WOMEN DEFENDERS PROTECTION FUND (WDPF)
Safety Solidarity Justice Care
PROGRAM GOAL (IMPACT LEVEL)
To safeguard the lives, dignity, wellbeing, and leadership of women environmental defenders (WEDs) and youth activists facing threats, violence, criminalization, and reprisals, while strengthening collective protection, resilience, and justice-centered environmental governance in Uganda.
PROBLEM STATEMENT (WHY THIS PROGRAM EXISTS)
Women environmental defenders in Uganda face:
- Threats, harassment, violence, and intimidation
- Criminalization and arbitrary arrests
- Land and resource-related conflicts
- Gender-based violence and stigma
- Digital surveillance and online attacks
- Trauma, burnout, and isolation
Despite their critical role in protecting land, water, forests, and community rights, women defenders remain under-protected, under-resourced, and excluded from formal protection mechanisms. WDPF exists to close this protection gap.
TARGET GROUPS (WHO THE FUND SERVES)
Primary:
- Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders (WEHRDs)
- Young women and youth climate activists
- Grassroots women leaders confronting extractives, land grabs, deforestation, pollution, and climate injustice
Secondary:
- Women-led community groups under threat
- Indigenous and resource-dependent communities
- Frontline activists in high-risk ecosystems
CORE OBJECTIVES (WHAT WDPF SEEKS TO ACHIEVE)
- Provide rapid, life-saving protection and emergency support to women defenders at risk
- Strengthen collective safety, resilience, and solidarity networks at community and national levels
- Improve access to justice, legal protection, and human rights mechanisms
- Promote defender wellbeing, healing, and feminist care
- Influence policy and institutional responses to protect women defenders and civic space
PROGRAM PILLARS (HOW WDPF IS STRUCTURED)
Pillar 1: Emergency & Rapid Response Protection
Immediate life-saving support
- Emergency legal aid
- Temporary relocation and safe shelter
- Medical and psychosocial support
- Emergency communication and transport
- Security and risk mitigation support
Pillar 2: Legal Empowerment & Access to Justice
Defending rights, challenging criminalization
- Legal literacy and rights awareness
- Legal representation and referrals
- Court monitoring and case documentation
- Strategic litigation and advocacy support
- Engagement with UHRC, courts, and oversight bodies
Pillar 3: Safety, Wellbeing & Feminist Care
Sustaining defenders, not just saving them
- Trauma-informed psychosocial support
- Healing circles and safe spaces
- Burnout prevention and wellbeing programs
- Peer support and solidarity groups
- Feminist care practices and collective resilience
Pillar 4: Collective Protection & Community Safety
Safety through solidarity
- Community-based protection networks
- Rapid response committees
- Safety planning and early warning systems
- Defender accompaniment and visibility strategies
- Solidarity actions and movement response
Pillar 5: Digital & Physical Security
Protection in online and offline spaces
- Digital security training
- Secure communications and data protection
- Protection from online harassment and surveillance
- Physical security planning and risk assessments
Pillar 6: Advocacy, Documentation & Policy Influence
Changing systems, not just responding to harm
- Documentation of violations and reprisals
- Evidence-based advocacy and reporting
- Engagement with state and non-state actors
- National and regional policy influence
- Campaigns on defender protection and civic space
PROGRAM APPROACH (HOW WDPF WORKS)
WDPF is guided by:
- Feminist, survivor-centered protection
- Do-no-harm and confidentiality
- Consent, dignity, and agency
- Community-led and trust-based response
- Intersectional risk analysis
- Solidarity, not charity
IMPLEMENTATION MODEL (PROGRAM FLOW)
- Risk Identification and Referral (community alerts, networks, trusted partners)
- Rapid Assessment and Consent (confidential, survivor-centered)
- Immediate Response and Protection Support (emergency assistance)
- Follow-Up, Healing and Legal Support (medium-term care)
- Collective Protection and Advocacy (movement-level response)
- Documentation, Learning & Policy Action
KEY ACTIVITIES (WHAT THE FUND SUPPORTS)
- Emergency grants and protection packages
- Legal fees and court processes
- Safe relocation and shelter support
- Psychosocial and wellbeing services
- Security tools and training
- Community safety planning
- Advocacy and documentation initiatives
EXPECTED OUTPUTS (SHORT-TERM)
- Women defenders protected and supported
- Emergency cases responded to rapidly
- Legal cases supported and documented
- Functional community protection networks
- Trained defenders in safety and rights
OUTCOMES (MEDIUM-TERM)
- Reduced vulnerability and harm to women defenders
- Increased resilience, confidence, and wellbeing
- Stronger solidarity and rapid-response systems
- Improved access to justice and accountability
- Safer civic space for environmental activism
LONG-TERM IMPACT
- Safer, recognized, and empowered women environmental defenders
- Reduced criminalization and violence against activists
- Stronger environmental justice movements
- Accountable governance and protected civic space
- Sustainable, women-led environmental protection in Uganda
CROSS-CUTTING PRINCIPLES
- Feminist leadership
- Human rights & dignity
- Confidentiality & security
- Inclusivity & accessibility
- Peace, justice, and accountability