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“Being a human rights advocate is not an identity; it is a practice.”

Anna Shcherbakova – Entretien le Grand Continent – 22 juillet 2022

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, which commemorates the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in an international environment that poses an ever-greater threat to these rights, the President of the Republic called for the launch of a new initiative aimed at strengthening France’s efforts to support human rights defenders, both abroad and in France.

The Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders was launched on December 10, 2021, at the Élysée Palace, in the presence of all the partners who contributed to it: the government, associations and NGOs, foundations, local authorities, and other stakeholders committed to this cause, which is vital to democracy.

Our mission : to support human rights defenders in their fight

Launched in December 2021 by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders aims to support the work of human rights defenders, both in their home countries—through its international component—and by hosting them in France for six months—through its national component.

The Marianne Association oversees the implementation of the national pillar, in coordination with the Interministerial Delegation for the Reception and Integration of Refugees and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It also relies on numerous public, private, and nonprofit partners.

Based on the shared values of hospitality, exchange, and sharing, the initiative aims to bring together and combine the expertise of all these stakeholders.

Our Initiatives: A Customized Skills Development Program

Every year, France welcomes a group of about fifteen human rights defenders who have distinguished themselves through their exemplary efforts to promote fundamental rights in their home countries. The recipients are selected from among several hundred candidates by a committee of independent experts.

They come from every continent and are involved in various types of struggles: civil and political rights; environmental rights; and the rights of women, children, and LGBTQIA+ people.

Provided with housing and a stipend, they participate in a six-month support and training program that includes individual and group activities designed to help them share their experiences, build their capacity, raise awareness of their causes, and develop new projects. This support also offers a respite for women and men who often face pressure or threats in their home countries.

The personalized program includes opportunities to connect with key stakeholders in the field of human rights (the government, elected officials, local and regional authorities, nongovernmental organizations, independent judicial and administrative authorities, and representatives of international organizations), as well as support for the development of their advocacy projects, with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of their efforts.

The award recipients participate in a comprehensive program consisting of:

• Training in negotiation, leadership, advocacy, physical and digital security, project management, etc.;
• Courses offered by the School of International Affairs at Sciences Po Paris and French language courses;
• Opportunities to connect with French and international leaders committed to human rights and development issues;
• Meetings with inspiring individuals and potential partner organizations (NGOs, foundations, institutions, etc.);
• Lectures and cultural activities;
• Individual meetings to support activist projects;
• Visits to international institutions and organizations;
• Interactions with members of the program's alumni network.

The initiative’s international pillar: supporting human rights defenders in their own countries

The Marianne Initiative is also part of France’s human rights diplomacy, which is carried out around the world.

With the support of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, its French diplomatic network, the French Development Agency (AFD), the NGO Agir ensemble pour les droits humains, and the “Human Rights Platform,” the international pillar provides support, outside of France, to human rights defenders, national and international civil society organizations, and institutional actors involved in the promotion and defense of human rights.

This pillar aims to support them in their struggle by strengthening their capacity to take action, and to protect them by increasing their visibility.

Our goal: to build a community of human rights advocates around the world

This program also helps build lasting bonds of solidarity, in particular through:

• Building connections within each graduating class and across successive classes, and establishing an alumni network;
• Exchange and networking among the award recipients and the association’s partners, and more broadly, with human rights and refugee reception organizations in France;
• Establishing partnerships with entities based in France;
• Synergies with European and international programs and the development of ties with the human rights defenders they support.

By supporting human rights defenders, this initiative reflects France’s commitment to promoting fundamental freedoms and universal, inalienable rights, which are essential to ensuring greater justice, prosperity, and peace in the world.