
OMCT Emergency material support to human rights defenders at risk
OMCT, including in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, provides material assistance and emergency support to human rights defenders at risk working in the most difficult circumstances, in any region of the world.
OMCT material assistance and emergency support aim at responding to emergency requests for assistance submitted by human rights defenders and organisations at risk. These can cover medical support (including psycho-social support and rehabilitation); legal support; social assistance (including family support); physical security; digital security; communications; capacity building in security; secure transportation; support to temporary relocation where necessary; etc.
Each request received is subjected to a preliminary inquiry, done in collaboration with members of the OMCT SOS-Torture Network or other reliable partners in the field. This inquiry is comprehensive and thorough as it allows for the verification of information provided and needs expressed, as well as for the eligibility of costs. It also permits an assessment of the type of emergency intervention that is necessary.
Financial support to strengthen and sustain sensitive initiatives by local human rights organisations
OMCT also provides support to local human rights organisations from any region of the world in order to enable them to consolidate their operational activities, allowing them to develop sensitive initiatives and/or sustain their work, as well as to strengthen their capacities to implement local innovative activities and projects to prevent and respond to infringements facing human rights defenders and their organisations.
The objective of this support is to reach out, reinforce and sustain the work of local human rights organisations worldwide (including loose and unregistered groupings)to promote and defend respect for fundamental rights by strengthening their capacities to prevent and respond to developments adversely affecting human rights and human rights defenders’ movements at the local level, especially in the most difficult countries and working on behalf of vulnerable communities.