About the campaign
As many reports have documented, worldwide the space for civic space is shrinking: governments and corporate actors are increasingly restricting fundamental freedoms and repressing any form of dissent. In the context of development projects, where often there are high interest at stake, community members and human rights defenders expressing concerns, voicing their opinion, or sharing information are often threatened, criminalized, attacked, and even murdered. Reprisals send a chilling message to the wider community, curtail the opportunities for participation and engagement, and end up jeopardizing the success of the project itself.
In 2018, members and partners of the Coalition for Human Rights in Development launched the Defenders in Development Campaign to ensure that communities and marginalized groups have the information, resources, protection and power to shape, participate in, or oppose development activities, and to hold development financiers, governments and companies accountable. To achieve these objectives, the campaign engages in collective advocacy, capacity-building activities, research and campaigning.
Who we are
The Campaign is made up of defenders and those who work with them on issues of development and human rights, such as: community organizations; human rights and environmental groups; defender security organizations; transparency, accountability and press freedom NGOs; and Indigenous Peoples and women’s networks.
Security Working Group
We support human rights defenders at risk through our Security Working Group, comprised of staff of international organizations that can offer different types of assistance (emergency grants, legal support, advocacy, security training, etc).
Are you facing risks because you are voicing concerns or sharing information about a project funded by a development bank?
- consult our Security Working Group directory to identify which organizations could offer support;
- check out some useful resources for human rights defenders at risk in the list below;
- get in touch to discuss together advocacy and protection support.
Campaign declaration
We seek a world in which individuals, communities, groups and peoples are able to exercise their fundamental human rights, determining and pursuing their own priorities about their lives, their futures, their lands and natural resources.
Advocacy
2023
2022
- Open letter: international groups call for the respect of the right to protest and express solidarity with the Rios Vivos Movement (16 Nov 2022)
- Senegal: 26 people arrested for peacefully discussing how to demand fair compensation in the context of a train project (26 Oct 2022)
- Recommendations to ADB from Communities Facing Reprisals (16 Sept 2022)
- Over 130 CSOs sign joint open letter: stop reprisals against environmental defender Sukhgerel Dugersuren (17 Aug 2022)
2021
2020
2018
- Press Release: Defenders in Development Campaign Welcomes IFC Position Statement on Reprisals (2018)
- “Human rights defenders are a cornerstone of sustainable development” Letter to States and Development Banks (2018)
Key resources for human rights defenders
In the following pages, you can find other lists of useful resources for human rights defenders:
- the Coalition’s tools and guides directory
- Open Briefing | Protection ecosystem map and Resources directory
- Zero Tolerance Initiative | Resources on Collective Protection
- IFEX | Directory of opportunities and assistance for journalists
Reports
Misplaced Trust
Misplaced Trust shows how development banks are putting human rights defenders at serious risk by relying on their clients to address reprisals.
Wearing Blinders
“Wearing Blinders” exposes how development banks are often failing to identify, assess, and mitigate reprisal risks.
Unhealthy Silence
“Unhealthy Silence” shows how development banks that funded pandemic-related projects failed to address the reprisals faced by those expressing concerns and raising questions on the COVID-19 response
Uncalculated Risks
Through 25 case studies, Uncalculated Risks explores the nature of the threats and attacks against human rights defenders in the context of development projects
Stories and updates
Why development banks should not fund the Rogun mega-dam in Tajikistan, if they really care about people and the environment
Joint letter to development banks re: Kyrgyzstan “foreign representative” law
International groups stand in solidarity with Armenian environmental and human rights defenders facing defamation and criminalization
Recommendations on reprisals for the updated ADB safeguards
Defenders in Development campaign gathering
Open call for proposals: Defenders in Development policy grants
World Bank must prioritize civic space and participation in its Evolution Roadmap
Recommendations on reprisals for the EBRD E&S Policy review
Stay in Touch
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If you are in #Tbilisi, don't miss this beautiful art exhibition organised by @forum_adb showcasing some of the stories of communities across #Asia impacted by @ADB_HQ projects
👇 👇👇
🌍 Join us for an insightful session on protecting people and the planet!
🌿 Forum is shedding light on CSO reflections regarding the @ADB_HQ Draft ESF and proposed changes in safeguards policy.
We'll discuss recommendations to safeguard project-affected individuals and…
🎨✨ In TBILISI now!
🌊 Explore a preview of our exhibition exposing the link between environmental degradation, social injustice, and human rights violations caused by @ADB_HQ projects.
With @ceebankwatch, @RightsinDevt, Green Alternative ✊🏽
Can't make it? No worries, catch…
The Lower Sesan 2 Dam is being partly funded by ABBank, a financial intermediary (FI) client of the @IFC_org. Financial intermediaries represent the nexus between development finance and commercial banking.
Read about the Lower Sesan 2 Dam Project here: http://bit.ly/IFC_LowerSesan2
