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Article

3 Feb 2020

Front Line Defenders Global Analysis 2019

Global Analysis 2019 details the physical assaults, defamation campaigns, digital security threats, judicial harassment, and gendered attacks faced by HRDs and women human rights defenders (WHRDs) around the world. …HRDs are at the forefront of social change and face significant threats and risks for doing so – whether demanding civil and political freedoms or protecting the environment and combating climate change… In 2019, 304 HRDs in 31 countries were targeted and killed for their work … In addition to the physical attacks, restrictive legislation, intimidation and threats HRDs face, authorities have deployed various measures to attack HRDs and hinder their work online and in digital spaces. Internet shutdown, restricting access or blocking certain communication tools such as social media and instant messaging during protests, social upheavals or crises were commonplace in 2019. … The social media platform WhatsApp, popular for organising and communications, became a serious threat when it was weaponised against HRDs in a number of cases… Despite the difficult context in which HRDs worked in 2019, they remain at the forefront of generating positive social change…Front Line Defenders continues to work with HRDs to promote their security with a range of protection programming.