United Nations
A/RES/64/163
Distr.: General
17 March 2010
General Assembly
Sixty-fourth session
Agenda item 69 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2009
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/64/439/Add.2 (Part II))]
64/163. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals,
Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect
Universally Recognized Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998, by which it adopted by
consensus the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups
and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms annexed to that resolution, and reiterating the
importance of the Declaration and its promotion and implementation,
Recalling also all previous resolutions on this subject, in particular its
resolution 62/152 of 18 December 2007 and Human Rights Council resolution 7/8
of 27 March 2008, 1
0F
Noting with deep concern that in many countries persons and organizations
engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms
frequently face threats and harassment and suffer insecurity as a result of those
activities, including through restrictions on freedom of association or expression or
the right to peaceful assembly, or abuse of civil or criminal proceedings,
Gravely concerned that, in some instances, national security and
counter-terrorism legislation and other measures have been misused to target human
rights defenders or have hindered their work and safety in a manner contrary to
international law,
Gravely concerned also by the continuing high level of human rights
violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human
rights and fundamental freedoms around the world and by the fact that in many
countries impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights
defenders persists and that this has a negative impact on their work and safety,
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09-47161
See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53), chap. II.
*0947161*
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