Focus Areas
Each of PHRD (Protect Human Rights Defenders)'s ten focus areas is designed with EU advocacy levers in mind — connecting individual cases to systemic change through European institutions.
These areas are deeply interconnected. A defender facing transnational repression may simultaneously need asylum assistance, digital security support, and EU-level advocacy. PHRD works across all ten to provide holistic, EU-connected protection.
Documenting and countering state-sponsored persecution of dissidents abroad. Each case builds the evidentiary basis for EU Magnitsky listings and parliamentary resolutions.
Supporting defenders through EU asylum procedures — advocating for guidelines that recognise human rights work as grounds for protection and account for defenders' specific evidentiary challenges.
Advocating for targeted EU sanctions under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against perpetrators — holding individuals accountable regardless of official position.
Direct engagement with the European Parliament (DROI), European Commission (EEAS, DG NEAR), and Council working groups (COHOM, RELEX) to embed defender protection in EU policy.
Applying the Responsibility to Protect framework within EU foreign policy debates to advocate for early action where defenders and civilians face mass atrocity risks.
Building solidarity infrastructure connecting isolated defenders with resources, legal support, and peer networks — including diaspora communities and CSOs across Europe.
Practical guidance and advocacy for defenders on digital self-protection — including end-to-end encrypted communications. PHRD advocates for the universal adoption of post-quantum Signal Protocol encryption as critical internet infrastructure and a human rights protection tool. We oppose any legislation or technical measure that would weaken encryption — under any justification, including CSAM.
Countering state-sponsored disinformation targeting defenders and civil society — feeding into EU work on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).
Rigorous case records supporting EU accountability mechanisms, including sanctions listings, parliamentary resolutions, and strategic litigation before the Court of Justice.
Training defenders in EU advocacy, legislative theatre, and rights-based approaches — building civil society capacity to engage EU institutions directly.
From Magnitsky sanctions to asylum frameworks, parliamentary resolutions to rule-of-law conditionality — PHRD's focus areas are mapped onto real EU levers for change.
See our EU policy agenda →