Open Briefing is proud to be a key partner in Civic DEFENDERS, an ambitious five-year global programme aimed at countering digital repression and fostering long-term resilience within civil society, independent media, and human rights defenders. This transformative initiative, supported by USAID and coordinated by Internews, brings together a powerful consortium of leaders in internet freedom to collaborate across global, regional, and national levels.
Category: Blog
We need to rethink international relocation for activists at risk
This Human Rights Day, Open Briefing is compelled to launch Rethinking International Relocation: A Strategy of Last Resort and Strengthening Support for Activists in Exile. This groundbreaking report calls for a fundamental shift in how we protect human rights defenders and other activists under serious threat, advocating for sustainable in-country solutions while emphasising the need for comprehensive support when relocation is the only option.
We’re recruiting! Safety and security consultants
We are searching for safety and security consultants to provide expert and tailored security and protection advice and training to grassroots organisations and activists and their international partners to help disrupt attacks and reprisals from highly-capable and motivated adversaries. You will have a deep knowledge of security risk management, security in violent environments, duty of care, protection strategies, shrinking civic space, and state and non-state adversaries. Sound like you?
Job alert! Wellbeing coordinator, Civic Defenders project
Open Briefing is the wellbeing and resilience partner in a new five-year project designed to support local civil society, independent media, and human rights defenders worldwide to better prevent, mitigate, and respond to digital repression in their own contexts. We will lead the mental health and psychosocial support for these activists and movements. We are searching for a MHPSS specialist with strong project management skills to join our team as our full-time manager for this exciting project.
Resources and support to stay safe around COP29
With COP29 taking place in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku from 11 to 22 November 2024, it is vital for climate activists and environmental defenders to know that there are resources and support available from allies across the globe to help them stay safe before, during, and after the conference.
Staying safe before, during, and after COP29
We have again collaborated with Global Climate Legal Defense (CliDef) on a guide for climate advocates and activists attending COP29 in Azerbaijan. In the first part of the Guide to Azerbaijan and Holistic Security for Participants, CliDef provides an overview of the legal framework and resources available to navigate the local legal landscape in Azerbaijan. In the second part, we outline potential risks and comprehensive strategies for protecting both your physical and digital security before, during, and after the event.
Healing invisible scars: Supporting the mental health of Myanmar’s exiled activists
Exile Hub and Open Briefing have launched a mentoring programme for counsellors and mental health professionals in Myanmar and Thailand. The programme responds to critical gaps in both the community-based mental health system available to activists in exile and their families, and in the training for psychologists and counsellors in both countries. Open Briefing and Exile Hub will also help establish new peer support networks for human rights defenders and journalists living in exile in Thailand.
Read our latest newsletter! The Briefing #4
In this edition, our CEO reflects on our impact so far in 2024 and the continued surge in demand for our holistic security support. We share recent examples of collaboration with activists and grassroots organisations across the globe. We introduce our new mentoring programme for counsellors and mental health practitioners working with activists in exile. And we share insights from our recent session at Global Gathering on integrating wellbeing approaches into digital security practice.