Wellbeing, risk and activism
Event details
In recent years, there has been greater attention to the mental and emotional impacts of risky forms of activism. People engaged in human rights activism around the world are often exposed to human rights violations, discrimination and stigmatisation; some have experienced direct threats and attacks in the course of their work. Research conducted by the Centre for Applied Human Rights highlights that the valorisation of bravery, heroism, and ‘being strong’ in the face of adversity and insecurity - common in cultures of human rights practice - contributes to human rights defenders’ reluctance to seek support as they suffer. This seminar focuses on the political, social, and economic conditions that shape the defence of human rights, and explores how human rights communities can foster self- and collective care among human rights defenders at risk while resisting oppression and calling for justice.
This is a hybrid event organised by the Human Rights Defender Hub.
Please register in advance for this webinar.
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About the speakers
Alejandro M. Peña is a Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the Department of Politics at the University of York. He conducts research on aspects of international relations, contentious politics, and state-society relations in Latin America.
Larissa Meier is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bielefeld, where she examines protest dynamics across different German cities. She has also examined micro-mobilization and violence dynamics during the Sri Lankan civil war.
Alice M. Nah, Tallulah Lines, and Martin Jones are based at the Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York, where they conduct research on the security and protection of human rights defenders at risk.
Craig Higson-Smith leads the Research Department at the Centre for Victims of Torture. He has worked with survivors of violence and torture and individual and community levels for over 25 years, and is interested in the psychological underpinnings of integrated security training for human rights defenders.
James Savage is the Program Director for the Enabling Environment for Human Rights Defenders Program at the Fund for Global Human Rights (FGHR). He has worked with human rights defenders at risk for more than 25 years in different capacities.
Enrique Eguren is a Senior Adviser at Protection International. He is an expert on the protection of human rights defenders and civilians in humanitarian contexts.