Advocacy is key to our work, and a vital element of international protective accompaniment. We advocate at local, regional and international levels for human rights accountability, ensuring that the defenders calls for rights and freedoms are heard by those who can make a difference.
PBI fulfils a bridging function by connecting Human Rights Defenders with national and international actors, providing platforms for underrepresented voices. Our advocacy efforts increase visibility and recognition of defenders, motivating international support and pressuring local governments to fulfill their protection duties.
We convey the needs and concerns of defenders to local, regional, and national authorities - both formal and informal - and facilitate direct connections between them. These efforts often lead to authorities developing a more positive attitude towards defenders, as well as growing recognition and fulfillment of their responsibility to implement effective prevention and protection measures.
These include:
- speaking tours during which human rights defenders are able to provide first-hand information to officials, politicians, their peers and the general public;
- developing international support networks for human rights defenders working in specific fields;
- organising conferences, round tables and other events bringing together human rights defenders and decision makers to encourage the exchange of ideas, determine ways in which policy and practice could be improved and inspire positive change.