Sharan Srinivas

What better way to celebrate International Human Rights Defenders day than invest in their protection & well being? In @CentralComment, I urge @FCDOGovUK to show leadership & strengthen resourcing of local initiatives to protect environmental defenders: commentcentral.co.uk/for-cost-effec…

Privileged to represent @OpenSociety on Lighthouse's inaugural Steering Committee and wishing the new consortium every success in their important work! @FrontLineHRD

Human rights defenders are active citizens standing up for justice, equity, and democracy worldwide. I am confident that Lighthouse will be a beacon for defenders navigating stormy seas, and a resource that bolsters protection ecosystems at the local level.

This includes: ◾️Strengthening  the Escazú Agreement, a major regional treaty that advances the rights to a healthy environment and the protection of environmental defenders ◾️Accelerating green economic growth that accelerates opportunity for all, including funds focused on reducing carbon emissions in food production and women-led nature-based businesses ◾️Advancing Green Sovereign Finance, a program supporting Brazil's transition to a green and fair economy, with a focus on creating job opportunities ◾️Implementing Brazil's Ecological Transformation Plan, and rooting it in local communities to create jobs, reduce inequality, and speed the shift to a cleaner, fairer economy Let’s set a new global standard that is rooted in principles of justice, equity, and human rights. Read more about our commitments: opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom/open-…

We @OpenSociety are proud to support Environmental Rights Action's efforts to give voice to communities and environmental rights defenders across Africa & work towards a binding agreement to protect defenders and secure environmental rights. shorturl.at/L4IZ2

Too often, those who abduct and torture rights defenders aren't held to account. A potentially landmark case at the East African Court of Justice seeks justice for @AAgather & @bonifacemwangi at the highest levels. In solidarity! tinyurl.com/53bwttuy

Delighted to join @colinsalmon24 & others to stand in solidarity with @CAHRyork & @YorkSanctuary Fund. @CAHRyork is setting the gold standard for universities in hosting human rights defenders at risk in a caring & thoughtful way. Long may their stellar work continue to flourish!

This timely report from @BHRRC reaffirms that mining is the most dangerous sector for human rights defenders raising concerns about business. Can businesses rise to the occasion and engage defenders to meaningfully share prosperity and advance a truly just energy transition?

Rights defenders advocate for the whole range of human rights that shape how we live. Their work includes speaking out against extrajudicial killings by the police and drug gangs in Mexico, or the persecution of LGBTQI people in Uganda; those who organize workers to form a union in factories in southeast Asia, or villagers in Central America who demand fair compensation from a mining company for polluting their drinking water. But taking this kind of action to defend rights can be hugely dangerous, even fatal. Rights defenders face everything from digital surveillance to physical attacks and death threats. In 2023, 300 defenders from 28 countries were killed. Those on the frontlines of struggles for democracy, equity, and justice should not be left abandoned. Open Society is working on innovative strategies to: prevent attacks against human rights defenders, offer them comprehensive, holistic protection, reveal the political economies behind the attacks, and work to strengthen accountability and redress for the defenders at risk. Open Society’s Sharan Shrinivas @sharan_srinivas shares how rights defenders’ commitment, resilience, and tenacity inspire Open Society’s mission. Read more: osf.to/49NzXEF Inside Open Society looks at the leaders who are advancing Open Society’s mission to promote rights, equity, and justice around the world. With a commitment to amplifying local knowledge, these leaders are supporting innovative solutions to help democratic and open societies thrive. Learn more: osf.to/insideopensoci… #OpenSociety #HumanRights #RightsDefenders

At a time when several donors are reducing support for human rights, I strongly endorse @IngeborgMoa's call for Norway to stand up as a champion of human rights and allocate additional funding to support courageous human rights defenders! @NorwayMFA @noradno

Human rights defenders around the world face huge risks to their own safety and livelihood by speaking up for their communities. Fazl and Nazish, two rights defenders from Pakistan, experienced the consequences firsthand due to their efforts to encourage public health campaigns and women’s education. They were assisted by the Shelter City Initiative based in Nepal, a short-term relocation program for human rights defenders, which provided them with a space to recover. Read their full story: osf.to/4jXtVGf

Promoting the right to education for girls in Pakistan led to rights defenders Fazl & Nazish being subject to threats & repression. Safe havens close to home, like @cocapnepal's Shelter City, offer a valuable space for defenders to recover & strategize: tinyurl.com/2ydd8739

Human rights defenders face grave risks for their work advocating for a better world. 300 defenders were killed in 2023 alone, and 3,000 over the past decade. We are backing new ways to support people who courageously tackle human rights abuses—such as mobilizing a protective social web around them. We believe those on the frontlines of struggles for democracy, equity, and justice should not be left alone. They advocate for justice in their communities. They stand with Central American villagers demanding fair compensation from mining companies that pollute their drinking water. They speak out against the persecution of LGBTQI people in Uganda and extrajudicial killings in Mexico. Learn about our work to build coalitions at the local level and support human rights defenders from @Sharan_Srinivas, who leads our work on protecting rights defenders: osf.to/49NzXEF

On #HumanRightsDay, let's honour and celebrate the contributions of human rights defenders - the lifeblood of the human rights movement - and work to ensure that they can work in a safe and enabling environment.

Delighted to stand with @whrdinitiative & their mission of safeguarding women human rights defenders in Africa & beyond! @tanele_maseko @cvmuk24

At the #ThulaniMasekoFoundation we firmly believe in and support women led HRD Networks and mechanisms. Thanks Sharan for sharing the same values #WHRDConvention

In #Accra, @tanele_maseko argues elequently why protection networks have to respond to the specific needs of women human rights defenders taking into account the multiple roles they take on! @whrdinitiative

Energising as always to meet up with the one and only @bikjo at the @whrdinitiative convention in #Accra!

Indeed @jamesmsavage, investing in an ecosystem of actors, particularly at the national level, that can both prevent attacks & raise the political costs of attacking human rights defenders is critical to safeguarding civic space in the long term.

I strongly endorse @PBI_ISEC's call for the #UK to introduce a mandatory corporate due diligence law that will strengthen prevention of attacks against environmental human rights defenders & provide them with an avenue for redress.