A/HRC/RES/38/12
vulnerable groups, combating racism and racial discrimination, supporting crime
prevention, countering corruption, promoting corporate social responsibility and
accountability, combating human trafficking, empowering women and youth, promoting
the rights of the child, advancing social justice and consumer protection, the realization of
all human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 and the
need to take into account the full diversity of non-governmental organizations at the
national, regional and international levels while acknowledging their expertise and their
capacity to support the work of the United Nations,
Recognizing the important role of civil society at the local, national, regional and
international levels, that civil society facilitates the achievement of the purposes and
principles of the United Nations, and that the undue restriction of civil society space
therefore has a negative impact upon their achievement,
Recalling the role of the Human Rights Council in the prevention of human rights
violations through cooperation and dialogue, in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, and welcomes the contribution of civil society in this
regard,
Welcoming the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
including the commitments therein to, inter alia, promote peaceful and inclusive societies
for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, build effective, accountable
and inclusive institutions at all levels, and strengthen the means of implementation and
revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, and welcoming also its
recognition of the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships for the achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals,
Welcoming also the fundamental contribution that civil society and human rights
defenders make to the promotion of human rights, the creation of peaceful dialogue and the
building of pluralistic democracies,
Gravely concerned that, in many countries, persons and organizations engaged in
promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms frequently face threats,
harassment, discrimination and attacks 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 criminal or civil proceedings, or deplorable acts of
intimidation and reprisal intended to prevent their cooperation with the United Nations and
other international bodies in the field of human rights, and strongly condemning all such
violations and abuses,
Underscoring that the legal framework within which civil society operates is that of
national legislation consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and international
human rights law,
Mindful that domestic legal and administrative provisions and their application
should facilitate, promote and protect an independent, diverse and pluralistic civil society,
and in this regard strongly rejecting all threats, attacks, reprisals and acts of intimidation
against civil society actors, and underscoring that States should investigate any such alleged
acts, ensure accountability and effective remedies, and take steps to prevent any further
such threats, attacks, reprisals or acts of intimidation,
Deeply concerned that, in some instances, domestic legal and administrative
provisions, such as national security and counter-terrorism legislation, and other measures,
such as provisions on funding to civil society actors, or registration or reporting
requirements, have sought to or have been misused to hinder the work and endanger the
safety of civil society, and recognizing the urgent need to prevent and stop the use or
misuse of such provisions, and to review and, where necessary, amend any relevant
provisions in order to ensure their compliance with international human rights law and,
where applicable, international humanitarian law,
Recognizing that the ability to seek, secure and use resources is essential to the
existence and sustainable operation of a diverse and pluralistic civil society, and that undue
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