There has never been a time when being a human rights defender is so challenging and fraught with risk. According to Front Line Defenders, “[m]ore than 1,000 human rights defenders were killed, harassed, detained, or subjected to smear campaigns and other violations in 2016.” More human rights activists are victims of deadly violence in more places than ever before—especially those defending environmental rights in Latin America—while made-up charges, unfair trials, and obstructive laws targeting rights defenders and their work have become the norm in many parts of the world.
Defenders face exhaustion and trauma and struggle with burnout.
In addition to threats against their personal safety and security, defenders face exhaustion and trauma and struggle with burnout. For example, one of our partners, an activist living in exile, was followed multiple times by government officials and security forces because she was highlighting human rights violations in her home country. She had been threatened physically and her home had been broken into. She was terrified for the physical safety of her children and family members and confided that there was no place where she felt safe. Despite this, she refused to give up, saying, “[I’m] so motivated to continue. I believe the work I’m doing is very important. If I’m not there, it will be very difficult for others.”
