A/HRC/31/55
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
1 February 2016
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-first session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights defenders
Note by the Secretariat
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
defenders, Michel Forst, conceptualizes good practices in the protection of human rights
defenders at the local, national, regional and international levels. He outlines protection
initiatives in three interrelated areas: practices that strengthen the resources and capacities
of defenders; measures that foster an enabling environment for the defence of their rights;
and regional and international initiatives that support their protection at the local and
national levels. He concludes the report with seven principles underpinning good practices
in the protection of defenders, and makes recommendations on further ways to strengthen,
replicate and disseminate them.
GE.16-01321(E)
*1601321*