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On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The right to meet or assemble peacefully applies to every man and woman acting to promote and protect human rights, providing they accept and apply the principles of universality and non-violence. As women's inequality in the enjoyment of rights is rooted in "tradition, history and culture, including religious attitudes", States should ensure that these attitudes are not used to justify violations of women's right to equality before the law and to equal enjoyment of all rights,2 including the right to freedom of assembly.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Women
- Year
- 2011
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. 46
- Paragraph text
- A specific group that also appears to be at particular risk is that formed by women working in the legal profession, including lawyers, judges and paralegals. Between 2004 and 2009, the mandate sent 81 communications regarding the situation of women defenders from these professional categories. Women defenders with this profile appear to be more affected in certain countries, notably the Islamic Republic of Iran (nine communications), Colombia (eight communications), China (eight communications), the Russian Federation (seven communications) and Tunisia (six communications).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- Women journalists and media professionals working on human rights issues also appear to be exposed to risk as a result of their work. This group includes women investigative journalists working on human-rights related issues, women columnists advocating human rights reform, women reporters monitoring and reporting violations of human rights, and women bloggers. The mandate sent communications about 70 cases concerning this category during the six-year period. In certain countries, a large proportion of communications sent concerned women working as journalists or who were engaged in other media-related activities. Women working as journalists were also the subject of various communications sent to, inter alia, Tunisia (seven communications), Colombia (seven communications), the Islamic Republic of Iran (seven communications), Belarus (five communications) and the Russian Federation (five communications).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- In certain cultural and social contexts, issues relating to rape and sexual abuse of women remain taboo. Women working on such issues, including victims thereof seeking redress, organizations representing victims or granting them shelter, and organizations working with sex workers, among others, often face a hostile response from both society and State as a result of their work. In this connection, 19 communications were sent regarding defenders working on issues related to sexual abuse, rape, and prostitution. Of these, six detailed alleged violations against rape victims seeking redress or publicizing the issue, or their lawyers and two being sent to Pakistan, while others were sent to India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Guatemala. The alleged violations in these cases included an arrest, threats, harassment, and a travel ban.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- 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. 91
- Paragraph text
- References were often made to general legislative frameworks, special programmes and databases designed for the protection of women in general against violence and discrimination. References were also made to programmes for the protection of victims and witnesses in order to address the situation of women defenders and those working on women's rights or gender issues. While this is appreciated, the Special Rapporteur considers that it is not sufficient to effectively address the particular challenges and needs of this group.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
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
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has noted with great interest that, over the past few years, human rights defenders have been active in ensuring that the protection promised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is extended to new threats to human dignity. As a result of their work to combat gender-related violence against women, they argue that rights should be protected also within the household and the community. They contend that multinational corporations should be held morally and legally liable for their actions and omissions that deprive men and women of their fundamental rights. They are working to ensure that universal access to primary education and antiretroviral treatment becomes a fundamental right and is not treated as a service that is dependent on charitable action or an aspect of economic development.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Men
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Global trends in risks and threats facing human rights defenders 2015, para. 93a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that States adopt the following measures:] Do more to disseminate the work of defenders and to support their work through campaigns and specific communication and information activities that pay tribute, in particular, to the contributions made by certain categories of defender, such as women; defenders of the rights of lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons; defenders working in the area of corporate social responsibility and land-related rights; defenders of the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples; and defenders who combat impunity and corruption;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- The media can also, however, reproduce and reinforce patterns of inequality and marginalization; for example, women defenders and LGBTI activists are sometimes targeted in social media smear campaigns and vilified by mainstream media outlets. Some good practices within the media to combat this phenomenon include proactive training about defenders at higher risk and emerging rights, as well as stronger support within media outlets for defenders and those working on these issues. Women defenders have noted a strong correlation between media outlets hiring and supporting women journalists and improved coverage of women's rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- The right to freedom of association applies to every man and woman working to promote and protect human rights, providing they accept and apply the principles of universality and non-violence.
- 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
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- According to the information received, the Colombian Constitutional Court has stated that women defenders face extraordinary risks linked to both their condition of women and to their active participation in community and social movements. In this connection, the Constitutional Court has issued orders to overcome the inadequate protection of those women who work as leaders of internally displaced communities and has highlighted the gender-related risks faced by women defenders in the context of the conflict.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- The rights of women to participate in public life, including through the promotion and protection of human rights, is contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as asserted in various international treaties, foremost among them the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Some defenders work on issues that are political, culturally and socially sensitive - issues that other defenders within the same sociopolitical milieu might not support instinctively. Women defenders and defenders who work on sexual orientation and gender identity rights, for example, often struggle to have their rights recognized in certain contexts. It is important for defenders within the same context to understand and support one another, even if they focus on different rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Similarly, article 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that "the States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the present Covenant", which also guarantees and expands upon the aforementioned rights. Furthermore, article 3 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides that the State Parties to the Covenant must "ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights set forth" in the Covenant.
- 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
- Men
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- In this regard, the mandate holders have reiterated on several occasions that women defenders are more at risk of suffering certain forms of violence and other violations, prejudice, exclusion, and repudiation than their male counterparts. This is often due to the fact that women defenders are perceived as challenging accepted socio-cultural norms, traditions, perceptions and stereotypes about femininity, sexual orientation, and the role and status of women in society. Their work is often seen as challenging "traditional" notions of the family which can serve to normalize and perpetuate forms of violence and oppression of women. This can, in certain contexts, lead to hostility or lack of support from the general population, as well as the authorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Families
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- As pointed out by the former Special Representative in her 2002 report to the Commission on Human Rights, the violations faced by women defenders may themselves take a gender-specific form, ranging from verbal abuse based on their sex, to sexual abuse and rape. Cases of the latter are particularly prevalent in situations of conflict, which are often characterized by an environment of complete impunity for perpetrators. Further, in certain contexts, if a women human rights defender is subjected to rape or sexual abuse as a result of her work, she may be perceived by her extended family as having brought shame on both the family and the wider community. Indeed, even when no rape or sexual abuse has occurred, women defenders are often subjected to stigmatization and ostracism by community leaders, faith-based groups, families and communities who consider them to be jeopardizing religion, honour or culture through their work.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Families
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Previous analyses of the situation of women human rights defenders have tended to focus on the situation of female human rights defenders, i.e. women who, individually or in association with others, act to promote or protect human rights, including women's rights. However, this report will have a somewhat broader scope and will include female defenders but also male human rights defenders working on women's rights as well as on gender issues. Furthermore, account will also be taken of violations against spouses, partners and family members of both female defenders and male human rights defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Families
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Elements of a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders 2014, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- In this regard, the Special Rapporteur welcomes the newly adopted General Assembly resolution on protecting women human rights defenders, which she believes is both timely and of utmost importance. In the resolution, the important contribution of women human rights defenders to the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy, rule of law, development, and peace and security is acknowledged. The General Assembly also highlights specific protection measures that States must implement for women defenders to be able to carry out their work safely and without fear of reprisals. It further calls upon States to exercise due diligence in preventing violations and abuses against women human rights defenders and combating impunity by ensuring that those responsible for violations and abuses, are promptly and impartially brought to justice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- During his first consultations in Geneva and Brussels and the bilateral discussions that he held with representatives of regional networks of human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur was struck by the repeated statements drawing his attention to the groups that were most exposed: those working on economic, social and cultural rights and minority rights; environmental defenders; defenders of LGBTI rights; women defenders and those who work for women's rights; defenders who work in the area of business and human rights; those who work in an area exposed to internal conflict or a national disaster; defenders living in isolated regions; and those working on past abuses, such as the families of victims of enforced disappearance.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Enhanced cooperation with resident coordinators and United Nations agencies and programmes is needed. The Special Rapporteur's interactions with other actors have revealed a lack of visibility and understanding of his mandate and, more generally, a lack of knowledge even within the United Nations about the situation of defenders. He has therefore sought to foster better coordination with institutions such as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It would also be useful to develop training and outreach workshops for staff of those institutions and to raise their awareness about the recommendations contained in the Special Rapporteur's reports and the links between them and the issues at the core of those institutions' missions. A noteworthy example would be the recommendations on women defenders or defenders working on development projects or on the protection of ethnic and cultural minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
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. 74
- Paragraph text
- A number of communications in relation to human rights defenders in this group concerned women defenders in Colombia, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Nepal and Peru.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- In some cases, women human rights defenders and those working on women's rights or gender issues must keep their human rights activities out of the public eye so as to mitigate the risks they face. For example, in certain countries they often declare their "social or political meetings" as meetings about childcare or similar since they are more accepted in their societies as corresponding to gender role, in order to avoid some of the pressure. In other countries, they refrain from public discussion of their activities in order to avoid drawing attention to it. Often, they use their family resources to keep themselves safe, including the escort of their family members.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders 2012, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- In several countries, statements that undermine religion and/or call religious laws and rulings into question are punished severely by blasphemy legislation. While recognizing the right to freedom of religion and belief, the Special Rapporteur insists on the right of human rights defenders to discuss human rights ideas and issues, including religious practices that might be in contravention of international human rights standards, pursuant to article 6 of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned about the situation of defenders of women's human rights, given that those speaking out against abuses against women in this connection tend to face harsh punishments, including long prison sentences.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2012
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. 59
- Paragraph text
- Concerning the Middle East and North Africa region, journalists and media workers were targeted mainly because of their activities monitoring demonstrations, denouncing human rights violations committed by the State, working on women's rights, minority rights, corruption and advocating for democracy. They were also targeted for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression, including through the Internet. In this region, the mandate holder sent the highest number of communications to the Syrian Arab Republic (6) and Yemen (6).
- 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
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- Although the rights of women defenders and those working on women's rights or gender issues are not new human rights, in some contexts they may be perceived as new because they address issues that might challenge tradition and culture. Tradition and culture are not static, however, as the United Nations independent expert in the field of cultural rights has argued, saying that "cultures are constantly evolving, as are the concepts of human rights" (A/HRC/14/36, para. 34).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- These rights, among others, are reiterated in 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, also known as the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 March 1999. The Declaration applies to every man and woman acting to promote and protect human rights as long as they accept and apply the principles of universality of and non-violence.
- 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
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- The mandate also sent 40 communications concerning alleged violations against women defenders advocating the rights of indigenous communities, community leaders and those advocating for the rights of women within indigenous communities. The vast majority of such defenders worked in American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico, but also in other countries, notably India and the Philippines, among others.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- States must take the necessary steps to guarantee the effective exercise of the right to freedom of assembly for all individuals without discrimination of any kind. In many countries, women defenders often face more risks when participating in collective public action because of perceptions of the traditional role of women in some societies. Those working on women's rights and gender issues also face more risks.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Security and protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- To enhance the security of women defenders, States should also ensure that those women's specific security needs are dealt with in a gender-sensitive manner and that their participation and collaboration is sought when protection mechanisms are designed. In particular, gender-sensitive training should be put in place for law enforcement officials, protection officers and those in charge of designing protection programmes. Universal and regional mechanisms granting interim measures to women defenders should also request that States take their specific needs into account and report on the exact measures taken.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph