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Elements of a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders 2014, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur remains concerned by the trends of judicial harassment and stigmatization of women human rights defenders, including those working on religious practices in relation to blasphemy legislation, and defenders working on sexual and reproductive rights in relation to legislation on public morals. She is also concerned with recent legislative moves to purportedly curb the promotion of homosexuality and the constraints that defenders of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons face due to criminalization of same-sex relations in over 75 countries worldwide.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Elements of a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders 2014, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- Defenders working on the right of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons are subjected to stigmatization and attacks by, inter alia, community and faith leaders or groups and the media. The Special Rapporteur has raised the difficult situation of this group in various communications and during country visits. She has also recommended that authorities remove legal provisions that hinder and stigmatize these defenders' work, and provide them with adequate protection and public support.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Elements of a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders 2014, para. 125
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that it is crucial that defenders strive for high standards of professionalism and ethical behaviour when carrying out human rights activities. They should also recognize the important work of women human rights defenders and those working on women's rights and gender issues, and strive towards empowering them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Global trends in risks and threats facing human rights defenders 2015, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- Women defenders explained that those violations could not be understood without an in-depth analysis of the social, cultural, economic or political context, in which a patriarchal culture persists along with deeply-rooted stereotypes. They said they were the victims of attacks because they questioned that culture and challenged traditionally assigned roles. During the consultations numerous defenders described the insults hurled at women defenders, who are often depicted as prostitutes, or as immoral, sinful individuals undermining respect for traditional values. According to the women defenders, that makes them the preferred targets of religious groups, especially when they strive for the observance and promotion of sexual and reproductive rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Global trends in risks and threats facing human rights defenders 2015, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- It would be impossible to conclude the present section without harking back to the disturbing increase in the number of reprisals and acts of intimidation reported by defenders during the regional consultations. Fear of reprisals perpetrated by non-State or governmental actors deters some defenders from cooperating with the United Nations and regional mechanisms. In this connection, the defenders point to the surveillance exercised over them and over certain non-governmental organizations that cooperate with the United Nations on issues deemed to be sensitive, such as discrimination against Roma people, or the promotion of sexual and reproductive rights, sexual orientation and identity. The defenders urged the Special Rapporteur to continue to support their reports calling for an end to these reprisals and attempts to intimidate them. In this regard, the defenders mentioned some States' attitude to such reprisals. While they are guilty of, or complicit in acquiescing to, attacks on them that all too often go unpunished, States nevertheless have a fundamental role to play, according to the defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Gender influences the way that defenders experience risks and threats. Discrimination on the basis of gender is linked to other factors, such as ethnicity, religion, class, age, health or sexual orientation. The intersection of these factors produces different vulnerabilities for women. For this reason, it is critical for gender analysis to adopt an intersectionality lens, examining how the combination of such factors has an impact on the rights and security of women defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- In strengthening the security of defenders, it is crucial that protection practices focus on a "holistic" conception of security. The physical safety of defenders should be interlinked and integrated into their digital security and psychosocial well-being, aspects that tend to be neglected by defenders themselves and their supporters.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- One aspect of security often neglected by defenders is their own well-being. The stress of human rights work often takes a toll on the mental, emotional and psychological well-being of defenders. Defenders should recognize the signs and symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, vicarious trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and burnout, and must be supported in the prevention and treatment of them. It is vitally important for defenders to engage in self-care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 107
- Paragraph text
- The vast majority of defenders have expressed the need for long-term, flexible funding arrangements that can sustain their programmatic work and accommodate local contexts, and dynamic changes in their environment. They have also expressed the hope that donors will pay particular attention to preparedness and prevention and strengthen their efforts to provide rest, respite and rehabilitation opportunities for defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 18b
- Paragraph text
- [Specific situations impeding the work of human rights defenders and leading to a highly insecure environment include:] Prosecution of defenders and criminalization of their activities. Defenders are arrested and prosecuted on false charges. Others are detained without charge, often without access to a lawyer, medical care or a judicial process, and without being informed of the reason for their arrest;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Role of national human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights and as protectors of human rights defenders 2013, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- The Sub-Committee on Accreditation has strongly recommended that provision be included in legislation to protect members and staff of national institutions from legal liability for official actions. The Special Rapporteur believes that privileges and immunities for members and the staff of national institutions discharging their functions in good faith are an important safeguard, allowing them to carry out their activities without undue interference.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Security and protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- States increasingly resort to legal actions to violate the human rights of defenders denouncing human rights violations. Defenders are arrested and prosecuted on false charges. Many others are detained without charge, often without access to a lawyer, medical care or a judicial process, and without being informed of the reason for their arrest.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Security and protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- Communications issued by the Special Rapporteur indicate that the criminalization of human rights defenders' activities by States' authorities has not decreased. Some States tend to systematically invoke national security and public safety to restrict the scope of activities of defenders. In many countries, trade unionists, members of NGOs and social movements face repeated arrests and criminal proceedings for charges of "forming criminal gangs", "obstructing public roads", "inciting crime", "creating civil disobedience" or "threatening the State security, public safety or the protection of health or morals". Moreover, human rights defenders, including defence lawyers, providing legal assistance to other defenders or victims of human rights violations are threatened, denied access to courthouses and their clients, and arrested and charged under various criminal provisions. The multitude of arrests and detentions of defenders also contributes to their stigmatization, since they are depicted and perceived as troublemakers by the population.
- 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
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Security and protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- These examples should constitute a basis for States to anticipate high-risk situations and develop or improve protection measures. In the situations mentioned above, the safety of defenders' families and relatives should also be assessed. Whenever possible, early warning systems should also be developed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Families
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Selected groups of defenders at risk: journalists and media workers, defenders working on land and environment issues; and youth and student defenders 2012, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- During the period, the mandate holder sent 21 communications with allegations of torture and ill-treatment of journalists and media workers acting as human rights defenders (Middle East and North Africa 9, Asia Pacific 6, Africa 5, the Americas 1). In some instances, torture not only implied physical abuse, but also included denial of medical treatment by the authorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders 2012, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- Such legislation has a profound and deteriorating effect on the fundamental freedoms of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights defenders, in addition to non-governmental organizations and health workers engaged in HIV prevention and providing care for HIV patients. The right to freedom of association is severely compromised by such legislation, forcing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender associations to operate clandestinely or to cease operations altogether.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders 2012, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Sexual and reproductive rights defenders thus play a significant role in ensuring respect for women's human rights. Such activities should not be subject to criminal sanctions. Furthermore, States with a legal framework guaranteeing sexual and reproductive rights need to ensure that such legislation is enforced without discrimination. Judicial harassment against sexual and reproductive rights defenders should not be tolerated, and judges and prosecutors have a key role in this regard. The Special Rapporteur also wishes to emphasize that medical and health-care professionals are protected under article 11 of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, according to which everyone has the right to exercise his or her occupation or profession, in compliance with relevant national and international standards of occupational and professional conduct or ethics, including human rights standards.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders 2012, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- The role of human rights defenders in disseminating information about sexual and reproductive rights, whether as part of State institutions set up for this purpose, through non-governmental organizations or through the formal education system, needs to be clearly defined in legislation relating to public morals to ensure that such activities are not criminalized. Defenders who provide evidence-based sexual and reproductive health information and education should in no circumstances face criminal sanctions, in line with article 6 (b) of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (see also A/66/254, para. 65).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders 2012, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- Some information may legitimately be withheld from the public if its dissemination represents a risk to national security, public health or morals or protection of other overriding interests. Such provisions should, however, be clearly defined in official-secret legislation, which should also indicate the precise criteria to be used in determining whether information can be declared secret. In line with articles 6 and 14 of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, official-secret legislation should never be used to prevent the disclosure of information that is in the public interest.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- A large number of communications sent during the period (196) concerned alleged violations against defenders, including males, working on women's rights or gender issues, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual issues (LGBT). This group is thoroughly heterogeneous, including women and men carrying out a vast range of activities related to women's rights, including those working on issues related to sexual and reproductive rights; organizations dealing with violence against women, rehabilitation and impunity related to violence, rape and sexual violence, women's shelters caring for victims of the above; and journalists and bloggers writing on women's rights issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- The mandate has also received and acted upon allegations of violations against defenders working in areas of sexual and reproductive rights. All seven communications sent from the mandate regarding specifically sexual and reproductive rights concerned Chinese human rights defenders advocating against the alleged use of forced abortions and sterilizations. However, responses to the questionnaire sent in preparation for the report have provided further information regarding defenders working on these issues in other countries and regions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- According to the information received, human rights defenders who work on sexual and reproductive rights face risks including harassment, discrimination, stigma, criminalization and physical violence. As part of this group, medical and health professionals, by providing sexual and reproductive health services, ensure that women can exercise their reproductive rights. In certain countries, these health professionals, as a result of their work, are regularly targeted and suffer harassment, intimidation and physical violence. In some countries, these attacks perpetrated by non-State actors have led to killings and attempted killings of medical professionals.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- The prevalence of the alleged use of torture, as well as other forms of ill-treatment and mistreatment of women human rights defenders and those working on women's rights or gender issues while in detention is alarming. During the stated period, 149 such allegations were noted in communications from the mandate in this regard. Several such cases (22) pertained to detained or imprisoned defenders in China; of these, there were a notable number of alleged incidences of physical attacks and beatings by inmates, who had reportedly been ordered to do so by prison guards. Other violations reported in China have included beatings by law enforcement officials, the use of torture as a disciplinary measure, denial of adequate medical care in detention, forced medication and sleep deprivation. Among the alleged victims of such treatment were pro-democracy activists, defenders working on reproductive and housing rights, and the rights of religious, national, and ethnic minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
23 shown of 23 entities