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Description
The members of human rights organizations, of which there are approximately 200 in Poland, are mostly members of minorities. As the political smear campaign against some minorities intensifies, these persons are paying a higher price than others for their commitment to social activities. Human rights activists are more likely to pay the price of their minority identity being revealed, feeling unsafe, being subjected to violence due to prejudice, and experiencing stress and activist burnout. In the smaller, more conservative towns, these activists face an even greater risk of burnout than in the large centers. They have insufficient support and contacts, and the surrounding community can be closed and discriminate against them. The project envisages awareness-raising, support and networking activities for human rights activists from groups that face discrimination (discrimination on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, physical capability, immigrant/refugee status, neurodivergent, etc.). Under the project, human rights activists from discriminated minorities will have available to them online and conventional support and networking groups, workshops, psychological support, webinars, podcasts, newsletters, mini-publications, and a human rights activism regeneration handbook. The project will also be a source of information on the specific nature and challenges of anti-discrimination activism in the broader activist community in the third sector. The project will be an aid in empowerment and networking of activists in various minority groups, increasing their motivation to continue working, and preventing those people leaving the groups, discrimination prevention organizations, and movements.
Summary of project results
The project responded to the lack of support for human rights activists coming from groups at risk of attacks motivated by prejudice in Poland. Human rights organisations, of which there are around 200 in Poland, are dominated by people from communities experiencing exclusion and discrimination. As the political and media campaign against certain groups, including the LGBTQ community, women and refugees, intensifies, these individuals pay a higher price for their social engagement than others. Human rights activists are more likely to bear the costs of minority identity disclosure and self-identity work, loss of security, experience of bias-motivated violence, so-called minority stress, representation burnout or activist burnout. Activists are particularly vulnerable to burnout in smaller cities, where they have no chance of anonymity, access to support is severely limited and the environment can be closed and even hostile.
As part of the project, the Project Promoter conducted various training, support and networking activities for human rights activists from groups facing discrimination on the basis of gender, psychosexual orientation, disability, migrant and refugee status, non-neurotypicality and others. Three editions of a support and networking group and a 2-day recreational workshop were organised. Activists also benefited from psychological support. A variety of materials on activist burnout were produced - 11 episodes of a podcast series on recovery, a series of 26 thematic newsletters, 13 original graphics, texts, graphic essays, films and lithographs. 6 webinars on self-care in social activism were also produced, covering topics such as: mapping burnout in equality work, activism for people on the autism spectrum, collective care in the context of activist burnout, the so-called activist first aid kit, freezing and recovery, activism for black people. There has also been a series of 3 mini-publications on regeneration in human rights activism, and a manual on regeneration entitled No Action Without Regeneration. An exercise book for activists, campaigners and socially engaged people looking for support''.
The project targeted activists who felt burnt out or traumatised as a result of working in particularly difficult socio-political circumstances. A total of 278 people from various human rights organisations and activist collectives across Poland took part in the activities. The project significantly strengthened the activist community, enabling them to connect with others in similar situations, share experiences and work together. Activists'' motivation for further long-term engagement increased, as did their awareness of the risks and dangers of human rights activism from minority positions. Individuals and organisations participating in the activities were provided with concrete and effective tools for self-care and burnout prevention. The project also contributed to raising awareness of the specificities and challenges of anti-discrimination work in the wider third sector activist community.