A/RES/74/146 Implementing 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 through providing a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and ensuring their protection and abuses against human rights defenders around the world, and that strengthened efforts are required for the effective implementation of the Declaration, Stressing the need for further action by States and non-State actors to promote a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and their protection, taking into account their diverse situations and the diverse contexts in which they operate, 1. Expresses grave concern at the situation of human rights defenders around the world, strongly condemns the killing of and all other human rights violations or abuses against human rights defenders, including women, environmental and indigenous human rights defenders, by State and non-State actors, and stresses that such acts may violate international law and undermine sustainable development at the local, national, regional and international levels; 2. Affirms the important role of human rights defenders in supporting States to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 8 including the pledge that no one will be left behind and to reach the furthest behind first; 3. Welcomes the work and takes note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights defenders presented to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, and encourages all States to consider implementing recommendations contained in the reports and to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur; 4. Urges States to promote a safe and enabling environment, including through the implementation of existing national legislation that is in compliance with international human rights law and, where necessary, through the adoption and implementation of more comprehensive legislative and administrative measures , in which human rights defenders can operate free from hindrance, reprisals and insecurity, ensuring, among other things, the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs and in cultural life, the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and equal access to justice, including to an effective remedy; 5. Condemns all acts of intimidation and reprisal, both online and offline, by State and non-State actors against individuals, groups and organs of society, including against human rights defenders and their legal representatives, associates and family members, who seek to cooperate, are cooperating or have cooperated with subregional, regional and international bodies, including the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms, in the field of human rights, and strongly calls upon all States to give effect to the right of everyone, individually and in association with others, to unhindered access to and communication with international bodies, including the United Nations, its special procedures, the universal periodic review mechanism and the treaty bodies, as well as regional human rights mechanisms; 6. Continues to express particular concern about systemic and structural discrimination, violence and harassment faced by women human rights defenders of all ages, including sexual and gender-based violence as well as defamation and smear campaigns, both online and offline, and reiterates its strong call upon States to take appropriate, robust and practical steps to protect women human rights d efenders and to integrate a gender perspective into their efforts to create a safe and enabling environment for the defence of human rights; 7. Recognizes that democracy and the rule of law are essential components for the creation of a safe and enabling environment and the protection of human rights defenders, and urges States to take measures to strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard civic space, uphold the rule of law and combat impunity; 4/7 19-22249