YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Resource portal for environmental human rights defenders.

UNEP, OHCHR, and the Universal Rights Group are launching a global survey on good practices that aim to support environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs), their work and communities. The survey also aims to identify gaps in existing UN guidance with a view to putting forward practical recommendations for a UN system-wide response to support the rights and particular needs of EHRDs.

Please share your knowledge and experience by responding to this secure survey:

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International Union for Conservation of Nature – World Conservation Congress High-Level Dialogue on Environmental Defenders

17.09.2021

Opening Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 5 September 2021 It is a pleasure to be with you all today, and I want first to express my profound gratitude and respect for your work. Defending biodiversity, ecosystems and our environment as a whole is dangerous. Both in the field and at […]

The Wellbeing Project is launching the Defenders Wellbeing Collective with support from Ford Foundation

01.09.2021

Are you a human rights or social justice activist who cares about wellbeing at the individual, organizational and movement levels? The Wellbeing Project, in partnership with Human Rights Resilience Project, is launching its Defenders Wellbeing Collective. Social justice and human rights advocates often face stress and trauma, but frequently lack tools to support resilience at the […]

Human rights must be at heart of UN plan to save planet – expert

19.08.2021

GENEVA (19 August 2021) – The UN’s draft plan to preserve and protect nature must be amended to put human rights at its centre if we are to ensure the future of life on our planet, David Boyd, UN special rapporteur on human rights and environment, said today. “Leaving human rights on the periphery is […]

TAKE ACTION: A Call to a Global Movement for Rivers and People

13.08.2021

The official discourse of the hydropower industry claims that dams provide well-being and progress. But for the peoples and communities who depend on rivers for food, income, clean water, recreation, and cultural values, this is an empty promise. Instead, they suffer the destruction of ecosystems and forms of food production and may be forced into […]

‘Climate change: IPCC report is ‘code red for humanity” – BBC

09.08.2021

‘Human activity is changing the climate in unprecedented and sometimes irreversible ways, a major UN scientific report has said. The landmark study warns of increasingly extreme heatwaves, droughts and flooding, and a key temperature limit being broken in just over a decade. The report “is a code red for humanity”, says the UN chief. But […]

E- Learning Programme “Security and Protection Management for Human Rights Defenders and Social Organisation”

04.08.2021

📣Protection International will be running the second edition of the new online course! 🧡Security and Protection Management for Human Rights Defenders and Social Organisations The programme aims to contribute to the development of a range of skills, capacities and strategies enabling human rights defenders to better manage the security and protection of their organisations and communities. Deadline for registration: […]

Available! The EARTH DEFENDERS TOOLKIT

02.08.2021

The Earth Defenders Toolkit is a collaborative space for earth defenders and their allies. The Toolkit provides a growing collection of resources and training materials for communities on the frontlines of the struggle to defend critical ecosystems around the world, and community networks for users to connect and share their experiences. The mission of the […]

The Zero Tolerance Initiative launches its new ‘Podcast’ and the ‘Microsite for Collective Protection Resources’

02.08.2021

The Zero Tolerance Initiative (ZTI) has developed two important digital tools: the Microsite for Collective Protection Resources, a library of over 100 reports, videos, guides, and other training materials on best practices to effectively protect land and environmental defenders, their communities, and lands; and the new Podcast, a space for IWGIA’s partners and allies to […]

Protection International has just launched a new edition of its E-learning Programme “Security and Protection Management for Human Rights Defenders and Social Organisations.”

29.07.2021

Protection International has just launched a new edition of its E-learning Programme “Security and Protection Management for Human Rights Defenders and Social Organisations.” The course is available in English, Spanish and French (see below for more info). Applications for the Second Edition of Protection International’s E-Learning Programme Are Open📣Protection International will be running the second edition […]

STEP-UP! Joint commitment by Heads of UN Entities (Rights of Future generations)

28.06.2021

Joint Commitment endorsed by the Executive Committee, chaired by the UN Secretary-General and is the highest decision-making body of the UN. The statement promotes the right of children, youth and future generations to a healthy environment and their meaningful participation in decision-making at all levels, in relation to climate action and climate justice. Read the […]

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“The exercise of human rights helps to protect the environment, and a healthy environment helps to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights“

– Prof. John Knox

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Empower.

Environmental
human rights
defenders
are facing
a crisis.

The environment is a new battleground for human rights. As demand for products like timber, minerals and palm oil continues to rise, governments, companies and criminals are exploiting land with little regard for the people who live on it

Read
inspiring
stories

Around the world, those who defend the environment and the human rights that depend on it face all types of obstacles, challenges and threats. Overcoming adversity, environmental human rights defenders have been working to change the lifes of many.

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The Escazu
Agreement

This landmark treaty aims to guarantee the full and effective implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean of the rights of access to environmental information, public participation in the environmental decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.

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World Justice Forum

30.06.2021

ALLIED

ALLIED was formed to build a bridge between international, national and local work, and overcome gaps between siloed communities who may be failing to build on each other’s work

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

news & articles

Know yourrights

Findsupport

Environmentalhuman rightsdefendersare facinga crisis.

Readinspiringstories

The EscazuAgreement

upcoming events

ALLIED

Know your
rights

Find
support

Environmental
human rights
defenders
are facing
a crisis.

Read
inspiring
stories

The Escazu
Agreement