Human rights activists play a critical role in bringing about government accountability in democratizing societies. Yet, as resurgent autocratizing forces challenge democratic norms and practices around the world, rights activists are increasingly confronting contentious and uncertain conditions in which to advocate for fundamental freedoms. In this paper, we focus on an often overlooked dimension of democratic backsliding as it affects human rights activists: The role of international donors and networks. Qualitative and quantitative studies have found that grassroot rights activists are more likely to succeed when they can partner with international organizations and transnational networks. These international ties provide parallel, though distinct, mechanisms for bringing about change. Activists can enhance their capacity to influence government behavior by activating transnational advocacy networks to ramp up foreign pressure. Where news media are not objective or independent, international networks can provide an alternate mechanism for information diffusion in allowing a country’s citizens to become aware of systematic rights violations. But how do international networks and donors respond to the challenges of autocratization and new legal restrictions? Based in recent data collection from Zimbabwe, the paper will focus on the nature of international networks and support and how the international dimension shape the domestic options available to activists facing growing legal restrictions through the processes of democratic backsliding