Essential strategies for safeguarding human rights defenders during crises
In partnership with national defender coalitions across Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, and Niger, ISHR has compiled a guide outlining best practices to protect human rights defenders and sustain their vital work amid crises.
The enforcement of restrictive measures and guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19 has significantly reshaped how human rights defenders operate. Beyond their existing daily challenges, the pandemic response adopted by several African governments has further tightened already constrained civic and democratic spaces in the region. In such volatile environments, ensuring defenders retain access to their advocacy work and platforms is critical during crises.
This study examines the ripple effects of COVID-19’s restrictive policies on the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, and Sierra Leone. It highlights the innovative measures civil society groups have adopted to continue operations despite coercive restrictions, as well as positive state and institutional efforts supporting their resilience. Additionally, the publication offers a set of actionable recommendations to strengthen protections for defenders and preserve civic space during emergencies.
Serving as a vital advocacy tool, this research targets national, regional, and international human rights mechanisms to curb the misuse of coercive measures in crises and ensure defenders receive unwavering protection at all times.
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