Temporary Relocation in an Academic Setting for Human Rights Defenders at Risk: Good Practice Lessons and Challenges

With increasing threats against human rights defenders (HRDs) worldwide and shrinking civic space impacting on their ability to act, HRD protection through temporary relocation is needed more than ever. At the same time, temporary relocation schemes are starting to feel a shrinking space impacting on their ability to relocate HRDs. This practice note discusses current trends in temporary relocation through the example of the Protective Fellowship Scheme for HRDs at Risk based at the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR), at the University of York in the UK. CAHR has ten years of experience hosting HRDs at risk on its Protective Fellowship Scheme, which is unique as a structured relocation programme based at a university. CAHR hosts HRDs in an educational setting that aims at providing a holistic support programme encompassing research and training opportunities alongside advocacy and networking activities, as well as rest and protection. This paper analyses both good practice and everyday challenges encountered in relocation, suggesting good practice lessons to reflect on.