A/HRC/RES/49/18 Underscoring that human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, are civilians under international humanitarian law and shall be protected as such unless and for such time as they directly participate in hostilities, Underscoring also that the legal framework within which human rights defenders work peacefully to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms is that of national legislation consistent with the Charter and international human rights law, Reaffirming the importance of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and its full and effective implementation, and that promoting respect, support and protection for the activities of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, is essential to the overall enjoyment of human rights, including in conflict and post-conflict situations, inter alia, in support of conflict prevention and resolution and post-conflict reconstruction, Recognizing the important and legitimate role played by human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, in the promotion and protection of human rights in conflict and post-conflict situations with regard to monitoring, documenting and raising awareness about human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, promoting accountability, fighting impunity, countering disinformation and misinformation, assisting victims of human rights violations and abuses in gaining access to justice, raising the human rights impacts of conflict and humanitarian crises, and contributing to the building of accountable and responsive institutions, Recognizing also that, in conflict and post-conflict situations, it is essential for subregional, regional and international bodies, including the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, to cooperate with all relevant actors, including with human rights defenders, inter alia for early identification of patterns of human rights violations and abuses, and to gather and corroborate information and evidence about human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law to fight impunity, Recognizing further the importance of gender equality and the role that women play in conflict and post-conflict situations in upholding human rights and supporting efforts for peace, and deeply concerned at the persistence of the multiple and intersecting forms of violence, intimidation and discrimination against women human rights defenders and women peacebuilders, Reaffirming the importance of the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in planning and decision-making with regard to mediation, confidence-building, and conflict prevention and resolution, and of their involvement in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security, and the need to prevent and redress human rights violations and abuses, such as all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence, Alarmed at the killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture, harassment, intimidation, criminalization and judicial harassment of, and the smear campaigns, violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, and threats used against human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, in conflict and postconflict situations, or their family members, associates and legal representatives, Expressing deep concern at the threats to the safety of human rights defenders posed by non-State actors, including terrorist groups and criminal organizations, Emphasizing the particular risks with regard to the safety of human rights defenders in the digital age, including their exposure to unlawful or arbitrary surveillance, unlawful or arbitrary interference with privacy, targeted interception of communications, hacking, including government-sponsored hacking, and measures that prevent or disrupt access to information and communication channels, including Internet shutdowns, Deeply concerned that unpunished threats, attacks and violence against human rights defenders, including in conflict and post-conflict situations, contribute to a persistent climate of impunity, which in turn contributes to the recurrence of these crimes, Gravely concerned that national security, counter-terrorism and cybercrime legislation and other measures, such as laws regulating civil society organizations, are in 2