For climate activists, environmental defenders and civil society representatives travelling to Türkiye for COP31, understanding the context – and how your identity, activities and visibility may shape your exposure to risk – is an important part of preparing to participate.
To support that preparation, Global Climate Legal Defense (CliDef) has developed a COP31 Legal Protection Center, bringing together practical resources for COP31 participants and the organisations supporting them.
As part of our ongoing collaboration with CliDef around major international climate gatherings, Open Briefing has worked with CliDef on a new Holistic Security guide, drawing on our expertise in physical and digital security and wellbeing.
The guide sits alongside CliDef’s separate Know the Law guide, developed with its local partners and drawing on extensive first-hand knowledge of Türkiye’s legal, political and civic space and the realities facing activists and civil society organisations on the ground.
As Alfred Brownell, founding president of CliDef, explains:
“As COP31 attendees prepare for their time in Türkiye, peaceful protest remains a powerful tool for climate justice. We are pleased to partner with Open Briefing to ensure that climate defenders gathering in November can engage safely, assert their rights, and maximise their collective impact throughout the summit.”
Is this guide for you?
As Juan Goyanes, Open Briefing protection and security consultant who worked on the guide, explains:
“There is no single level of risk for everyone attending COP31. It will depend on their profile, activities and visibility. This guide provides practical steps to help participants prepare, protect themselves and have support in place. It also recognises that, for local defenders and organisations, some risks may continue after COP31 has ended.”
The Holistic Security guide is for people travelling to COP31 in Türkiye, as well as organisations and delegations supporting their participation.
It may be particularly relevant if your identity, work or activities could bring additional exposure, including for environmental and land defenders, LGBTQ+ participants, Kurdish advocates, journalists, lawyers and legal observers, and people who may face repercussions connected to their activism or advocacy.
For organisations and delegations, the guide also sets out practical ways to support participants, from establishing support networks, check-ins and escalation routes, to considering how sensitive information is handled.
What resources are available?
The COP31 Legal Protection Center brings together complementary resources to help participants prepare:
Know the Law, developed by CliDef and local partners, sets out relevant aspects of the legal context in Türkiye, including guidance around public demonstrations, interactions with authorities, searches, arrest and detention.
Holistic Security Guide for COP31 Participants, co-authored by CliDef and Open Briefing, helps participants consider physical, digital and wellbeing risks together – recognising that an incident in one area can quickly have consequences in another.
Join a COP31 holistic security webinar
Alongside these resources, CliDef is hosting two webinars exploring practical steps COP31 participants can take to prepare for the risks they may face and strengthen their security before, during, and after the conference.
Upcoming sessions:
- Wednesday, 14 October, 11am-12pm EST in English with Arabic, French, Spanish and Turkish translation available.
- Tuesday, 20 October, 4-5am EST
Register for a COP31 holistic security webinar
Using the guide before, during and after COP31
The guide is designed as a practical resource that you can return to at different stages.
Before you travel, use it to assess your risk, prepare your devices and documentation, establish support and check-in arrangements, and think through accommodation, movement and any public actions you may participate in.
During COP31, return to it for guidance on navigating different environments – from accredited conference spaces to public events and demonstrations – as well as personal safety, digital security, wellbeing and what to do if something goes wrong.
After you return, use it to consider whether your exposure has changed, look out for potential warning signs and make sure that appropriate follow-up and support remain in place. Risk does not necessarily end when the conference does.
The guide is designed to help people reduce avoidable risks, recognise warning signs and have support ready if something happens.
Download and share the guide
If you’re travelling to COP31 or supporting someone who is, explore the COP31 Legal Protection Center and use it as part of your preparations. Please also share it with colleagues, partners and networks travelling to Türkiye so that it reaches others who may find it useful.
For defenders and civil society organisations looking for further holistic security support, Open Briefing provides holistic security assistance to human rights defenders and organisations at risk. Learn more about our responsive assistance programme and request support. Our 2026–2029 impact strategy sets out how we are working to strengthen locally led approaches to protection and security.