Visibility campaign
Portraits of Resilience, Hope and Solidarity
The pandemic has prompted us to tailor our multi-media campaign to better respond to the needs of human rights defenders.
They have been an inspiration to us for many years, but recent events have shown us how inspiring their resilience, hope and solidarity can be to everyone experiencing hardship around the world.
To increase the support and visibility of human rights defenders during these difficult times we have released eight webinars and an online platform, as well as nine thematic films about the lives of human rights defenders in Latin America and Africa.
Webinar series
Online platform
Defenders on film
Webinar Series
In May 2020 we announced the launch of our Portraits of Resilience, Hope and Solidarity webinar series.
We wanted to shine a light on the heroic efforts of brave individuals to expose human rights violations and support vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 health crisis.
At this difficult time, we wanted to give them moral and practical support and make the international community aware of the realities of being a human rights defender while engaging more thoroughly and proactively in protection and support actions. Together, we learnt about the challenges posed by the pandemic and how best to provide further assistance.
Screenshot of our third webinar, Stories of Resilience, Hope and Solidarity
Editar Ochieng, Kenyan human rights defender
“I work with young women. Young mothers, vulnerable ones. Because once I was vulnerable.
So that is what motivates me to work with these women. It doesn’t matter what time, what age, I’ll come out and help you. I do it because I love what I’m doing.”
- Editar Ochieng
The sessions were an opportunity for everyone to meet human rights defenders in our network and learn more about the situation on the ground, the impact of COVID-19 on their work, and what they are doing to address the challenges posed to communities.
We wanted to connect with one another and find hope in the resilience of human rights defenders. We were delighted with the reception and were inspired by the show of solidarity from all corners of the world. More than 3700 of you joined us across the 9 online events we hosted.
"There are many things I love about PBI, but perhaps the thing I admire the most is that they don't just talk about human rights, they actually do things."
Richard Hermer QC speaking as chair of ‘Protecting our Future through Corporate Accountability’
We heard the stories of human rights defenders and learned about the innovative strategies they are developing to keep their communities alive. Together we explored the impact of COVID-19 on defenders and the wellbeing of the marginalised communities they support, as government measures encroach on basic rights and civil liberties. Human rights defenders have played a vital role during the pandemic, as trusted representatives of community members who have often been marginalised by governments.
We wanted to remind those left behind that they are not alone, and have the backing of a global community. The pandemic made it even clearer to us the importance of the three values that underpinned the project: resilience, hope and solidarity.
The series aimed to bring our global network together, share expertise, and show solidarity for those campaigning for justice and upholding universal rights. Defenders from across the world were invited to speak about the ways community solidarity has saved lives and how present challenges can be overcome with international support.
The webinars approached the challenges presented by the outbreak and consequences of COVID-19 from the perspective of human rights defenders on the ground. Discussions addressed responses of governments in the countries we work in to assess their legal basis, level of proportionality and accountability. Socioeconomic issues such as the provision of food, water, and healthcare as well as the impact of Western self-isolation measures on informal workers were addressed. Human rights defenders also discussed the impact of corruption on healthcare provision and the fragility of judicial systems in the context of court suspension.
“I want to enjoy all the wonder of Mother Earth because I am part of her.
They can’t kill me. I will give up my life defending life.”
Silvia Villasenor
Throughout the series we explored the broader question of the rule of law in lockdown, and the future of human rights norms around the world. The series was watched by more than 3,200 people in Spanish and English, an unprecedented level of engagement in an area previously unfamiliar to us. This included human rights defenders from 17 countries and high profile figures from the legal, political and celebrity communities.
Speaker included actors Juliet Stevenson and Christopher Colquhoun, former diplomat and patron John Dew, Professor Christine Chinkin, Richard Hermer QC, Simmons & Simmon pro bono partner Richard Dyton, and president of the Alliance for Lawyers at Risk Sir Patrick Elias.
Online platform
In 2020 we launched our online multimedia platform 'The Defender’, celebrating the work of human rights defenders from around the world.
The project was born in September 2018 when PBI UK Director Susi Bascon and independent photographer and filmmaker Manu Valcarce travelled to Colombia to meet human rights defenders and record their stories. Inspired by their wisdom, they realised the importance of sharing their work with the world. Since then, they have travelled to Mexico, Honduras and Kenya and gathered over 100 testimonies with human rights defenders from all walks of life, as well as countless photographs and hours of video footage.
We wanted to share the stories of ordinary people taking a stand against injustice: community leaders fighting to protect collective land rights against mining companies; women struggling for gender equality; human rights lawyers risking their own safety to defend the rights of activists.
All too often, governments and the media portray human rights defenders as criminals or obstacles to development. Stigmatisation undermines the credibility of their work, leaving them vulnerable to attacks and internment in countries where impunity remains a norm.
“Now I am a defender. Now I am with them.”
JLO Cordoba
THE DEFENDERS
THE RIGHT TO DEFEND: PORTRAITS OF RESILIENCE, HOPE AND SOLIDARITY
Screenshot from the Resilience section of the platform
‘Resilience’
Each theme is broken down into a number of sub-themes to give a full sense of the life of a human rights defender. Visitors can learn about solidarity with stigmatized groups, with mother earth, with local communities, and from the global community.
The resilience section details risks and attacks faced by defenders, trends in repression, coping strategies, and their courage and commitment. Hope explores defenders’ belief in justice and making a change in the world, as well as important victories they have achieved.
Sir Patrick Elias launched the platform in August 2020 during our webinar series. We invited actors Juliet Stevenson and Christopher Colquhoun to read some of the stories of defenders we have collected over the past two years to an international audience.
Defenders on film
Screenshot from The Search by Manu Valcarce
As part of the project we produced a series of short films spotlighting some of the issues our human rights defenders work on, and their incredible achievements.