Thursday, 23 October 2025
4.00pm-5.30pm AEDT
The Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) and Front Line Defenders are hosting a special series of webinars to build awareness and knowledge of HRD Guidelines and how HRDs can use them as important tools in their work for human rights.
The webinar series will build awareness of HRD Guidelines, who has adopted them, and their value in challenging growing restrictions on civil society space – and defending the defenders. It will share examples of how they have been used by HRDs and diplomats - and how they can be used as the basis for civil society and governments to work together to promote and protect human rights.
Webinar 1 will introduce the EU guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and their relevance for frontline human rights defenders. It will draw directly on the experience of practitioners – from the EU and from Frontline Defenders. It will build awareness of the content of the Guidelines and the actions they call for from EU Embassies and Diplomats – with some real examples.
NOTE: At least half an hour will be allocated for questions and answers, and comments. Through the webinar, and after, useful links will be shared.
Speakers
Domenica Bumma Domenica Bumma is human rights specialist working with the European External Action S
ervice (EEAS), where she focuses on developing and coordinating Europe’s external human rights policies. Domenica also created the EEAS Human Rights and Democracy Factory, a learning and development programme aiming to support EU Delegations around the world in their action in different human rights areas.
Sayeed Ahmad Sayeed Ahmad is a lawyer from Bangladesh working with Front Line Defenders for almost 12 years. Prior to joining FLD, he worked with Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) in Bangkok, Thailand, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Bangladesh and Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)- a leading Bangladeshi human rights organization. Sayeed is a member and alumni of several national and international networks including Diplomacy Training Program (DTP).
In 1998 the UN adopted the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. It recognises the critical role of individuals in defending and promoting human rights. These individuals are often at risk and need to be valued and protected – and this is a shared, international responsibility of governments and other duty bearers.
Since 1998 many governments have adopted guidelines on human rights that set out how they will support human rights defenders – including through their diplomacy and the work of their diplomats and diplomatic missions. Human rights defenders can use these guidelines to seek the help and support of governments who have a duty to act in their defence.
Below are links to some of these Guidelines and to useful resources on for human rights defenders.
