Media

Journalists are welcome to contact us for information or comments regarding people’s civil and political rights in the countries where we are active.

Robert Hårdh, Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders is the organisation’s primary spokesperson.

If you wish to book an interview or need other information, contact Natasha Jevtic Esbjörnson, +46 76 576 27 62.

About Civil Rights Defenders – in brief

Civil Rights Defenders is an international human rights organisation based in Sweden. We defend people’s civil and political rights and empower human rights defenders at risk. We do this by scrutinising state authorities and demanding accountability when people’s rights have been violated. We pursue legal proceedings against states and support human rights defenders with training, resources and expertise – to protect the space in which they act and to strengthen their performance. We conduct lobbying and advocacy work aimed at national and international decision makers. In totalitarian states, we reach out with independent information to people through alternative media for discussion and debate. Learn more about our work

Civil Rights Defenders was founded in 1982 under the name Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. The main donor for our international activities is the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida. Our work is also supported by foundations, corporations and thousands of individuals.