The Barcelona Guidelines on Wellbeing and Temporary International Relocation of Human Rights Defenders

These Guidelines have been developed based on a collaborative research project between CAHR, ICORN, Justice and Peace Netherlands, The Martin Roth Initiative, Adam Brown of The New School in New York, and independent expert on human rights and civil society, Sasha Koulaeva.

The Barcelona Guidelines were developed through a process of workshops with defenders in relocation, surveys, interviews, and an international retreat in Barcelona bringing together coordinators and wellbeing service providers from around the world. They provide guidance to coordinators of relocation initiatives and to wellbeing service providers on how to support the wellbeing of defenders at risk on relocation initiatives. The Guidelines highlight that the wellbeing of defenders needs specific attention, from the very way relocation initiatives are designed, to the activities planned, expectations of defenders, and the resources and funding allocated to the programmes. The Guidelines are designed to benefit defenders, relocation coordinators, wellbeing service providers, funders, and other protection actors.