Open Briefing is delighted to feature this guest post from our partner the Exile Hub, a nonprofit established in the aftermath of the 2021 coup in Myanmar.
In today’s challenging world, human rights defenders and journalists face numerous threats. Organisations like Open Briefing and the Exile Hub offer vital support and resources to those fighting for justice and freedom while living in exile. The Exile Hub provides resources and support to human rights defenders, journalists, and other critical voices forced to flee Myanmar. We provide fellowships, safe accommodation, grants, counselling, workshops, and training.
Fostering team resilience
We originally heard about Open Briefing through mutual contacts in our global civil society network. In late 2021 and early 2022, one of our co-founders saw a call from Open Briefing to support Afghan civil society networks and contacted them to see if it could also be applied to Myanmar civil society. Open Briefing’s reputation for providing comprehensive psychosocial support made them a perfect partner for us. They agreed, and we began working with the wellbeing and resilience team at Open Briefing, who provided invaluable support during a critical time.
Our first collaboration focused on addressing burnout among our team. For grassroots activists and frontline defenders, burnout management is crucial. These individuals face constant threats, high stress, and emotional exhaustion, which can significantly impact their effectiveness and mental health. Recognising this, we felt that our team needed emotional and psychosocial support to continue their critical work. Open Briefing provided individual counselling sessions and a group therapy session, significantly improving our capacity to operate safely in high-risk environments.
Our partnership with Open Briefing has enabled us to achieve several significant milestones. Notably, we have been able to enhance the wellbeing practices within our organisation, ensuring the mental and emotional safety of our staff and partners.
Supporting activists in exile in Thailand
Building on this, we launched a new project with Open Briefing in 2023 in response to significant gaps in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for activists forced into exile in Thailand. Timely access to such support is essential to addressing the threat to the wellbeing of activists in exile. So with Open Briefing we are launching a mentoring programme for councillors and MHPSS providers in Thailand to deliver trauma-informed support services and develop a sustainable support network for activists in exile. This initiative is crucial for helping human rights defenders not only survive but thrive despite ongoing challenges. The resilience of human rights defenders is paramount to the continuity and effectiveness of their work. By fostering networks and partnerships with organisations like Open Briefing, we can bolster our collective capacity to respond to crises and support those on the front lines.
The project will help address gaps in psychosocial support for exiled activists, most significantly through localised psychosocial support providers. By mentoring counsellors and MHPSS providers in Thailand to provide high-quality support, we can significantly reduce activists’ vulnerability to harm and re-traumatization. Extending this support to families and colleagues also alleviates the anxiety and survivor guilt many activists often feel. The project will also combine further training for the Exile Hub team in trauma-informed practices. Exile Hub is proud to be the pilot partner for Open Briefing, aiming to create a safer and more supportive environment for human rights defenders in exile in Thailand.
One of our most impactful advocacy initiatives has been the Only My Voice Left campaign, which seeks to raise awareness about the struggles and resilience of human rights defenders in Myanmar. The campaign has received widespread acclaim and has been a powerful tool in our advocacy efforts. We invite you to explore Only My Voice Left to hear directly from human rights defenders about the challenges that they face in relocating from Myanmar and sustaining their activism across borders.
We deeply value our partnership with Open Briefing. Their holistic approach and unwavering support have been instrumental in our journey. As we continue navigating the complex landscape of human rights advocacy, we look forward to deepening our collaboration and making a tangible difference in the lives of those who defend human rights.
