All over the world people understand the importance of to empower human rights defenders. Including actually now there is a worldwide movement to empower a Brazilian human rights and democracy defender who is trying to become a politician since 2012 and has had his political rights violated systematically. I hope this year he can finally has his political rights respected. This is the wish of millions of people worldwide. We can not let threats about the creation of lies to stop us fighting for justice and for our rights. This post is a summary of the book with the title above published in 2021 at https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/202201/Special_Report_LAC_HRDs_PDF_ENGLISH_Final_01262022.pdf
According to human rights organizations, in 2020, Latin America was the most dangerous continent in the world for human rights defenders, accounting for more than three-quarters of all murders of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) worldwide. Worsening human rights conditions have also spurred unprecedented levels of migration of HRDs, across the region. Growing refugee populations in Latin America have been especially vulnerable in the context of COVID-19. In recent years, HRDs and challenges they face in Latin America have garnered increasing attention. Gaps in knowledge, understanding and support remain, yet this assessment found that HRDs themselves are driving efforts to close those gaps and expand knowledge. HRDs' burgeoning agency in shaping their own protection has prompted a shift from perceiving HRDs under threat as victims, to viewing them as agents of change. As HRDs work in Latin America is increasingly being criminalized and restricted, this assessment sought to offer systematic analysis of security and protection dynamics in Latin America that might inform efforts to improve HRDs protection. In so doing, the assessment revealed some initial findings about the current landscape of security for and protection of HRDs: 1- The pressure that accompanies HRDs work can push them beyond limits of physical and psychosocial safety. 2- Job stability should be included as a key component of security. 3- CSOs interviewed for the assessment highlighted the pattern of defining security as only the absence of threats and risks. Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) promoting rights and democracy continue to face enormous challenges across Latin America today. Activists have experienced legislation criminalizing their work, increasing intimidation, human rights violations, and forced displacement. The region is home to 20% of the 82.4 million people forcibly displaced globally, including the second-largest external displacement crisis in the world after the Syrian, 5.6 million Venezuelan migrants fleeing economic crisis and repression. While often the best solution to mitigate risk to an HRDs, temporary relocation poses significant challenges. Prior to fleeing their homes within or outside the country, amidst an environment of threats, HRDs often have to hastily put personal and professional aspects of their lives in order, include leaving behind their careers, gainful employment, their homes and family members. The focus on HDRs in Latin America is still an evolving area of inquiry. Their work exposes them and their families to threats, trauma, and stress. The assessment confirmed that there are more at risk HRDs in Latin America that require additional support than physical security or temporary relocation. Relocation programs need to take care those individuals who are suffering from immense emotional stress. In addition, the relocation itself can trigger other adverse effects on emotional wellbeing, due to feelings of isolation, displacement and the stress related to adapting to a new environment. The assessment found that all HRDs at risk experience some level of trauma. As a result of the constant attacks and threats perpetrated against them, without finding any recourse from the state, HRDs often experience severe psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression. These symptoms have also manifested in psysiological conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. In relocation, HRDs often continue to experience these same symptoms, sometimes further exarcebated by their having fled the human rights movement, their work, their families and their homeland. HRDs and researches highlighted that s significant gap exists with the provision of security as part of relocation programs. Findings from the assessment confirmed that digital security training is a key area that needs to be further developed. This includes discussion about ensuring protection of HRDs, such as: how to encrypt an email; how to create a password-protected server; malware detection; how to lock a phone; and how to present and protect yourself on social media. For some HRDs, digital security is a priority once they relocate. Digital security is especially critical for the most visible activists who conduct their work publicly and make formal public complaints against the government. HRDs who continued their work in exile are concerned with digital security and have implemented safeguards to safely communicate with their home countries. HRDs expressed concern that their social networks can be attacked or infiltrated while in relocation. As this assessment confirmed, Latin America has become increasingly more violent and dangerous for HRDs, with authoritarianism on the rise, democratic principles deteriorating and governments seeking to exert more control over their populations. As a result, circumstances call for new strategies of protection and support for HRDs. Criminalization is not only a corrupt use of a state's criminal laws meant to obstruct the work of HRDs, as in the cases of Venezuela and Nicaragua highlighted in this assessment, it is also used as means of defamation, hate speech and stigmatization of HRDs. Protection organization need to fully understand and support those HRDs. Most states in Latin America support and have ratified human rights standards and treaties, but implementation and enforcement are weak. At the same time, there is a serious climate of impunity where grave human rights violations are on the rise, including against HRDs. What is needed are policies that support an environment for HDRs to operate freely and without reprisals. CSOs and HRDs believe in the role that foreign governments and international organizations can play in pressuring governments when grave situations arise with attacks of HRDs. Brazil was identified as a country largely underrepresented in temporary relocation and in protection assistance to HRDs. The current local context indicates that repression of HRDs is occurring. Collaboration with local CSOs should be further explored. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a continuous consultation and research process should be established with HRDs about what areas of research are most currently needed. As the assessment results showed, they are, indeed, the ones who knows the best. The focus on HRDs in Latin America is still an evolving area of inquiry. There is a need for a more systematic effort to understand their needs and challenges, and to design effective support strategies.
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