On 06 March, HURIDOCS joined a side event hosted by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), featuring Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. The session began with powerful interventions from human rights defenders in local and national contexts, shedding light on the dangers and challenges they face in different environments. Ms. Lawlor emphasised the importance of amplifying defenders’ voices and highlighted her ongoing efforts to raise their concerns with governments globally, stressing that change comes from the ground and grassroots movements.
The following day, on 07 March, Lucía Gómez, HURIDOCS Programme Manager, took part in another side event co-hosted by ISHR. This session focused on the growing threats of technology-facilitated rights violations, such as digital surveillance, online harassment, and the misuse of tech to stifle dissent. Participants underscored the urgent need for strong digital security practices and legal protections for defenders navigating these evolving risks.
Lucía highlighted the importance of centring the experiences of defenders themselves when designing tools and strategies for protection.
“We often regard emerging technologies as evil, as they have harmed and jeopardised our rights and livelihoods. (…) However, there is a tremendous unlocked power and potential for the greater good in the association of new emerging technologies and human rights defenders, two unsuspected allies that until recently have lived turning their backs on each other.“
—Lucía Gómez, HURIDOCS Programme Manager
These events reaffirm our commitment to equipping human rights defenders with the tools and strategies they need to safely and effectively pursue their vital work.