Su Anne Lee

Educators and managers can play an important role in building the next generation of resilient human rights advocates. Flickr -Some rights reserved -  (CC BY-SA 2.0) Teachers or managers bear a particular responsibility for fostering a culture of open communication. Many advocates enter the human rights field with little to no training in how to mitigate the harms of exposure to trauma and or in how to foster resilience in themselves, their colleagues, and their community.

Self-care and collective care do not erase the stress and tensions of everyday life, but using these strategies can sustainably improve our coexistence and work places. En Mexico, 91% of women human rights defenders endure stress on an everyday basis.

People dedicated to human rights and peacebuilding constantly face this seemingly impossible choice: advocate for the rights of others or take care of yourself. Last year, someone I deeply admire developed a critical health condition due to prolonged and heightened work stress. Another close friend took a break from her human rights organization to attend graduate school because she was exhausted, depressed, and disillusioned by the work she once loved so much.