The campaigner and social entrepreneur Chris Abbott founded Open Briefing in 2011. Described by Archbishop Desmond Tutu as ‘radical in the proper sense’, Chris has spent his career protecting others. Based on his years of experience, Chris knew that the time was right for an innovative organisation to provide appropriate, effective and affordable support to those on the frontlines of civil society.
Category: Insights and updates
Our new purpose, vision, mission and values statement
We believe it is important to know who we are and what we stand for. So with support from a wonderful volunteer communications professional, we have written a new purpose, vision, mission and values (PVMV) statement. We hope it confidently and clearly communicates to all our stakeholders what we do and why.
Open Briefing announces new wellbeing support on International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
Today, we celebrate International Women Human Rights Defenders Day. On this occasion, Open Briefing is announcing new wellbeing support for WHRDs threatened because of their work and gender. Funded by the Evans Cornish Foundation, we will shortly be launching a project to pilot a free remote counselling service for WHRDs.
Leaders from the human rights, humanitarian, philanthropy and finance worlds join Open Briefing as advisers
Open Briefing is delighted to announce its new advisory board. They join the team at an exciting time, when we face new challenges and opportunities, and the threats against civil society are greater than ever. We are honoured to have people of such statue supporting our work.
Digital security groups call on Facebook to resist demands to undermine end-to-end encryption
Open Briefing and 110 other civil society organisations concerned with internet freedom and digital security have published an open letter to Facebook urging it to continue to increase the end-to-end security of its messaging service despite government demands to undermine encryption.
Open Briefing awarded major grant by the National Endowment for Democracy
Open Briefing is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a major grant by the National Endowment for Democracy, a private, non-profit foundation that is funded primarily through an annual allocation from the US Congress.
Open Briefing unveils radical new environmental policy in response to the climate emergency
Open Briefing is dedicated to fostering the safety and resilience of human rights defenders and other civic actors around the world. The climate emergency and ecological breakdown will drastically worsen the situation for our beneficiaries and target populations as well as for ourselves and our families. We must be a radical part of the solution.
What skills does the next UN expert on human rights defenders need?
As the term for the current UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders comes to an end, Open Briefing and 130 partners around the world have published a checklist for the selection and appointment of Michel Forst’s successor.