Recent meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.
Mission & Goals
Front Line Defenders was founded in Dublin in 2001 with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk (HRDs), people who work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Human rights defenders at local and national levels are recognised to be essential actors in the struggle for human rights and enjoy the freedom and security to undertake their legitimate activities. FLD works to improve the security and protection of human rights defenders and organisations around the world at risk for their peaceful and legitimate human rights work. As identified by human rights defenders themselves, FLD responds to protection and security needs by providing support through grants, capacity building, visibility, networking, and advocacy, at the international, regional and local levels.
EU Legislative Interests
Annual Report on Human Rights (Council, EP) MFF - External Funding Instruments post 2020 EU Guidelines on Human Rights (esp. on Human Rights Defenders) EU Global Strategy Urgent EP Resolutions on human rights Human Rights Defenders in debates in DROI, AFET, Cohom Human rights defenders in EU agreements and relations with third countries, human rights dialogues EU initiatives on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence
Communication Activities
Implementation of EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights (EEAS, EC, Member States) Implementation of EU Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders Annual Calls for proposals on Human Rights Defenders Dissemination and advocacy around our Annual Report, Dispatches and thematic/country reports
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
Human Rights and Democracy Network http://www.hrdn.eu/ Front Line Defenders has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/home Front Line Defenders is also a member of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition http://www.defendingwomen-defendingrights.org/, ESCRNet – the International Network for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights https://www.escr-net.org/, and the International Human Rights Funders Group https://www.ihrfg.org/, and is an Associate Member of Dóchas – The Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations http://www.dochas.ie/ Journalists in Distress Network https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/who-we-are. Front Line Defenders is a member of the EU Human Rights Defenders Mechanism, protectdefenders.eu, and sits on its board: https://protectdefenders.eu/ Lighthouse - Global Protection Fund - www.lighthousedefenders.org
Organisation Members
FLD is not a membership organisation, and does not have members. FLD sponsors and donors are listed on its website at https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/donors