Discover the resource
This resource gives guidance to European National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) who wish to find more effective ways of working with and protecting the rights of human rights defenders.
Equally, human rights defenders and civil society organisations can find useful information and tools on how they can collaborate with NHRIs to counter shrinking civic space in Europe.
Click on a topic to learn more
Be inspired!
Discover inspiring examples of how NHRIs have promoted, protected and supported human rights defenders and civil society organisations.
Enabling environment for HRDs & CSOs
Environmental HRDs
Freedom of assembly and association
Freedom of expression
Freedom of the media
Funding of CSOs
Non-government controlled territories
Prohibition of discrimination
Protection of HRDs
Right to a fair trial
Right to an effective remedy
Right to privacy
Right to respect for private and family life
Sustainable Development Goals
Whistleblowers
Women HRDs
By topic
Enabling environment for HRDs & CSOs
Environmental HRDs
Freedom of assembly and association
Freedom of expression
Freedom of the media
Funding of CSOs
Non-government controlled territories
Prohibition of discrimination
Protection of HRDs
Right to a fair trial
Right to an effective remedy
Right to privacy
Right to respect for private and family life
Sustainable Development Goals
Whistleblowers
Women HRDs
Submit your good practices
Are you an ENNHRI member?
We invite you to contribute to our collection of good practices on human rights defenders by filling out this form.
You can also share new updates on the situation of human rights defenders in your country through ENNHRI’s annual rule of law report.
Please contact Klara Paro – klara.paro@ennhri.org – from the ENNHRI Secretariat for more information.
What can NHRIs do to defend human rights defenders?
Last updated in July 2026.
This resource is co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
