X-ray of Human Rights Defenders: Dialogues Between Southeast Asia and Latin America

Abstract

This publication presents the findings of a comparative study on the experiences of human rights defenders in Latin America and Southeast Asia. Based on interviews with defenders from across both regions and an interregional dialogue, it examines the diverse contexts in which they work, the risks and obstacles they face, and the resilience strategies they develop to sustain their work in increasingly restrictive environments.

The study explores common challenges such as State harassment, criminalisation, violence, shrinking civic space and digital surveillance, while also highlighting important regional differences in the nature of these threats and the responses they require. It demonstrates how support networks, community-based action, international human rights mechanisms, and cross-border solidarity enable human rights defenders to continue their work despite significant personal and professional risks.

By bringing together perspectives from two regions, the publication offers a comparative analysis of contemporary human rights advocacy and underscores the importance of collective action, international cooperation, and resilient civil society in protecting human rights defenders and advancing human rights worldwide.