their work to protect others that they give insufficient attention to their own security. It is important that all of us involved in working for human rights understand that we must be concer- ned about security for ourselves and for the people we work with and for. Hina Jilani Former UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders 1 Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Respect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. 3 ManualEnglish-2009.qxp 03/04/2009 11:32 PÆgina 4 PProtection International -PI- PI members have over 25 years’ combined experience in the protection of human rights defenders and other vulnerable groups1. PI aims to contribute to the fulfilment of national and international obligations for the pro- tection of defenders. Many NGOs and institutions already work on human rights and defenders issues. PI intends to complement this work. PI’s global strategy for the protection of defenders includes: Protection and security capacity building and training Risk assessment, security/ protection management. Transfer of knowledge and tools. Publication of manuals, among which this New Manual (and its previous edition2) Training: between 2004-2008 over 1700 defenders have participated in PI capaci- ty building and security workshops, improving their capacities in the management of their own security and their protection of others. Protection research Study and elaboration of protection/security operational tools. Publication of information on the basis of lessons learned and best practices. Protection advocacy Distribution of information on protection among HRD, IDP, EU institutions and EU Member States in the form of recommendations, reports and press releases and documentaries. Reminding both national and international authorities of their international obliga- tions with regard to the protection of HRD, IDP, refugees and other social actors. Promotion of debates and action to protect HRD; involvement of parliaments, trade unions and the media. Struggle against impunity of abuse of power against HDR through trial observa- tion and plea against it. 1 As of 25th October 2007, by royal decree of the Federal Public Justice Service, the European Bureau of Peace Brigades International, through the amendment of its articles published in the Belgian protection manual for human rights defenders Official Journal, became “Protection International”, an international non-profit making association 2 Published in 2005 with the financial support of Front Line and the Development Cooperation of Ireland New 4 ManualEnglish-2009.qxp 03/04/2009 11:32 PÆgina 5 Protection video (video advocacy) New Portraits of Human Rights Defenders. protection manual for human rights defenders Protection desk In partnership with local HRD networks, protection desks are set up as national and regional centres for protection and security management. Progressive hand-over to PD of the whole process of security/protection manage- ment (ownership is part of that process). Protectionline www.protectionline.org is a one-stop website by/with/for HRD and those seeking to contribute to HRD protection. Daily update of information, documents, publications, testimonies, urgent actions and tools designed to promote the protection of HRD. Normative framework: PI follows all international standards in international human rights and humanitarian law. Specifically, PI will use the guidelines provided by the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998), and the EU Guidelines on HRD (2004), as well as the resolutions on defend- ers promoted by PI and adopted by EU member states in Spain, Belgium and Germany. PI CAPACITY BUILDING AND SECURITY WORKSHOPS From 2004 through 2007, a total of 1747 human rights defenders have partic- ipated in PI capacity building and security workshops. • In South and Central America: 558 HRD (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Perú) • In Asia: 650 HRD (Burma, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand) • In Africa: 441 HRD (Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo) • In Europe: 98 HRD (Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Serbia, Republic of Ingushetia) HRDs often protect others whilst neglecting their own security. There are vari- ous reasons for this. PI training in security and protection deals with these rea- sons and allows time to reflect on the risks and threats of which HRDs are the target. PI training enables a detailed breakdown of risks and also the know-how and logic needed to incorporate security into HRDs’ work plans. During training, security is broken down into its different elements so as to analyse them, reflect on possible theories, scenarios and probable consequences of specific choices, and then choose the option whose consequences the HRDs believe they can manage, fully aware that they cannot be sure of a specific outcome. In any case there is no magic answer that works every time; training aims to ensure that HRDs acquire the skills needed for security: analysis, outcome, management and updating of the process. They have to do this on an individ- ual, organisational and inter-organisational level, taking into account at least the political, psychosocial and physical exposure. 5 ManualEnglish-2009.qxp 03/04/2009 11:32 PÆgina 6 PPreface After over a decade of training, research and meetings with human rights defenders and other stakeholders responsible for human rights defenders’ protection, we at Protection International have decided to renew our tribute to defenders and once again to include their contributions into this new protection manual written with, from, by, for all human rights defenders. In the last three years, Protection International has developed further its training and research, benefiting from field experience and feedback from human rights defenders. In the new manual, Protection International is putting forward management logic that can be taken up in different organisational environments and structures, arriving at the same outcome: the incorporation of the security plan into the work plan. There is no magic answer, merely choices and consequences to manage. This can be achieved through brainstorming, asking the right questions, carrying out risk and organisational security assessments, drafting inclusive plans and processes… This new manual thereby aims at ownership by human rights defenders of the whole security-protection logic and process. Ownership is a component of security itself. The new manual contributes to independence and sustainability of security-protection of human rights defenders. Although there is no “one size