Strengthening Protection Against Transnational Repression | ENACT-RE Project

On 1st September, IPHR, together with the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU), State Capture Accountability Project (SCAP) and European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), launched the ENACT-RE project, strengthening protection against transnational repression.

Led under the CERV programme, this two years project aims at combatting transnational repression in the European Union and strengthen the ability of civil society and state actors to identify, counter, and prevent foreign state-led coercion and harassment of dissidents on the EU territory, including by developing tools and protocols for use by CSOs, protection actors, NHRIs, and local authorities.

The four organisations will conduct activities focusing on Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

The project will directly support exiled human rights defenders, independent journalists, diaspora-led CSOs, and other civic actors at risk of cross-border harassment, while also engaging national authorities, protection bodies, and EU institutions.
Through strong stakeholder engagement, gender-responsive approaches, and integration with EU-level civic space initiatives, ENACT-RE will lay the groundwork for a coherent, rights-based strategy to protect exiled civil society actors and defend the EU’s democratic values from authoritarian interference.

Objectives

Enhance investigation and documentation on TNR

By collecting, verifying, and analysing evidence of cases across the EU; identify patterns of repression, attribute responsibility, and develop a secure database of verified cases

Raise awareness and build the capacity of vulnarable communities

Equip exiled human rights defenders, diaspora groups, and frontline responders with the knowledge and tools to identify threats, assess risks, and adopt strategies for digital and physical security.

Strengthen resilience and protection mechanisms

Provide emergency support to individuals at risk, reinforce existing exile hubs and civil society organisations assisting victims, and foster cross-border cooperation and mutual learning.

Advance policy developments and advocacy at both national and EU levels

Formulate concrete policy recommendations, engage decision-makers, and promote strategic litigation and targeted measures to end impunity and deter future acts of TNR.

Project Advancement

Kick-off meeting

On 8 September 2026, the consortium held the kick-off meeting of the project. Launching the project, the event highlighted the objectives and outlined the activities part of the ENACT- RE project.

Consortium