Human Rights Education Associates

Human Rights Defenders

Human rights defenders are those individuals, groups and organs of society that promote and protect universally-recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms. They seek the promotion and protection of civil and political rights as well as the promotion, protection and attainment of economic, social and cultural rights. They advocate and mobilise by peaceful means – sometimes putting their own lives at risk – to defend the rights of others.

HREA’s Human Rights Defenders Program focuses on ongoing capacity building of young human rights defenders and civil society organizations, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where the space for civil society continues to shrink.

Priority areas

– enhancing monitoring and advocacy skills
– NGO management
– digital security and safety

Training and capacity building

HREA offers a range of e-learning courses for human rights defenders.

HREA annually offers the following intensive training programs for human rights defenders:

Advocacy Institute in Beirut (Lebanon) and Middelburg (the Netherlands)