DiEHaRD: Defending the defenders of nature and human rights in the digital environment

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BlueLink 15-07-2026.

UK English translation, preserving the HTML structure, links and branding of the final Bulgarian version.

BlueLink is strengthening digital advocacy and the protection of people who defend nature, the climate and environmental rights. The project DiEHaRD – Digital Advocacy for Environmental Human Rights Defenders will be implemented until the end of 2026 with the support of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

DiEHaRD builds on BlueLink’s work under the European BeLIFE project, and in particular its efforts to strengthen environmental and climate defenders in Bulgaria. The new project will connect legal protection with the communication and digital skills needed to operate in an environment of disinformation, online pressure, smear campaigns and other forms of obstruction of civic participation.

From training to a community for action

This work began in October 2025 within the framework of BeLIFE: Citizens and Environmental Justice.

On 29 and 30 October 2025, BlueLink organised a two-day training course in Sofia, “Tools and skills for the legal and communication protection of environmental and climate defenders”. Environmental defenders from different parts of the country took part, working on the rights and responsibilities of environmental defenders, access to justice, responses to repressive and aggressive actions, communication, disinformation, and risks in the digital and media environment.

The work surrounding the training demonstrated the need for this support to continue beyond a one-off event. Environmental and climate defenders need lasting connections with one another, opportunities to exchange practical experience, and tools for joint advocacy.

DiEHaRD will further develop the community created around BeLIFE and will also draw on the findings of the follow-up research supported by “RavniBG” into the digital and communication challenges faced by environmental human rights defenders.

What comes next

The project’s first task is to update the assessment of the problems Bulgarian environmental and human rights defenders encounter when communicating and advocating in the digital environment. On this basis, priorities for joint action will be identified and the national community of practice will be strengthened.

DiEHaRD will also promote the European Environmental Human Rights Defenders Portal and the opportunities it provides. Particular attention will be given to the links between environmental justice, human rights and digital rights.

Participants will also be introduced to European and international protection mechanisms, including the opportunities provided by the Aarhus Convention and the mandates of UN Special Rapporteurs relevant to the protection of people who face pressure because of their work in the public interest.

Networking meeting

One of DiEHaRD’s main activities will be a national training and networking meeting for around 40 environmental and human rights defenders and representatives of partner organisations.

The training will build on the BeLIFE programme and bring legal knowledge, communication approaches and digital advocacy skills together within a common practical framework. It will be organised in cooperation with Climate Coalition Bulgaria and other partners.

The aim is not only for participants to acquire new knowledge, but also to strengthen cooperation between people and organisations working on environmental justice, human rights and digital rights.

A practical methodology for digital advocacy

The experience gained will be consolidated into a practical methodological framework for collective digital advocacy by environmental human rights defenders.

It will draw on BlueLink’s experience from BeLIFE, the follow-up work supported by “RavniBG”, and the results of DiEHaRD. The methodology will be published online in English and disseminated through the BlueLink and APC networks.

From Bulgaria to APC’s international network

At the end of the project, BlueLink will share the results and lessons learned with organisations in APC’s international network through an online exchange and other communication activities. In this way, practical experience from Bulgaria will contribute to mutual learning between organisations in different countries and to the development of future cooperation between defenders of environmental, human and digital rights.

Part of the broader BeLIFE work

DiEHaRD continues one of the strands of work developed by BlueLink through BeLIFE: protecting environmental rights depends not only on the existence of laws and procedures, but also on the ability of citizens and their organisations to use them, communicate effectively, counter pressure and disinformation, and act together.

BeLIFE supports the implementation of European environmental and climate legislation through the active participation of citizens and civil society and promotes the rights enshrined in the Aarhus Convention – access to information, participation in decision-making and access to justice. DiEHaRD adds a particular focus on the digital environment and collective advocacy. The work that began with the training in October 2025 will therefore continue through a community of practice, a new national training event, practical tools and an exchange of experience within APC’s international network.

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international network of organisations working to ensure that the internet and digital technologies support human rights, social and environmental justice, and democratic governance. BlueLink is a long-standing full member of APC and actively contributes to the network’s work on digital rights, civil society and environmental sustainability.

About BlueLink.net

BlueLink.net is a network for civic thinking and action that supports the strategic use of digital communications by citizens and their organisations to protect the environment, strengthen democracy and defend European values. The BlueLink Foundation is a full member of the international

This publication has been prepared within the framework of the BeLIFE project, which is co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme. All publications produced under the project are available here.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.

The publication is also co-funded by the DiEHaRD – Digital Advocacy for Environmental Human Rights Defenders project, implemented by the BlueLink Foundation with the support of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). The project strengthens the community of environmental and climate defenders in Bulgaria and develops practical tools for collective digital advocacy, access to information and the protection of environmental rights.

Support BlueLink

The BlueLink Foundation maintains the network and works in the public interest to promote:

• free access to information and knowledge;
• free and independent media and quality journalism;
• the protection of nature, the climate and human rights;
• an active civil society and democratic governance.

If you share our mission and would like to support our independent work, you can make a donation to BlueLink. For more information or other ways to support us, contact us.