For Human Rights Defenders in Malaysia

Exploring Long-Term Structures of Collective Care and Holistic Safety

Human rights defenders (HRDs) in Malaysia often work under precarious and punitive conditions—grappling with state surveillance, threats, burnout, and systemic marginalisation. Yet, mental health and psychosocial support tailored to their realities remains limited. Conventional counselling frameworks frequently overlook the trauma, fear, and social isolation that HRDs—particularly those from LGBTQ+, Indigenous, or other marginalised backgrounds—face. At Legal Dignity, we understand collective care as the creation of support ecosystems where healing and sustainability are shared responsibilities, rather than individual burdens. Holistic safety extends beyond physical protection to encompass emotional resilience, community solidarity, trauma-informed care, and the fundamental right to rest and recover. These values underpin our approach to strengthening mental health infrastructure that is not only affirming but deeply embedded within HRD movements.

Although many HRDs seek psychosocial support, they often disengage from therapy after encountering practitioners who misunderstand their experiences or inadvertently retraumatise them. This disconnect underscores the urgent need to equip mental health professionals with the tools to engage meaningfully and sensitively with defenders. Training practitioners to understand the specific challenges HRDs face is essential—not only to provide immediate care, but to sustain long-term well-being and safety.

This pilot initiative aims to:

Build a pool of trained mental health practitioners skilled in trauma-informed care tailored to the lived experiences of HRDs. Improve the quality, sensitivity, and accessibility of mental health services for frontline social justice advocates.
Cultivate a sustainable care ecosystem where well-being is integrated as a core element of human rights work.
Establish long-term structures of solidarity and mutual support between mental health practitioners1 and the HRD community.

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