WHAT WE DO ›
Protection of Defenders
Standing with human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and activists facing risk — through documentation, advocacy, and protection-oriented support across the MENA region.
Coverage in progress
OVERVIEW
Why defender protection matters
Human rights defenders carry the weight of accountability in places where institutions fail to. They face arbitrary detention, judicial harassment, travel bans, surveillance, smear campaigns, and increasingly transnational repression that follows them into exile.
HuMENA documents threats, intervenes through urgent appeals to UN special procedures and EU institutions, supports relocation when needed, and builds the international visibility that turns isolated cases into recognized patterns.
We work with defenders at risk in Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and the diasporas where transnational repression now follows exiled voices.
HOW WE WORK IN THIS AREA
Three roles, one mission
01
Monitor
We track patterns of repression, civic-space restrictions, and rights violations through trusted partners and primary sources across the region.
02
Document
We produce reports, statements, and analyses grounded in evidence — translating fragmented testimony into structured records that hold up to scrutiny.
03
Advocate
We carry findings to UN mechanisms, EU institutions, and bilateral missions — converting documentation into protection, accountability, and policy change.
FEATURED
Recent reports & analyses
Featured publications will appear here as posts are tagged.
ALL PUBLICATIONS
Browse the full archive
No additional publications yet — check back soon.
WHERE WE WORK
Defender cases by country
Country coverage will appear here as posts are tagged with countries.
Stay close to the work. Get our briefings on defender protection across MENA.