Implementation Guidelines for Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders Contents Part 1: Introduction and how to use this guide A. About this guide 6 B. Who is this guide for? 6 C. How to use this guide 6 D. The APF Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders (RAP) 6 Part 2: Implementation Guidelines for the Regional Action Plan A. Cross cutting elements: Consultation, Security and Collective Protection 8 9 i. NHRIs as HRDs 9 ii. Consultation 9 iii. Security 10 iv. Collective protection 10 National Action 1: Advocate for national legal protection 11 A. Support government programs on HRD rights 12 B. Legal recognition of human rights defenders 12 C. Analysis of national legal framework 12 D. Laws that restrict the rights of human rights defenders 13 E. Laws for the protection of human rights defenders 14 National Action 2: Promote gender equality and mainstream the recognition of Women Human Rights Defenders 16 A. Explicit recognition of WHRDs in protection and promotion activities 17 B. Disaggregation of data according to gender 18 C. Protection for trans and non-binary HRDs 18 National Action 3: Raise awareness of the rights of Human Rights Defenders A. Mainstream HRD rights in NHRI promotion activities 20 21 i. Mainstreaming HRD rights inside your NHRI 21 ii. Mainstreaming the role of HRDs in campaigns and communications on different thematic issues 21 B. Countering narratives against HRDs i. Positive narratives on HRDs 2 5 22 22