Health and wellbeing
Because human right defenders work in stressful settings and are often threatened and under attack from powerful actors, such as the state or businesses, a key aim of the programme must be to support the wellbeing of defenders. The Barcelona Guidelines highlight that ‘defenders may arrive on relocation programmes exhausted and struggling with mental health issues such as burnout, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder’. When putting in place measures to address this, programme coordinators should recognise that human rights defenders may have very different ways of approaching wellbeing and make sure not to presume that certain methods work for everyone.
In addition to offering psychological and wellbeing support from specially trained counsellors, either within the university, through a national healthcare provider, or via a specialist private firm, you might also want to explore whether you can offer spiritual support, arts-based remedies, sports facilities, yoga and meditation, a garden, allotment, or other outdoor space, or alternative forms of wellbeing support so that human rights defenders are able to choose what will work best for them. Links to an alumni network might also support defenders in adjusting to their relocation.
It is important to note that there will be limits to the kinds of support universities can offer or access; and that defenders are individuals with agency and resilience as well as people who need support.
More information
See the website of the Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York, for its work on the wellbeing of human rights defenders, where there are also links to the Barcelona Guidelines in five languages. The Centre has also produced a number of policy briefs on different aspects of wellbeing.
Bartley, P. (2020) ‘Wellbeing during temporary international relocation: Case studies and good practices for the implementation of the 2019 Barcelona Guidelines’. Stuttgart: ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen).
The Open Briefing website has resources on trauma and psychological support
Wellbeing
Protective Fellowship Scheme, University of York
The relocation programme at the University of York aims to support the wellbeing of human rights defenders both during and after relocation. Activities include:
Access to individual counselling.
A workshop on trauma and wellbeing facilitated by Open Briefing for defenders and the staff working with them (focussing on recognising the various symptoms of trauma and how to best deliver Psychological First Aid).
Psycho-educational group sessions to address mental wellbeing issues arising from human rights work, and exploring ways to relieve stress, for example through body work.
A wellbeing ‘retreat’ where defenders spend three days enjoying walks in nature, a day at the coast, yoga sessions, cooking together and playing board games in the evenings. Defenders are encouraged to leave their laptops and phones behind and to enjoy a complete break from work and their busy lives.
Access to an allotment / garden.
