As human rights funders, we should support our grantees to pursue holistic safety and protection (including physical safety, mental health, and digital security), as well as community care and healing. Human rights defenders face trauma, violence, and burnout as a result of their work. Threats to safety may be physical, social, emotional, economic, legal, political, or reputational.

First and foremost, human rights funders must always seek to do no harm and mitigate risks. Funder actions can expose grantees and communities to risks; potential risks should be evaluated in collaboration with those affected and held above all other concerns. Recognizing the high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder, self-sacrifice, and overwork present in human rights organizations and movements, funders should support improved working conditions and adequate compensation so that self-care is at the heart of internal working cultures.

Write us at principlesproject@hrfn.org to recommend additional resources.