Organisations

Amnesty International
A UK-based, not-for-profit organisation advocating for every person to enjoy all of the human
rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human
rights standards.
http://www.amnesty.org
Amnesty’s Human Rights Defenders Coordinator for Africa is placed at the Africa Regional
Office, Uganda.
P.O. Box 23966 Kampala, Uganda
Tel.: +256-312-350100; +256-414-252900
Fax: +256-312-350230; +256-414-252989
Email: ai-aro@amnesty.org

Amnesty also maintains a website on human rights defenders and relevant resources.
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/hrd-index-eng

Article 19
A UK-based not-for-profit organisation advocating for the freedom of expression as stipulated in
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.
Website: http://www.article19.org

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, non-profit organization promoting press
freedom worldwide by defending the rights of journalists to report the news without fear of
reprisal.
Website: http://www.cpj.org

Front Line
Front Line was founded with the specific aim of protecting Human Rights Defenders, people who
work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR).
Website: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org

For information in regards to tools and manuals for Human Rights Defenders:
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/manuals/

For information on how to apply for a security and protection grant from Front Line or for
funding from other international organisations which fund Human Rights Defenders please refer
to: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/grants/

For news on Front Line campaigns and actions on human rights defenders:
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/news/

For useful links to national and international human rights organisations:
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/links/


Human Rights First
Human Rights First believes that building respect for human rights and the rule of law, will help
ensure the dignity to which, every individual is entitled and will stem tyranny, extremism,
intolerance, and violence. Human Rights First has a web page on human rights defenders that
features cases, reports and country profiles.
Website: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/defenders/hr_defenders.asp

It also has a human rights defenders programme that concentrates among other things on
supporting persecuted human rights defenders and human rights defenders at risk:
Email: defenders@humanrightsfirst.org

Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an independent, non-governmental organization, supported by
contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. Human Rights Watch is
dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. Human Rights Watch posts
information and statements on the situation of human rights defenders throughout the world.
Website: http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/defenders/

It further dedicates a section of its website to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights.
http://www.hrw.org/doc/?t=lgbt


Interights
Interights aims to enforce human rights through law, providing protection and redress, in
particular regions and on issues of strategic focus; and to empower legal partners and promote
their effective use of law to protect human rights. It supports lawyers, judges, NGOs and victims
on the ground by tailoring activities in response to the needs of each group and region. It works
across the developing and developed world.
Website: http://www.interights.org

International Commission of Jurists
The International Commission of Jurists is dedicated to the primacy, coherence and
implementation of international law and principles that advance human rights. The ICJ provides
legal expertise at both the international and national levels to ensure that developments in
international law adhere to human rights principles and that international standards are
implemented at the national level.
Website: http://www.icj.org

International Lesbian and Gay Association
The International Lesbian and Gay Association is a world-wide network of national and local
groups dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT)
people everywhere. Founded in 1978, ILGA is to this day the only international non-profit and
non-governmental community-based federation focused on presenting discrimination on grounds
of sexual orientation as a global issue.
Website: http://www.ilga.org

International Service for Human Rights
The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) is an international association serving human
rights defenders. It promotes the development, strengthening, effective use and implementation of
international and regional law and mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights.
Website: http://www.ishr.ch

In May 2000, ISHR created the Human Rights Defenders Office (HRDO) to promote the respect
and compliance with the United Nations Declaration on HRDs; develop preventive and protective
mechanisms, and empower human rights defenders and their organisations for full and active
participation in building a culture of full respect for human rights.
Website: http://www.ishr.ch/sitemap.htm#HRDO

Observatory for the Protection of HRDs
The International Foundation for Human Rights (FIDH) created the Observatory for the
Protection of Human Rights Defenders, jointly with the World Organisation Against Torture
(OMCT). The Observatory has a two-pronged approach: intervention to prevent or find solutions
in repressive situations and a contribution to international mobilisation to acknowledge human
rights defenders’ activities and the need for their protection at both regional and international
levels.
Website: http://www.fidh.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=180
Email: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
Tel and fax FIDH: 33 1 43 55 55 05 / 01 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT: + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29

Peace Brigades International
PBI is a non-governmental organization protecting human rights and promoting non-violent
transformation of conflicts. When invited, PBI sends teams of volunteers into areas of repression
and conflict. The volunteers accompany human rights defenders, their organizations and others
threatened by political violence.
Website: http://www.peacebrigades.org

Protection International
Protection International (PI) contributes to reinforcing the security and protection of HRDs by
mobilising the national and international community (parliaments, governments, the UN, ordinary
citizens, the media) and by providing the concerned parties and beneficiaries with the knowledge
and necessary tools to integrate protection on the ground into work plans and programmes.
Website: http://www.protectioninternational.org

Protectionline is a one-stop website by/with/for HRD and those seeking to contribute to
HRD protection. Daily update of information, documents, publications, testimonies, urgent actions
and tools are designed to promote the protection of HRD.
Website: http://www.protectionline.org

Urgent Action Fund
The Urgent Action Fund is the only international women’s fund in the world designed to respond
on short notice. One of their key areas of engagement is the protection of women human rights
defenders.

Contact details in East Africa:
PO Box 53841-00200
Nairobi, Kenya
Life Ministry Centre, 2nd Floor
Jabavu Road, Kilimani
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254 20 2731095
Fax: 254 20 2731094
Email: info@urgentactionfund-africa.or.ke
Website: http://www.urgentactionfund-africa.or.ke

World Organisation Against Torture
Based in Geneva, OMCT’s International Secretariat provides personalised medical, legal and/or
social assistance to hundreds of torture victims and ensures the daily dissemination of urgent
appeals across the world, in order to protect individuals and to fight against impunity. Specific
programmes allow it to provide support to specific categories of vulnerable people, such human
rights defenders. In the framework of its activities, OMCT also submits individual
communications and alternative reports to the special mechanisms of the United Nations, and
actively collaborates in the development of international norms for the protection of human
rights.
Website: http://www.omct.org