10 August 2015

Organizations Offering Assistance to Human Rights Defenders

Programs Focused on Journalists and Human Rights Defenders:
Global Platform for the Temporary Relocation of Human Rights Defenders
https://hrdrelocation.eu/en/
The GPTRHRD is a global platform of national, regional and international organizations involved in programmes
for the temporary relocation of human rights defenders at risk. Their activities are diverse and include identifying
Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in need of relocation through our close work with them, providing temporary
shelter within the same country, hosting HRDs in countries in their region or outside it, providing services or
capacity-building opportunities to relocated HRDs, and contributing to the protection of HRDs on the ground.
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Journalists in Distress Fund
http://cjfe.org/programs/journalists_in_distress_fund
CJFE is a Canadian organization that works to defend and protect the right to free expression in Canada and around
the world. CJFEs Journalists in Distress Fund provides humanitarian assistance to journalists, including bloggers,
whose lives and well-being are threatened. In most cases, the journalists CJFE helps have been attacked or
threatened because of their profession. The recipient must be a journalist, vetted or verifiable by either an IFEX
member or an organization that provides journalist assistance. The amount granted typically ranges from $500 to
$1500 CDN. The Fund provides financial support for transportation costs when journalists are forced to flee and
resettlement costs within the first year of arriving in a final safe country.

Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalist Assistance Program

https://www.cpj.org/campaigns/assistance/
CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the right of
journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal. It takes action wherever journalists are attacked, imprisoned,
killed, kidnapped, threatened, censored, or harassed. CPJs Journalist Assistance Program provides direct assistance
to journalists at risk through a combination of financial and non-financial assistance. It provides logistical support
to journalists when they resettle in exile. When necessary, CPJ lobbies governments or international agencies to
help secure refugee or asylum status for journalists. CPJ also refers journalists to resources, including information
on grants, fellowships, and awards. CPJs Gene Roberts Emergency Fund dispenses emergency grants to
journalists in distress worldwide. When necessary, CPJ lobbies governments or international agencies to help secure
refugee or asylum status for journalists. They also provide logistical support to journalists when they resettle in
exile. They also provide information about additional resources available to journalists at risk.

Doha Centre for Media Freedom, Emergency Assistance

http://www.dc4mf.org/en/content/urgent-assistance-journalists-need

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DCMF is a nonprofit organization working for press freedom and quality journalism in Qatar, the Middle East, and
the world. One of its three foci is direct assistance to journalists. Emergency Assistance (EA) provides direct
support to journalists who urgently need help, as a result of their work. It assists professional journalists to find
sustainable solutions to continue reporting as quickly as possible, with advice, publicity, and/or financial means. EA
aims to answer all emergency requests within 24 hours.

Free Press Unlimited, Reporters Respond

https://www.freepressunlimited.org/en/projects/reporters-respond-emergency-funding-for-the-media
Free Press Unlimited is a foundation based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It helps local journalists in war zones
and conflict areas to provide their audience with trustworthy news and information. Reporters Respond is an
emergency fund for journalists and is meant to help journalists who have been confronted with vandalism or
intimidations get started again as soon as possible. It provides help fast, often within 24 hours.

Human Rights Watch, Hellman/Hammett Grant Program

http://www.hrw.org/hhgrants/nominations
Human Rights Watch is a global nonprofit, nongovernmental human rights organization. It presses for changes in
policy and practice that promote human rights and justice around the world. The Hellman/Hammett grant program
is for writers all around the world who have been victims of political persecution and are in financial need. It also
gives small emergency grants to writers who have an urgent need to leave their country. Emergency nominations are
accepted throughout the year. Grants typically range from $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 USD.

International Federation of Journalists, Safety Fund

http://ifj-safety.org/en/contents/ifj-international-safety-fund
The IFJ is based in Brussels, Belgium, and is the worlds largest organization of journalists. It represents members
in more than 100 countries and promotes international action to defend press freedom and social justice through
strong, free, and independent trade unions of journalists. The Safety Fund provides humanitarian aid to journalists
under threat through immediate financial relief.

International Media Support, Safety Fund

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http://www.mediasupport.org/about/safety-fund/
IMS is a Denmark-based nonprofit organization working to support local media in countries affected by armed
conflict, human insecurity, and political transition. Across four continents, IMS helps to promote press freedom,
strengthen professional journalism, and ensure that media can operate in challenging circumstances. The Safety
Fund provides support for journalists victimized as a direct result of their journalistic work, when the journalist is in
need of immediate protection as a result of a direct threat.

Reporters Without Borders, Assistance Desk

http://en.rsf.org/supporting-an-protecting-12-09-2012,43368.html
RWB is a France-based nonprofit organization that supports and protects journalists. The Assistance Desk helps
journalists in exile with their requests for protection or asylum and provides financial aid to journalists needing
urgent help, including for finding a safe place to stay. Contact assistance@rsf.org.

Rory Peck Trust, Freelance Assistance Grants

https://rorypecktrust.org/freelance-assistance/Assistance-Grants
RPT is a London-based organization dedicated to the support, safety, and welfare of freelance newsgatherers around
the world. It provides individual grants to freelance journalists who have been threatened, imprisoned, injured,
forced into hiding or exile, or killed. Where relevant, RPT will coordinate with international partners and refer grant
applicants for specific advice and expertise, specialist needs, or additional funds.
While not directly aimed at journalists at risk, the International Center for Journalists accepts applications on a
rolling basis for the Knight International Journalism Fellowships. The program is designed to instill a culture of
news innovation and experimentation worldwide. Fellowships are one year and can take place all over the world.
Fellows focus on one or more of four target portfolios mobile, data, social media/networks, and multimedia
storytelling.
Programs Focused on Scholars / Academics:
Scholars at Risk, based out of New York University, is an international network of institutions and individuals
working to promote academic freedom and defend the human rights of scholars worldwide. The organization acts as
a matchmaker between scholars and member institutions offering temporary positions to scholars. Scholars can
apply for assistance online or a third party can apply for them. The FAQs are particularly useful:
http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/About-Us/FAQs.php.
The Institute of International Educations Scholar Rescue Fund grants fellowships to scholars who are facing or
have recently fled from immediate, severe, and targeted threats to their lives and/or careers. Professors, researchers,
and public intellectuals from any country, academic field, or discipline may qualify. Candidates may apply directly
or be nominated by a third-party. http://www.iie.org/Programs/Scholar-Rescue-Fund

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Other:
Brown University, International Writers Project
http://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/international-writers-project
Brown is an independent, coeducational Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island. The IWP at Brown
provides institutional, intellectual, artistic, and social support to writers who face personal danger and threats to their
livelihood in nations throughout the world. Fellowships cover the costs of relocation and the writers expenses in
the U.S. and provide an office at Brown for ten months.