Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 65

Paragraph
Paragraph text
In emergencies, some environmental human rights defenders can benefit from ad hoc and structured relocation initiatives. A number of actors provide emergency grants to defenders in immediate danger. Emergency grants that have easy and fast application processes and quick response times and that allow defenders discretion in using funds in a manner appropriate to their personal situation have helped many defenders cope with threats and attacks. With respect to both relocation and emergency grants, however, the particular characteristics of environmental human rights defenders may make the traditional delivery of such support inappropriate: the community-based nature of environmental and land activism may make relocation a less-desirable option and traditional ideas about who should apply for emergency grants may make this option unsuitable. It is vital to consult the defenders themselves on the suitability of interventions in their personal circumstances lest they inadvertently increase the risks that defenders face. Further work should be done by all actors to ensure that defenders are aware of the support that is available to them in emergency situations.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
Document type
Special Procedures' report
Means of adoption
N.A.
Topic(s)
  • Environment
  • Humanitarian
Person(s) affected
  • Activists
Year
2016
Paragraph type
Other
Reference
SR Human Rights Defenders, Report to the UNGA (2016), A/71/281, para. 65.
Paragraph number
65