Protection International
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HRDs | |
Fields | Training, capacity-building, advocacy, video advocacy, (field) research, international community mobilisation |
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Website | www.protectioninternational.org www.protectionline.org |
Protection International (PI) is an international
Protection International began its activities in 1998 as the former European Peace Brigades International (PBI-BEO) and became Protection International in 2007. Their headquartersed are located in Brussels while also have permanent presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, Colombia, Kenya and Thailand, as well as non-permanent activities in another 30 countries in collaboration with local partner organisations. Protection lnternational frame their role with partners in promoting the Right to Defend Human Rights of defenders at risk.[1]
It provides human rights defenders (i.e.
History
Protection International is the former European Union office of Peace Brigades International (PBI-BEO). In October 2007, PBI-BEO officially became Protection International, after a separation with the PBI organisation carried out by common consent. Nevertheless, current activities run by Protection International are the logical result of defenders protection initiatives which began more than two decades ago.
In 1998, it organised a hearing on the newly adopted UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in the Plenary of the
From 1999 to 2002, PBI organised public seminars on International Observation Strategies for
While developing its presence in sensitive areas, PI began working in 2003 with members of Parliaments in various European countries on the adoption of resolutions and motions on the protection of defenders. As a result, PI assisted the Belgian Parliament and Senate in designing and adopting in July 2003, a global reach resolution which asked the Belgian Government to "request its diplomatic missions to observe carefully and systematically the situation of human rights defenders in the countries where they're working."[5][a] In 2004, the Bundestag adopted a similar resolution.[6][7] and Spain followed in 2007 by voting its own legislation.[8][9]
From 2004 onwards, the organisation launched short and long-term activities in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It operated a first #Protection Desks in Nepal between 2006 and 2011.[10][non-primary source needed] In 2007, Protection International is formally registered as an international non-profit association. In 2009 thr organization published its Manual on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, and by 2011 PI publishes the action-oriented research publication Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Best Practices and lessons learnt.[10][non-primary source needed]
In the last few years, Protection International developed itself quite rapidly. From August 2008 to December 2009, it delivered trainings about security and protection measures for nearly 1500 HRD in its working countries. Moreover, it provides on a daily basis advice to 600 HRDs and their organisations through its permanent Protection Desks and liaise with international institutions such as the
In 2013 PI released a FOCUS Observatory on Public Policies for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, where they monitor, analyses and promote good practices by both government and state authorities both to protect human rights defenders and their right to defend human rights.[10][non-primary source needed]
Since 2011, Protection International has also specialized in providing e-learning courses to improve HRDs security and protection. PI had delivered over 100 protection and security trainings to over 1,200 HRDs in twenty-two countries.[10][non-primary source needed]
Along with other 11 NGOs, PI co-established the ProtectDefenders.eu consortium, is the European Union Human Rights Defenders mechanism to protect human rights defenders from around the world that are in grave, high-risk situations.[10][non-primary source needed]
In December 2019, Protection International Africa (PIA) was officially launched, setting its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. PIA has operated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania, as well as other projects across West, Central, and Southern Africa.[11] In 2020, the organization's Mesoamerica hub was launched in Guatemala City, aimed at expanding and serving human rights activists in the region. In 2022, the hub in South America was open with the headquarters in Bogotá, Colombia, and from where they constantly support HRDs in Brazil.[10][non-primary source needed]
As of 2022, it is part of the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism consortium, along with eleven other human rights NGOs.[12] The same year, the organization helped publish the Human Rights Defenders poetry book, along with the University of York and ProtectDefenders.eu, which was the result of the Human Rights Defenders Poetry Challenge.[13][14][15]
In 2023, Protection International helped to implement the project "New local narratives to combat misinformation and stigmatization of human rights advocacy and community journalism in Colombia" along with VerdadAbierta.com and with the help of the European Union's Foreign Policy Instruments Service (FPI).
The organization helped fund the documentary film The Illusion of Abundance, which follows three women that attempt to hold corporations in the European Union and the United States accountable for environmental harm.[20]
Objectives
Broadly speaking, Protection International's objective is "to contribute to ensuring fulfilment of national and international obligations[b] for the protection of human rights defenders – people who, individually or together with others, take action to promote or protect human rights". Concretely it focuses itself on two goals :
- To promote wider knowledge, improved decision-making and increase the effective use of field protection strategies for and by the main stakeholders in protection.[b]
- To directly support the work of all stakeholders in the effective use of field protection.
In every activities, Protection Line follows international standards in international human rights law and especially the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders(1998),
While it put the emphasis on the improvement of human rights defenders abilities regarding the handling of security, protection and psychosocial training, both for themselves and the beneficiaries of their work, PI's Global Protection programme also focuses itself on political action and advocacy, in order that the national and international authorities and other key actors involved in protection issues enforce their obligations in terms of human rights defenders protection.
Protection International's Work
According to the Annual Report 2008 foreword, Protection International's role is not "to replace governments"
- Protection Capacity Building and Training through analysing the risks faced by HRDs in various contexts, managing their security and transferring knowledge and tools
- Protection research : publication of manuals and informations to develop best practices
- Advocacy : dissemination of information among key actors in human rights issues,[b] organization of debates and involvement of media, parliaments and trade unions, acting as an alarm to local authorities when they tend to forget their international obligations and commitments on HRDs protection
- Video advocacy : production of testimonies and portraits of HRDS, showing their working environments, work experience (threats and challenges faced, achievements reached)
- Setting-up of Protection Desks that will be used as local centres in collaboration with partner networks and organisations.
- Managing www.protectionline.org,[25] a project website providing informations, documents, publications, press releases and promoting urgent actions for the protection of HRD.
Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
In 2004, Protection International led an observatory mission in DRC and organised two seminars on the EU Guidelines on HRDs.
In July 2006, PI organised a conference with 30 Congolese HRDs, Michael Matthiessen,
In May 2009, Protection International requested a re-trial of the Maheshe Case.
In August 2009, after the assassination of Bruno Koko Chirambiza, journalist at the Bukavu private station Radio Star Protection International, along with four other NGO's (Action des chrétiens pour l'abolition de la torture, Fédération de l'action des chrétiens pour l'abolition de la torture, Frontline et Diakonie), asked the Congolese authorities to put an end to impunity, claiming that "the situation of journalists and human rights defenders in the DRC is more and more worrying".
See also
- Human rights defenders
Notes
- ^ This resolution considered the creation of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders function (occupied then by Hina Jilani, who was succeeded in 2008 by Margaret Sekaggya) as a "great victory for all the people who fight every day for the enforcement of human rights" and recognized that human rights defenders "in many countries are more and more victims of intimidations because of their activities, [...] they need a protection from the international community".[5]
- ^ a b c Among these stakeholders : Government and State officials, parliamentary members, media, citizens, international governmental and non governmental organizations, local organizations of HRDs, IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable groups.
References
- ^ "About Protection International". Protection International. Archived from the original on 12 May 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ Marie Caraj, Luis Enrique Eguren "New Protection Manual for Human Rights Defenders" (PDF). Protection International. 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
- ^ Protection International Mandate. Protection International. 2009. p. 1.
- ^ Global Protection Programme for Human Rights Defenders. Protection International. 2008. p. 1.
- ^ a b "Proposition de résolution concernant la protection des défenseurs des droits humains (déposée par M. Philippe Mahoux)". Parlement de Belgique. 3 July 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
- ^ Motion submitted by the parliamentary groups of the SPD, CDU/CSU, ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS and FDP (PDF). Bundestag. 25 November 2003.
- ^ "Entschliessung des Deutschen Bundestages : Schutz von bedrohten Menschenrechtsverteidigern" (PDF). Bundestag. December 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
- ^ Congreso de Los Diputados de España (2007), p. 14–22
- ^ Congreso de Los Diputados de España (2007), p. 5
- ^ a b c d e f "Our Story". Protection International. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Ephron, Elias (August 2022). "Protection International Africa (PIA)". Artists at Risk Connection. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ Limås-Kollberg, Miriam (2022-09-07). "International civil society urges the EU to guarantee an enabling visa framework for human rights defenders". Civil Rights Defenders. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "Launch of the Human Rights Defenders Poetry Book". ProtectDefenders.eu.
- ^ "Human Rights Defenders Poetry Reading". University of York. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "Poetry Book launched". Human Rights Defender Hub. 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "Seis regiones combatirán la desinformación y la estigmatización de la defensa de los derechos humanos y periodismo comunitario". Delegation of the European Union in Colombia. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "Jornada Internacional por el derecho a defender derechos humanos y la libertad de expresión". Espacio OSC (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "PI y VerdadAbierta lanzan VERIFICO, plataforma que chequea estigmatización y desinformación hacia líderes y lideresas sociales |". Protection International (in Spanish). 16 August 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Celebrating 25 years of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders". International Service for Human Rights. 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "About". The Illusion of Abundance. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ A/RES/53/144 (PDF). United Nations General Assembly. 8 March 1999. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "United Nations 53rd General Assembly" (PDF). www.consilium.europa.eu.
- ^ Deng, Francis. "The guiding principles on internal displacement". E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.l, February 11. New York, NY: United Nations. New York: United Nations. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
- ^ a b "Protection International Annual Report 2008" (PDF). Protection International. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
- ^ "Protection International". www.protectioninternational.org.
- ^ "Protection International History". Retrieved 22 July 2010.
- ^ "European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders" (PDF). Council of the European Union. 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
- ^ a b "TWENTY-FIRST ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS Twenty-first Activity Report of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights" (PDF). African Union. 2007. p. 11. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
- ^ a b Braeckman, Colette (2009-06-24). "Affaire Maheshe : une parodie de justice à Bukavu". www.lesoir.be. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ^ "'RDC:un journaliste d'une radio privée tué à l'arme blanche dans l'est (radio)'". AFP. 23 August 2009.
- ^ "Executive Summary : Press Conference on the Maheshe Case in Bukavu". Protection International. 30 July 2009.
- ^ Roudil, Sophie (2009). Rapport d'observation du procès d'appel "Maheshe" devant la cour militaire du Sud-Kivu (R.D. Congo) et suivi des recours (PDF). New York: Protection International. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ Annual Report 2008 (PDF). Protection International. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
Bibliography
- Congreso de Los Diputados de España (11 May 2007). "Proposicion no de Ley sobre la Protección de Defensores y Defensoras de los Derechos Humanos" (PDF). Retrieved 22 July 2010.
External links
- Protection International
- Protection Line
- "Protection International". Human Rights and Democracy Network.
- "Protection International". European Network for Central Africa. 18 February 2019.
- "Poetry Challenge Book". Simplebooklet. Protection International.
- "Letter to EU governments on the GSP reform". Human Rights Watch. 2023-06-23.
- "The Situation of Human Rights in Colombia 2018-2022: Report of International Coordination Groups and Organizations for the Universal Periodic Review of Colombia 2023 - Colombia". Reliefweb. 2023-06-30.