Part E Ensuring well-being in relocation and respite initiatives It is important that relocation initiatives support HRDs in dealing with challenges to their well-being during relocation and upon returning home. As the Barcelona Guidelines highlight: “The primary concern of temporary international relocation initiatives is the wellbeing of defenders. The design, operation and evaluation of these initiatives should be based on this goal. Defenders need to feel safe and secure while on relocation.” Many HRDs prioritize their work over their own wellbeing, enduring challenges, risks, and personal hardships. HRDs may encounter issues such as burnout, PTSD, stress, anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, and isolation. The culture within human rights movements tends to emphasise selflessness, heroism, and self-sacrifice. HRDs may find it difficult to discuss their mental health due to stigma and misconceptions. Relocating itself can be a significant life event, which can also impact on HRDs’ wellbeing, for example due to: • Being in a new and unfamiliar place with a very different culture, • Being far away from family and friends, • Language barriers, • Feelings of isolation (and sometimes guilt for leaving), • Challenges in navigating daily life, • Facing discrimination and harassment in their host country. Some ways in which relocation initiatives can help ensure wellbeing include: 1 2 24 Providing understanding and recognition • Understand the individual and their specific contexts and experiences, especially the violations they have faced. • Frame wellbeing in ways that help the person prioritize this – e.g. that it is important for the sustainability and effectiveness of their advocacy, and their overall security. Ensuring a supportive environment • Ensure HRDs can communicate what they need, what works for them and what doesn’t work, paying attention to real/perceived unequal power relationships in programmes. • Create an environment where discrimination and harassment can be openly addressed. Relocation and Respite Toolkit