Twentieth anniversary and promotion of 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
A/RES/72/247
Reaffirming that States have the primary responsibility and are under the
obligation to respect, promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms
of all persons,
Stressing, in this regard, that all human rights and fundamental freedoms apply
to all persons equally, including human rights defenders in the context of the
Declaration, 6 and that these rights and freedoms must be respected, protected and
fulfilled without discrimination,
Reaffirming the importance of the Declaration and its implementation, and that
promoting respect and support for the activities of human rights defenders is essential
to the overall enjoyment of human rights,
Underscoring the positive, important and legitimate role of human rights
defenders in promoting and advocating the realization of all human rights, at the local,
national, regional and international levels, including by engaging with Governments
and contributing to the efforts in the implementation of the obligations and
commitments of States in this regard,
Welcoming the steps taken by some States to create a safe and enabling
environment for the promotion, protection and defence of human rights, and
recognizing in this regard the positive efforts by authorities, national human rights
institutions, where they exist, and civil society towards the development and
enactment of relevant national policies, laws, programmes and practices,
Recognizing the substantial role that human rights defenders can play in
supporting efforts to strengthen conflict prevention, peace an d sustainable
development, including environmental protection, through dialogue, openness,
participation and justice, including by monitoring, reporting on and contributing to
the promotion and protection of all civil, political, economic, social and cultu ral
rights, and other rights, including the right to development, and in the context of the
implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 7
Gravely concerned by the considerable and increasing number of allegations
and communications of a serious nature received by special procedures of the Human
Rights Council and other mechanisms on the threats, risks and dangers faced by
human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, online and offline,
and the prevalence of impunity for violations and abuses against them in many
countries, where they face threats, harassment and attacks and suffer insecurity,
including through restrictions on, inter alia, the rights to freedom of opinion,
expression, association or peaceful assembly, and the right to privacy, or through
abuse of criminal or civil proceedings, or acts of intimidation and reprisal intended to
prevent their cooperation with the United Nations and other international bodies in
the field of human rights,
Mindful that domestic law and administrative provisions and their application
should not hinder but enable the work of human rights defenders, including by
avoiding any criminalization, stigmatization, impediments, obstructions or
restrictions thereof contrary to the obligations and commitments of States under
international human rights law,
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The term “human rights defenders” applies consistent with the purposes, principles and
provisions of 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.
Resolution 70/1.
17-23331