We build their capacity
Safeguard Defenders draws on extensive experience to provide capacity development and grants for local civil society organizations. We support the idea that local NGOs and rights defenders know best about their local environments. We offer grants to local partners and assist them in managing projects in a safe, sustainable and impactful way, while building their capacity to seek support from larger foundations so that they can eventually operate independently. Full training and funding support is intended to allow small NGOs to develop into forces for change.
We raise the issues facing them
Safeguard Defenders undertakes issue-based advocacy to raise global attention to new developments in persecution in unfree societies and how these are impacting rights defenders. Our first publication in late 2017, The People’s Republic of the Disappeared, was also the first book ever released on China’s legalization of enforced disappearance via Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL). The following year, we published the first exposé on China’s use of Forced TV Confessions. Trial By Media revealed how Chinese state TV collaborates with the police in producing these coerced broadcasts. Safeguard Defenders also provides information and reports to international mechanisms.