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Security and protection of human rights defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2010
- Document code
- A/HRC/13/22
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Environmental human rights defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2016
- Document code
- A/71/281
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2017
- Document code
- A/HRC/34/52
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Global trends in risks and threats facing human rights defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2015
- Document code
- A/70/217
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2011
- Document code
- A/HRC/16/44
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2015
- Document code
- A/HRC/28/63
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Vision and Working Methods of the Mandate
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2014
- Document code
- A/69/259
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Elements of a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2014
- Document code
- A/HRC/25/55
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Large-scale development project and human rights defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2013
- Document code
- A/68/262
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2010
- Document code
- A/65/223
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Role of national human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights and as protectors of human rights defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2013
- Document code
- A/HRC/22/47
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Selected groups of defenders at risk: journalists and media workers, defenders working on land and environment issues; and youth and student defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2012
- Document code
- A/HRC/19/55
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
On the Declaration on human rights defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2011
- Document code
- A/66/203
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2012
- Document code
- A/67/292
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2016
- Document code
- A/HRC/31/55
- Date modified
- Sep 19, 2019
Document
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- The former Special Representative had received information on numerous instances in which "employers collude among themselves and with the local labour department and immigration authorities against workers who raise labour rights concerns" (E/CN.4/2004/94/Add.1, paras. 61-69). Private companies have also reportedly provided information to the State leading to the conviction of several defenders who had been calling for democratic reforms through the Internet. In one particular case, a Web-search engine company was sued by defenders for reportedly having aided and abetted State violations against them. A private settlement was agreed upon by the parties, but new lawsuits have since been filed against the same company by different plaintiffs.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Economic Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Large-scale development project and human rights defenders 2013, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- In her 2012 report to the Human Rights Council, which was devoted to groups at risk, the Special Rapporteur highlighted the dangers and challenges faced by defenders working on land and environmental issues, including in connection with the activities of extractive industries and construction and development projects (A/HRC/19/55, para. 64). She pointed out that the main context in which violations against such defenders generally occurred was that of ongoing land disputes with both State and non-State actors, including multinational corporations and private security companies. The Special Rapporteur expressed serious concern about the risks faced by this group of defenders and noted that those defenders were highly exposed to attacks to their physical integrity and that many of them were killed. She highlighted that the stigmatization they suffered from State and non-State actors was a factor that might encourage rejection of or even violence against defenders (A/HRC/19/55, paras. 65 and 66, 117, 123 and 125).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- [The international community should:] The General Assembly and the Human Rights Council should monitor violations against environmental human rights defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- The present report, including the recommendations below, is aimed at guiding all relevant actors in their future efforts to implement their commitments. We should remember that empowering environmental human rights defenders is not only crucial to the protection of our environment and the human rights that depend on it, but also a safeguard to ensure that our future development will be less conflict-prone and more inclusive, leaving no one behind.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- The Special Representative also stated that discharging the responsibility to respect human rights required due diligence. This concept, which is derived from, but should be distinguished from, a State's due diligence responsibility, should be understood to mean that companies must ensure that their activities do not infringe upon the rights of others, including human rights defenders. This implies that companies should identify and prevent human rights violations against defenders that may result from their activities and operations. The Special Rapporteur would like to call upon companies to engage with human rights defenders while implementing the four components of the human rights due diligence standard, as elaborated by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on business and human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- During times of armed conflict or states of emergency, human rights defenders are at great risk of being targeted by non-State armed groups. Defenders denouncing impunity and violations committed by armed groups are harassed and, consequently, work in a state of fear. In particular, their mental and physical integrity is at risk, as they often live in regions under the control of non-State armed groups or wherein these groups operate. In addition to being threatened and harassed by militias, warlords and other armed groups, women human rights defenders are, in addition, often subjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence because of their work. Human rights defenders helping victims to access justice for violations of human rights law or international humanitarian law, either locally or before regional or international tribunals such as the International Criminal Court, are also regularly subjected to threats, violence and harassment. In particular, the Special Rapporteur has received information about lawyers receiving death threats because of their work in defence of victims of international crimes. Humanitarian workers are also targeted by non-State armed groups and thus prevented from providing humanitarian assistance to victims of armed conflicts. Furthermore, in the context of civil conflict, paramilitaries often attempt to stigmatize the work of human rights defenders and legitimize campaigns of violence against them by alleging that they are associated with armed groups or "terrorists". In such cases, it is vital that the Government publicly reaffirm the importance of the work carried out by human rights defenders and denounce any attempts at its delegitimization or stigmatization.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The Declaration reaffirms the responsibility of everyone not to violate the rights of others, encompassing the responsibility of non-State actors to respect the rights of human rights defenders. This is reflected in the preamble as well as in articles 11, 12.3 and 19 of the Declaration. This responsibility to respect human rights, including the rights of defenders, means that non-State actors should at all times refrain from curtailing the enjoyment of human rights by defenders. In other words, all non-State actors, including armed groups, the media, faith-based groups, communities, companies and individuals should refrain from taking any measures that would result in preventing defenders from exercising their rights. On the contrary, non-State actors can, and should, play a preventive role by promoting the Declaration as well as the rights and activities of human rights defenders. All individuals, groups and organs of society should contribute to the effective promotion, protection and implementation of human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- In addition, the information received indicates that community leaders and faith-based groups are increasingly resorting to the stigmatization of, and attacks against, defenders working on issues such as the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons (A/HRC/4/37/Add.2, para. 32), violence against women and domestic violence. In numerous instances, defenders have been threatened with ostracism or pressured to stop their work in defence of human rights. Furthermore, the information received shows that women human rights defenders working in the area of domestic violence and other types of violence against women are often pressured by the family members of victims or threatened by the perpetrators or their own family members to drop cases.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Families
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- The corporate responsibility to respect human rights (see A/HRC/14/27, paras. 54-78) is recognized in soft-law instruments such as the Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and it constitutes one of the commitments that companies undertake when joining the United Nations Global Compact. The corporate responsibility to respect notably applies to the rights enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights. Therefore, the rights enshrined in the Declaration on human rights defenders, such as the right to security and liberty, freedom of association and freedom of opinion and expression, including access to information, must be respected by companies, whether national or transnational. Examples of alleged violations of those rights by companies are provided above.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- In relation to private national or transnational corporations, the Special Rapporteur refers to the responsibility of companies to respect human rights, as emphasized by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, Mr. John Ruggie, in his report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/8/5), submitted in 2008. The Human Rights Council endorsed the Special Representative's policy framework for business and human rights, as elaborated in his report. The framework rests on the three principles of "protect, respect and remedy": the State duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including businesses; the corporate responsibility to respect human rights; and the need for more effective access to remedies. The Human Rights Council later emphasized that transnational corporations and other business enterprises have a responsibility to respect human rights (see Human Rights Council resolution 8/7). Consequently, business enterprises also have a responsibility to respect the rights of human rights defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- A number of cases brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur indicate that the media are also involved in violations committed against human rights defenders, notably in relation to violations of their right to privacy. In certain States, human rights defenders have been subjected to denigration campaigns in the press (although sometimes the perpetrators were State-owned outlets). The Special Rapporteur strongly condemns such stigmatization, which often causes defenders to be portrayed as "troublemakers" and consequently legitimizes attacks against them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- The present report does not aim to identify all categories of non-State actors involved in human rights abuses against defenders, as this group is too broad and diverse. Rather, it is the intent of the Special Rapporteur to highlight the types of violations they commit and their responsibilities. The report will therefore focus on armed groups, private corporations, individuals and the media, as these are the non State actors most regularly accused of violating the rights of defenders. Conclusions and recommendations are addressed to various stakeholders, as well as to all non State actors, including those not discussed in the report.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- At the outset, the Special Rapporteur would like to recall that non-State actors, including private companies, have an obligation to comply with national laws in conformity with international standards and norms. Consequently, non-State actors can be held accountable for violations of the rights of defenders amounting to offences or crimes under national law. In addition, the Human Rights Council, in its resolution 12/2, condemns "all acts of intimidation or reprisal by non-State actors against individuals and groups who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- In addition, companies should envisage incorporating a reference to the Declaration on human rights defenders into their corporate social responsibility and/or human rights policies. Transnational corporations should also systematically consider involving human rights defenders in their country assessment prior to undertaking any investment in a given State. Early and transparent discussions on the consequences of the activities of companies on the enjoyment of human rights in their areas of operation could prevent violations of the human rights of populations, communities and defenders. Such a participatory process would also contribute to an acknowledgment of the key role of defenders in the promotion of human rights, democracy and good governance. Transnational companies could also play a key role in influencing their national parent companies and overseas subsidiaries to adopt the same approach.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph
Security and protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Certain countries have taken action in this regard, which should be commended. The Special Rapporteur notes with satisfaction the public statement by the President of Colombia on 17 September 2009 after his meeting with the Special Rapporteur to the effect that "the defence of human rights is a necessary and legitimate action for democracy in a country like Colombia which is proud to be completely open to international scrutiny in this field" and she calls upon the authorities to give effect to this statement. In Belgium, both the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives adopted resolutions on the protection of human rights defenders, acknowledging the role of defenders and their need of protection. The resolutions also establish clear goals to be achieved by the Belgian authorities. Similarly, the Spanish Congress unanimously passed a resolution on human rights defenders in June 2007.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date modified
- Feb 13, 2020
Paragraph