Defending the Defenders and Tackling the Root Causes of Risk
PBI UK launches its new 2022-23 Annual Report
At PBI UK, we are pleased to announce the release of our 2022-23 Annual Report. This publication serves as a testament to the remarkable work carried out by human rights defenders (HRDs) around the world, as well as the role PBI UK plays in keeping them safe and supporting their efforts.
In a time marked by populist governments and abuses of power, HRDs continue to stand as beacons of hope and resilience. These brave individuals and groups are at the forefront of the fight for justice, environmental protection, Indigenous rights, gender equality and peace. They work tirelessly, often at great personal risk, to promote and protect the rights of marginalised and vulnerable communities. Those risks are graver than ever: a HRD is murdered every single day somewhere in the world, according to Front Line Defenders.
The report documents how, with the world characterised by polarisation and instability, HRDs are overcoming widespread smears and criminalisation to make human rights change in their communities and protect our shared environment.
Supporting Transformational Change
The report documents how, at PBI UK, we are advocating for structural changes to address the root causes of human rights and environmental violations. In 2022/23, our efforts included:
Coalition advocacy to build momentum for robust regulation of UK business behaviour.
Engaging the Government to enhance protection policies for defenders at risk.
Hosting defenders from seven countries to provide respite and obtain support and action from UK politicians, civil servants, lawyers and NGOs.
Fundraising to get more resources to PBI’s Front Line Teams so they can provide protective accompaniment to defenders at risk.
I am very grateful for PBI’s work, even more so now that PBI is practically the only international organisation that continues to be present in our territories.” CARLOS MORALESUVOC, Guatemala
As a result, PBI has:
Contributed to the UK government dropping its pledge to scrap the Human Rights Act.
Mobilised a group of international human rights lawyers to provide legal empowerment to grassroots Guatemalan defenders.
Provided input to the Foreign Office’s development of new policy on human rights and civil society.
Worked with the Corporate Justice Coalition to garner political, business and civil society support for a mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence law.
Supported PBI’s international efforts to train a generation of risk management specialists and embed sustainable security capacity in human rights movements.
Helped to lay the groundwork for a new regional hub in Southeast Asia
Reporting on PBI’s Unique Model of Holistic Protective Accompaniment in Action
PBI’s Front Line Teams in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal and Nicaragua provide on-the-ground international observation to ensure immediate security to HRDs in danger, while advocating to reduce the drivers of risk. The report’s case studies demonstrate the impact of this work.
In 2022, PBI provided holistic protective accompaniment to 1,874 individuals, 53 organisations and 822 communities worldwide. PBI provided workshops for over 2,000 people, strengthening their capacity in holistic security, peace-building, conflict resolution, gender rights and more. The impact of the defenders we supported reached over 200,000 people globally.
What Lies Ahead
As we launch our 2022-23 Annual Report, we remain dedicated to supporting, protecting and empowering HRDs worldwide. Our strategy for the coming year includes:
Raising increased funds to resource PBI's front line work.
Increasing the number of UK volunteers joining our Front Line Teams.
Expanding our international reach to respond to requests from defenders in countries where PBI currently has a limited presence, such as in Southeast Asia.
Providing legal empowerment initiatives in Guatemala and Nepal.
Providing respite opportunities to defenders at immediate risk through our role on the Advisory Board of the University of Dundee’s Scottish Human Rights Defenders Fellowship Programme.
Engaging with all major political parties ahead of the forthcoming election to demand that they put engaging and protecting HRDs at the heart of their approach to foreign policy.
Supporting land, environmental and Indigenous defenders from around the world to advocate for action on their countries and cases, while ensuring their perspectives are heard in debates around regulation of business behaviour.
If you want to become a part of the PBI community and stay updated on our work supporting HRDs, please sign up for PBI UK’s newsletter here. Your support makes a world of difference!
You can read full 2022-23 Annual Report here.
