United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/56/163
Distr.: General
20 February 2002
Fifty-sixth session
Agenda item 119 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/583/Add.2)]
56/163. 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,
Reiterating the importance of the Declaration and its promotion and
implementation,
Noting with deep concern that, in many countries, persons and organizations
engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms are
facing threats, harassment and insecurity as a result of those activities,
Noting also with deep concern the considerable number of communications
received by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights
defenders that, together with the reports submitted by some of the special procedure
mechanisms, indicate the serious nature of the risks faced by human rights
defenders,
Noting further with deep concern that, in a number of countries in all regions
of the world, impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human
rights defenders persists and that this has a negative impact on the work and safety
of human rights defenders,
Emphasizing the important role that individuals, non-governmental
organizations and groups play in the promotion and protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, including in combating impunity,
Welcoming the cooperation between the Special Representative and other
special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights,
Recalling that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human
rights rests with the State, and noting with deep concern that the activities of nonState actors pose a major threat to the security of human rights defenders,
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