We defend defenders

City councils, entities and institutions in Catalonia united to support those defending human rights around the world

Meet the human rights defenders of the 2025 edition – Spring Tour

Why do they fight for?

We educate, raise awareness and advocate to denounce the persecution that human rights defenders suffer

At the same time, we improve the knowledge and promotion of human rights in our schools and municipalities

Human rights defenders are people who, individually or collectively, work to promote and protect human rights, mostly at the local or regional level. They denounce human rights violations and work to protect the fundamental rights of people.

Their principles are equality, non-discrimination, and human dignity, grounded in international human rights standards.
Their work often entails risks to their physical and mental integrity, as they are frequently subjected to attacks and threats, both by governmental agents and by other actors (landowners, paramilitary groups, organized crime cartels, etc.).
Thousands have been detained, criminalized, deprived of their liberty, forcibly disappeared, and murdered with the aim of silencing their struggles.

Get to know the human rights defenders