Development workers are human rights defenders in the main. Our work as human rights defenders has always been accompanied with risks to life and security. Such risks are amplified by the current global trend of closing spaces for peoples’ movements and civil society. In the Philippines, the Duterte government has been decisively and brazenly
shutting down civic and democratic spaces. While many human rights defenders understand and internalise the nature of our work, there are many practical tools available to help keep us safer and manage these risks. This handbook is intended as a quick reference for suggestions and steps to improve your personal and digital security situation.