Implementation Guidelines for Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders Dynamics of violence against HRDs, including: ‘Seasonal’ changes / time periods when certain HRDs are more likely at risk.118 Known ways in which violations are exerted: characteristics, frequency, intensity, people involved. Motivations of actors: economic needs, interests opposed by the HRD, power dynamics (gender, culture, race). Nature of threats: veiled or explicit, individual or collective, contextspecific or not, direct, indirect or general, in-person or remote.119 Note: The definition of what constitutes a threat should be wide to reflect the diversity of the type of threats HRDs can face. Characteristics of involved actors: Of victims: age, socioeconomic status, geographic location, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, type of human rights work, capacity to avoid risk (education, self-defence), among others. Also risk in case protective measures were not granted. Of aggressors: identity and profession (state/non-state actor), threats and actions taken, skills and resources to operate, previous aggressions, level of influence. Differentiate between intellectual and material authors. Of those responsible to protect: willingness, capacity, effectiveness, diligence, resources, influence. ii. Data collection Once the framework and indicators for data collection are agreed, the data can be collected. As with all other elements of this Guide, the main source of information should be HRDs themselves, as they are best placed to share their lived experience. Other ‘primary sources’ include observers and those with direct engagement with HRDs (acquaintances, family members, networks, other CSOs), as they can provide valuable first-hand testimonies about HRDs’ experiences.120 Other means of data collection can include NGO reports and submissions and public hearings, which allow multiple parties to provide information on relevant issues.121 For example, the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights carries out public hearings on the human rights situation of different countries, which HRDs can use to denounce violations and impediments to their work.122 These will facilitate the “passive” obtainment of data (namely, that which you obtained without actively looking for it, but rather because someone else -the HRD or an acquaintance- provided it, usually through a complaint). 40 118 E/CN.4/2003/104, para. 23. 119 https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/46/35 par. 53-55, 63 120 https://www.oas.org/es/sap/pubs/GuiaAlerta_s.pdf p.36, 37 121 https://ganhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/English-Mapping-Survey-on-Complaints-Haldling-Systems-Final.pdf p.24 122 COMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS. Venezuela: Niñez y crisis. 163 Período Extraordinario de Sesiones de la CIDH. Venezuela: Niñez y crisis