A/RES/64/163
Gravely concerned further by the considerable number of communications
received by the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of
human rights defenders that, together with the reports submitted by some of the
other special procedure mechanisms, indicates the serious nature of the risks faced
by human rights defenders, in particular women human rights defenders,
Stressing the important role that individuals, civil society organizations,
non-governmental organizations, groups, organs of society and independent national
institutions play in the promotion and protection of all human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all, including in addressing all forms of human rights
violations, combating impunity, fighting poverty and discrimination, and promoting
access to justice, democracy, tolerance, human dignity and the right to development,
and recalling that all have rights as well as responsibilities and duties within and
towards the community,
Recognizing the substantial role that human rights defenders can play in
supporting efforts to strengthen peace and development, through dialogue,
openness, participation and justice, including by monitoring, reporting on and
contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights,
Recalling that, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, 2 certain rights are recognized as non-derogable in any
circumstances and that any measures derogating from other provisions of the
Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlining the
exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations, as stated in General
Comment No. 29 on states of emergency adopted by the Human Rights Committee
on 24 July 2001, 3
1F
2F
Welcoming the cooperation between the Special Rapporteur and other special
procedures of the Human Rights Council, as well as other relevant United Nations
bodies, offices, departments, specialized agencies and personnel, both at Headquarters
and at the country level, within their mandates,
Welcoming also regional initiatives for the promotion and protection of human
rights and the strengthened cooperation between international and regional
mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders, and encouraging further
development in this regard,
Welcoming further the steps taken by some States towards adopting national
policies or legislation for the protection of individuals, groups and organs of society
engaged in promoting and defending human rights, including as follow-up to the
universal periodic review mechanism of the Human Rights Council,
Recalling that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human
rights rests with the State, reaffirming that national legislation consistent with the
Charter of the United Nations and other international obligations of the State in the
field of human rights and fundamental freedoms is the juridical framework within
which human rights defenders conduct their activities, and noting with deep concern
that the activities of some non-State actors pose a major threat to the security of
human rights defenders,
_______________
2
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I,
annex VI.
3
2