Activists in the global south have accused the global north of weakening support for them at the very moment when oppression is rising, after the United Kingdom government watered down its support for human rights defenders.
The U.K. quietly published its updated “guiding principles on supporting human rights defenders” just before Christmas. Removed from the previous 2019 version were seven key commitments, including regular two-way thematic exchanges between defenders and embassies, supporting and promoting responsible practice by extractive businesses, and visiting activists at work and building rural relationships, as highlighted by Peace Brigades International UK, or PBI UK, in a statement on their site, backed by other organizations.
Human rights defenders say that it’s symptomatic of the U.K. stepping back from development issues, after they announced an aid cut last year, and points to a wider trend of Europe and particularly the United States moving away from rights despite attacks on activists escalating. According to the NGO, Front Line Defenders, 2024 was the deadliest year on record for human rights defenders, with at least 324 activists from 32 countries killed, up from 300 in 28 countries the previous year.
About the author
Amy Fallon@amyfallon
Amy Fallon is an Australian freelance journalist currently based in Uganda. She has also reported from Australia, the U.K. and Asia, writing for a wide range of outlets on a variety of issues including breaking news, and international development, and human rights topics. Amy has also worked for News Deeply, NPR, The Guardian, AFP news agency, IPS, Citiscope, and others.
