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The Program assists defenders by coordinating trial observations, legal or litigation assistance, and/or advocacy campaigns. Please fill out this form to request assistance.
Justice Defenders Program
Mobilizing the global legal community to support human rights defenders around the world who face retaliation for their work.
The Latest
The Impact of Internet Shutdowns on Human Rights Defenders in India
This report and video series examine the relationship between internet shutdowns and challenges to the work of human rights defenders in India. Their findings are stark: internet shutdowns have turned into an often-used tool that the government relies upon in order to silence dissent and limit the rights to freedom of press and expression under the guise of “maintaining law and order.”
Read - The ReportThe Latest
COVID-19 Related State of Emergency Measures: Impact and Responses
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, democratic and non-democratic countries have imposed states of emergency in declared and de facto forms. This report analyzes the impact of COVID-19 emergency measures on human rights defenders and explores the responses of HRDs through the use of strategic litigation and other actions to push back against disproportional restrictions related to such states of emergency. PC: See Report Page
Read - THE REPORT
Labor Rights
Serbia: Commentary on the Impact of the Draft Law on Seasonal and Other Occasional Employment in Specific Business Activities in Serbia on Migrant Workers and the Right to Unionize
In this commentary, Center for Human Rights staff find that the proposed draft law in Serbia to expand the industries and types of work considered "seasonal work"—an expansion of the use of non-standard forms of employment—would strip workers of their right to unionization and would likely worsen working conditions for foreign workers in Serbia.
Read - THE REPORT
Reports, Articles & Publications
View the Program's materials relating to threats against human rights defenders, rule of law, and governmental accountability around the world.
Where We Work
The Justice Defenders Program works with at-risk human rights defenders in over 65 countries.
What We Do
Freedom of Expression, Association and Assembly
In many countries, individuals are arrested or assaulted for exercising their legitimate right to participate in a peaceful gathering or protest, form associations, or exercise their right to speech. The Justice Defenders Program supports human rights defenders - including journalists, pro-democracy advocates, and labor activists - that face retaliation for exposing human rights abuses.
Fair Trial Rights
Human rights advocates are increasingly facing frivolous legal proceedings as a way to discredit their work and impede their activities. The Program observes trials and other proceedings to discourage the misuse of legal processes against defenders and provides technical assistance to local counsel representing defenders.
Business & Human Rights
Many individuals working to protect the environment, expose corrupt business practices or ensure protections for workers or indigenous communities face different forms of retaliation. These include violent threats, restrictions on their ability to form associations and frivolous criminal charges. The Program works with local partners facing such threats to develop innovative strategies to document abuses, form cross-sectoral coalitions, build public support, and engage key stakeholders to increase respect for human rights in business operations. Additionally, the Program helps activists to obtain protection when facing violent threats.
Misuse of Terrorism Charges Against Defenders
Many states have begun using counterterrorism laws to crack down on legitimate human rights defenders. The Program has analyzed various national counterterrorism laws, outlining the problematic provisions of these laws that open them up to abuse.
Independence of Lawyers and Judges
The Program has supported threatened attorneys, prosecutors, and judges in over twelve different countries. Our efforts and support resulted in the activists' releases from prison, dropped charges, improved conditions of confinement, increased protective measures, reinstatement to the bench, decreased restrictions on the independence of the bar, and increased investigations into violent attacks against lawyers.
Protecting Defenders Against Violence
Individuals working to defend fundamental rights, including journalists, lawyers, union organizers, and indigenous leaders, are facing increasing acts of intimidation and persecution for the legitimate work that they do. The Program supports these defenders by petitioning international bodies to obtain protective measures (such as court-ordered bodyguards), referring them to organizations that provide funds for physical security and psychosocial support, raising their public profile where appropriate, engaging local authorities to investigate threats, and holding officials accountable when they fail to investigate credible threats or are complicit in such threats.
Contact Us
Please get in touch to learn more about our programs.