On 28 May 2026, an important milestone was reached: ten years since the creation of ProtectDefenders.eu. Over the past decade, the EU Human Rights Defenders Mechanism has supported more than 97,000 defenders worldwide and become one of the most comprehensive international protection initiatives for human rights defenders at risk.
The anniversary comes at a challenging moment. Across all regions, defenders face escalating repression, shrinking civic space, conflict, transnational repression, digital surveillance and increasing restrictions on fundamental freedoms. At the same time, funding ecosystems supporting civil society and human rights work are under unprecedented pressure, while protection needs continue to grow.
Together, they send a strong and timely political signal: human rights defenders are essential to democratic and resilient societies; protecting them is a shared responsibility; and continued political and financial support for the EU Human Rights Defenders mechanism remains critical at a time when demand for protection far exceeds available resources. Their contributions also reaffirm the importance of ensuring the continuity and future strengthening of the Mechanism as part of the EU’s broader commitment to human rights worldwide.
Despite an increasingly difficult environment, ProtectDefenders.eu directly supported more than 10,460 human rights defenders in over 110 countries during the reporting period through emergency assistance, temporary relocation, advocacy, legal and psychosocial support, digital protection and organisational resilience initiatives. Yet the report also highlights a stark reality: current resources allow the Mechanism to respond to only a fraction of the legitimate requests for support received.
As the report makes clear, this is not the time to scale back protection efforts. It is a moment to reinforce collective commitment, strengthen protection systems and invest in the resilience of those who defend rights and freedoms around the world.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 