Implementation Guidelines for Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders Once the team has detected that a threat is imminent, it should respond as fast as possible, ideally in no longer than 48 hours. This means it should have enough means at its disposal (contacts with relevant authorities, funds) to provide adequate responses. Case studies: The Indian NHRI has a form of a rapid response team called the ‘Rapid Action Cell’ (RAC), which deals with urgent cases. Its functions include: speaking to authorities/complainants personally over telephone to ascertain facts, faxing the complaint to various authorities for reference and asking them to send their replies expeditiously.78 The Mexican HRD Protection Mechanism also has a form of rapid response team.79 Its mandate says ‘If the life or physical integrity of HRDs or their families are in imminent danger, the Rapid Reaction team will grant, within 3 hours, urgent protection measures, which will be implemented in no more than 9 hours. Simultaneously, an Immediate Action Assessment study will be carried out. Once this is ready, the file is sent to the Executive coordinator, so that the process can continue through the ordinary means.’ E. Set up national hotlines and other communication channels for HRDs at risk Specialised national hotlines that HRDs and their acquaintances can reach out to in case of concern or emergency can be critical in providing urgent responses. A hotline should be cost-free, operating all days and hours of the year, and available in multiple languages. One good example of an international hotline is the Frontline Defenders hotline.80 Moreover, the means to communicate with your NHRI should be open-ended and of a varying nature, including, for example: in-person, phone or internet-calls, text or instant messaging, online communication, digital applications, or through the reception of letters and other physical forms of communication.81 As mentioned above (and further elaborated in National Action 5), the security of HRDs should be the highest concern, which means that digital security protocols should be followed and all sensitive information protected. F. National respite and relocation programmes Respite and relocation programmes are one of the most effective and complex measures to protect HRDs. Their objective is to remove HRDs from territories where they are in immediate danger and place them in areas where they can have some rest and respite. Relocation must be temporary and can be national (e.g. safe houses, housing by volunteers or moving to another city), or international. In cases where a return home is impossible, asylum is a better option. The logistics and complexity of relocating an at-risk person demonstrates the necessity of NHRIs having pre-established protocols, procedures and contacts to reach out to.82 Your NHRI could also support defenders by facilitating contact with national and international organisations that provide shelter or housing. 32 78 https://nhrc.nic.in/about-us/organization-structures/specialized_divisions_and_staff 79 http://www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/mesicic5_mex_ane_12.pdf arts. 26 80 https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/emergency-support 81 www.dpe.gob.ec/rc2018/10.%20Ejecucion_programatica/7%20Prevenir%20vulneraciones%20DDHH%20a%20defensores%20y%20defensoras/Protocolo.pdf p.19; https://rspo.org/about/contact/hrd-hotline-eng 82 https://undocs.org/A/HRC/31/55 par. 72-75