Statute & Code of Conduct

1. Purpose

This Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected of everyone acting on behalf of or in association with PHRD. It reflects our commitment to operating with integrity, care, and respect — for the people we support, for each other, and for the broader human rights community.

2. Respect and Dignity

All individuals — defenders, colleagues, partners, and community members — shall be treated with unconditional respect and dignity, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic. Discrimination, harassment, and abuse in any form are strictly prohibited.

3. Trauma-Informed Conduct

PHRD operates with an explicit understanding that many of the people we work with carry significant trauma. All staff and volunteers are expected to:

• Approach interactions with patience, empathy, and awareness of potential trauma triggers
• Avoid re-traumatisation through repeated demands for testimony or documentation
• Recognise signs of distress and respond with appropriate care and referrals
• Maintain appropriate boundaries while providing genuine human support
• Prioritise the psychological safety of defenders in all planning and communication

4. Brave Spaces

PHRD is committed to creating brave spaces — environments where difficult conversations can be had with honesty and respect, disagreement is welcomed, vulnerability is met with care, and courage is supported rather than demanded. We distinguish brave spaces from "safe spaces" because safety cannot always be guaranteed — but we can commit to honesty, care, and solidarity.

5. Intersectionality and Compounded Vulnerability

PHRD recognises that oppression is rarely one-dimensional. Defenders often face persecution at the intersection of multiple identities — disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, migration status, and others. These intersecting identities can compound risk, reduce access to protection, and create forms of harm that single-axis approaches fail to address.

All personnel are expected to:

• Recognise and actively account for the intersecting vulnerabilities of the defenders they work with
• Avoid assumptions about defenders' identities, communities, or risk profiles
• Ensure that support, advocacy, and communications are designed to reach those most marginalised — including LGBTQ+ defenders, defenders with disabilities, racialised defenders, and women human rights defenders
• Advocate within PHRD for approaches, partnerships, and resources that reflect intersectional realities
• Recognise that gendered forms of repression — including sexual violence, online harassment, and attacks on family members — require specific, informed responses

6. Confidentiality and Do No Harm

The safety of the defenders we support is paramount. All personnel must:

• Maintain strict confidentiality of case information, personal data, and sensitive communications
• Never share identifying information about defenders without explicit, informed consent
• Apply a do-no-harm assessment before any public communication involving individuals
• Immediately report any potential security breach or accidental disclosure

7. Conflicts of Interest

All personnel must disclose any actual or perceived conflicts of interest promptly and in writing. Undisclosed conflicts of interest constitute a serious breach of this Code.

8. Accountability and Reporting

Breaches of this Code should be reported through designated channels. PHRD is committed to investigating all reports fairly, confidentially, and without retaliation against those who raise concerns in good faith.

10. Privacy and Encryption

PHRD (Protect Human Rights Defenders) recognises that privacy is a fundamental human right and that for human rights defenders it is a matter of operational survival. All personnel are expected to:

• Use end-to-end encrypted communications (Signal Protocol recommended) for all sensitive case work and defender communications
• Never use unencrypted channels for communications involving defender identities, case details, or security-sensitive information
• Advocate — within and outside the organisation — for encryption as a human rights protection tool and as core internet infrastructure
• Oppose any technical or legislative measures that would weaken, backdoor, or circumvent end-to-end encryption, regardless of justification

9. Care for Staff and Volunteers

PHRD commits to providing adequate support, supervision, and access to wellbeing resources for all team members — fostering a culture where asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.