Civil Rights Defenders

Name

Civil Rights Defenders

Legal name

Civil Rights Defenders

Website

https://crd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Human Rights Advocacy and Defender Support Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK), Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)

Keywords

• Human rights advocacy
• Civil society support
• Defender security tools
• Human rights documentation
• Emergency assistance grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Institutional Grants and Donations: Primary funding from institutional donors including Sida (Styrelsen för internationellt utvecklingssamarbete) and Svenska Postkodlotteriet, supplemented by individual donations, corporate partnerships, and bequests.
2. Board Game Sales: Sale of educational board games 'Dictator of Sweden' (399 kr) and 'KÄFTEN!' (199 kr) that raise awareness about democracy while generating revenue for the organisation.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate donations at various tiers (5,000 kr for emergency relocation support, 10,000 kr for media protection, 50,000 kr for Natalia Project security monitoring) with digital materials provided as recognition.
4. Testamentary Bequests: Legacy giving programme where supporters can include Civil Rights Defenders in their wills, with the organisation offering free testament preparation through partner Lawly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Civil Rights Defenders is an international human rights non-profit organization that protects and supports human rights defenders at risk through a portfolio of programs including emergency financial assistance, the Natalia Project GPS/GSM personal security alarm, the cloud-based Defenders' Database for documenting violations, annual recognition awards, free legal advice in Sweden, and international advocacy with observer status at the EU and UN. The organization partners with 300+ civil society organizations across 50 countries and is funded primarily by institutional grants and donations.

Product overview

Civil Rights Defenders is an international human rights organisation that offers a portfolio of programs and tools to support human rights defenders globally. The core offerings include the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award (annual recognition program), the Natalia Project (personal GPS/GSM security alarm system), the Defenders' Database (cloud-based documentation platform for human rights violations), the Emergency Fund (rapid assistance program), and The Human Rights Defender Podcast (awareness platform). These products work together to protect, empower, and amplify the work of human rights defenders worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Natalia Project The world's first personal security alarm system designed specifically for human rights defenders at risk. Wearable GPS/GSM devices allow defenders to send a distress signal with their exact location when attacked, triggering rapid mobilization of local responders and global awareness through social media. Over 200 defenders have been equipped since 2013.
• Defenders' Database Cloud-based, encrypted online documentation tool that enables human rights defenders and civil society organisations to systematically document, analyse, and visualise data on human rights violations globally. Features secure storage, daily backups, two-factor authentication, and per-user accounts.
• Emergency Fund Rapid financial and operational assistance programme for human rights defenders facing acute threats, providing legal aid, temporary relocation, security training, and physical and digital security equipment. In 2024, the fund supported 1,459 defenders from 34 countries; in 2025, it supported 2,302 defenders.
• Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award Annual international award recognising prominent human rights defenders who, despite risks to their safety, continue the struggle for civil and political rights. Recipients receive a statuette, diploma, and awareness-raising collaboration, providing international recognition and visibility.
• Dictator of Sweden (board game) Educational board game about democracy sold for 399 kr per unit, used to raise awareness about democracy and human rights while generating revenue to support Civil Rights Defenders' mission.
• KÄFTEN! (board game) Educational card game about freedom of expression sold for 199 kr per unit, used to raise awareness of civil liberties while generating revenue for Civil Rights Defenders' mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,459 human rights defenders received emergency support in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LawlyminorOthersOnline legal platform providing free testament preparation services to Civil Rights Defenders supporters who wish to include the organisation in their wills.
• Giva SverigeminorOthersCivil Rights Defenders is a member of Giva Sverige (formerly FRII), which advocates for ethical and professional fundraising practices.
• Svensk InsamlingskontrollminorOthersIndependent organisation that controls fundraising organisations in Sweden. Civil Rights Defenders holds a 90-account and is regularly audited.
• Human Rights Defenders Worldwide NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of human rights defenders and organisations that nominates candidates for the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award and provides mutual support.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): Independent NGO promoting press freedom worldwide through advocacy, emergency response, and security support to journalists; directly comparable to Civil Rights Defenders' Natalia Project and emergency support programs targeted at journalists and media defenders.
• PEN International: Global writers' organization that defends freedom of expression and provides protection to persecuted writers; directly comparable in mission and recipient profile, including overlap on writers and journalists named in Civil Rights Defender of the Year awards.
• ARTICLE 19: International freedom of expression organization providing legal aid, advocacy, and protection to journalists and activists — directly comparable to Civil Rights Defenders' work with media defenders, including Netgazeti (2026 award recipient) and La Hora de Cuba.
• International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH): Federation of 192 human rights organizations coordinating advocacy and judicial support; operates with a similar partner-network model and international crimes accountability work, including trial monitoring similar to Civil Rights Defenders' Lundin Oil case work.
• Front Line Defenders: Ireland-based international NGO with the closest direct mission overlap to Civil Rights Defenders, focused on protecting human rights defenders at risk through grants, security training, and rapid response — explicitly comparable on the Security Protection Program dimension and partner network model.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Watch: Major international human rights organization with research-driven advocacy on civil liberties and political rights; comparable on mission focus but primarily a documentation/advocacy body rather than a direct emergency-response NGO for defenders at risk.
• Freedom House: US-headquartered organization focused on democracy and political freedom monitoring globally; comparable on democracy and civic space advocacy but operates primarily through research and policy engagement rather than field-based emergency protection of individual defenders.
• Amnesty International: Global human rights organization operating in far more countries with significantly larger staff and budget; shares the international advocacy and defender-protection mission but covers a much broader portfolio of issues including prisoners of conscience, death penalty, and corporate accountability.

Emerging players

• Witness.org: International NGO using video and technology to document human rights violations; comparable on the Defenders' Database and documentation training dimensions but focused specifically on video evidence rather than broader human rights monitoring.
• Access Now: International digital rights organization defending users' digital civil rights and providing 24/7 Digital Security Helpline — overlapping with Civil Rights Defenders' documentation technology work and Natalia Project digital security dimension.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/crdefenders
• YouTubeyoutube.com/crdefenders
• Facebookfacebook.com/civilrightsdefenders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/civilrightsdefenders
• Instagraminstagram.com/crdefenders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Civil Rights Defenders