A/RES/60/161 Emphasizing the need for strong and effective measures for the protection of human rights defenders, 1. Calls upon all States to promote and give full effect to 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, including by taking, as appropriate, practical steps to that end; Welcomes the reports of the Special Representative of the Secretary2. General on the situation of human rights defenders 4 and her contribution to the effective promotion of the Declaration and the improvement of the protection of human rights defenders worldwide; Condemns all human rights violations committed against persons 3. engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world, and urges States to take all appropriate action, consistent with the Declaration and all other relevant human rights instruments, to eliminate such human rights violations; Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the 4. protection of human rights defenders, at both the local and the national levels, including in times of conflict and peacebuilding; Also calls upon all States to ensure, protect and respect the freedom of 5. expression and association of human rights defenders and, where registration is required, to facilitate registration, including through the establishment of effective and transparent criteria and non-discriminatory, expeditious and inexpensive procedures in accordance with national legislation; Urges States to ensure that any measures to combat terrorism and 6. preserve national security comply with their obligations under international law, in particular under international human rights law, and do not hinder the work and safety of human rights defenders; Also urges States to take appropriate measures to address the question of 7. impunity for attacks, threats and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders and their relatives, including by ensuring that complaints from human rights defenders are promptly investigated and addressed in a transparent, independent and accountable manner; Urges all States to cooperate with and assist the Special Representative 8. in the performance of her tasks and to furnish, upon request, all information for the fulfilment of her mandate; Calls upon States to give serious consideration to responding favourably 9. to the requests of the Special Representative to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Representative with respect to the follow-up to and implementation of her recommendations so as to enable her to fulfil her mandate even more effectively; 10. Urges those States that have not yet responded to the communications transmitted to them to do so without delay and to investigate expeditiously urgent appeals and allegations brought to their attention by the Special Representative; _______________ 4 E/CN.4/2001/94, E/CN.4/2002/106 and Add.1 and 2, E/CN.4/2003/104 and Add.1–4, E/CN.4/2004/94 and Add.1–3 and E/CN.4/2005/101 and Add.1–3 and Add.3/Corr.1; see also A/56/341, A/57/182, A/58/380, A/59/401 and A/60/339 and Corr.1. 3