Human Rights Defenders & Closing Civic Space

Protecting human rights defenders (HRDs) and defending against threats to civic space are fundamental to advancing human rights. In this area, we bring funders together to better support movements and activists in highly restricted contexts, from closing civic space to acute crisis.

Our approach combines future-looking analysis, crisis preparedness, and cross-sectoral collaboration to address the intersectional impacts of crisis and closing civic space. Through research and analysis, focused learning journeys, and our Community of Practice, we seek to build a more resilient approach to funding. Partners in this work include Funders Initiative for Civil Society (FICS), Peace and Security Funders Group (PSFG), Ariadne (European Funders for Social Change and Human Rights), and HRFN members.