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Reflection on work undertaken in first 14 years of the mandate; outline of opportunities and priorities 2014, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- Given the specific risks to which human rights defenders working in the areas of housing, land, eviction or gentrification are exposed, the Rapporteur aims to support the call for enhanced guarantees for the essential work that they carry out.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- On 26 March 2014, Special Rapporteurs issued a press statement when the local government of Da Nang, Viet Nam, decided to expropriate the land used by Con Dau village for housing and agriculture, which appeared to be a clear case of land grabbing for the benefit of private entrepreneurs. Con Dau was built by many generations of residents who had shaped their culture through the cultivation of rice and church activities. The parish cemetery, a national cultural heritage site, has been demolished and removed to a remote area.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred 2012, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur remains concerned about the continuing existence and the use of flawed domestic laws that purport to combat hate speech but are in fact used to suppress critical or opposing voices. Such laws frequently carry disproportionate sanctions, such as hard labour, long prison sentences, life imprisonment or even capital punishment, for vague offences such as "inciting religious unrest" in Turkmenistan, "promoting division between religious believers and non-believers" in Viet Nam, "incitement to violation" in the Islamic Republic of Iran, "instigating hatred and disrespect against the ruling regime" in Bahrain, "inciting subversion of State power" in China, "incitement to offences that damage public tranquillity" in Myanmar, "blasphemy" in Pakistan, "inciting violence against a religious authority" in Angola, "causing national, racial or religious hate, discord and intolerance" in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (to suppress any criticism of the Macedonian Orthodox Church) and "misrepresenting events and inciting violence" in Somalia (to arrest and detain independent journalists).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- On 7 April 2006, the Special Rapporteur, together with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Honduras in relation to the physical assault by armed men against a female member of the Lenca indigenous community and contributor to the "Indymedia" website because of her reporting activities on the human rights situation of her community.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Rights of indigenous women and girls 2015, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- Female indigenous human rights defenders have faced particular challenges when exercising their right to participate in public life. Female human rights defenders play a vital role in protecting women in indigenous communities and can be valuable resources to States in the context of balancing their duty to protect all women and the need to respect the right to self-determination and autonomy of indigenous communities. However, in a number of countries, the activities of female human rights defenders from indigenous communities have been criminalized and they have been subjected to severe forms of violence. For example, in Oaxaca, Mexico, female human rights defenders were reported to have been killed recently.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
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. 102
- Paragraph text
- All 60 cases raised by the mandate holder during the period reported related to violations against youth and student defenders working on a very wide range of issues, including torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, impunity, freedom of religion, minority rights, students' rights, youth rights, education, women's rights and gender issues, trade policies and other economic issues, environmental and land issues, peacebuilding and democracy promotion.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2012
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. 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
Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders 2012, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- The principle of non-discrimination is explicitly enshrined in the Declaration in its third preambular paragraph and its article 8 (1). This principle is also endorsed in, among others, article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, articles 2 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 2 (2) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize that this principle is fundamental to the rule of law and, accordingly, to the use of legislation to regulate the activities of human rights defenders. It is closely linked to the right to equality before the law, as provided for in article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 16 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Violations committed against defenders by non-State actors 2010, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- In the context of the defence of economic, social and cultural rights, defenders are also being attacked by individuals such as landowners. In one such instance, the leader of a group of indigenous people was shot by gunmen reportedly employed by a local landowner, who wounded him in the head, shoulders and right arm with a 12 calibre rifle. Individual armed assailants have also been involved in attacks against trade unionists, peasants' leaders and campesinos (farmers or farm workers).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Large-scale development project and human rights defenders 2013, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- Those responsible for the implementation of large-scale development projects should be attentive to expressions of concern or discontent regarding participation and other related issues by local communities and human rights defenders. Such expressions might take the form of protests, including in public spaces, which should be respected by non-State and, in particular, State actors responsible for law enforcement and protection during public assemblies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
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
Large-scale development project and human rights defenders 2013, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- Human rights obligations place binding limits on State powers and actions and make Governments responsible for complying with international commitments. States must exercise due diligence by respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights. In the development context, States should take steps towards the progressive realization of human rights within the maximum available resources while refraining from committing human rights abuses and while protecting individuals within their jurisdiction against violations, including by third parties. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognized that while it might be necessary to sometimes take retrogressive measures, namely measures that do not contribute to the progressive realization of human rights, doing so would need to be justified by reference to the totality of the rights provided for in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and in the context of the full use of the maximum available resources (see general comment No. 3, on article 2 (1) of 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
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
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
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- Reparations are also a fundamental aspect of the right to an effective remedy. The obligation to provide an effective remedy is not fulfilled without reparation to individuals whose rights have been violated. In addition to compensation, reparations can involve "restitution, rehabilitation and measures of satisfaction, such as public apologies, public memorials, guarantees of non repetition and changes in relevant laws and practices, as well as bringing to justice the perpetrators of human rights violations".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- Defenders often seek support from local religious leaders to gain legitimacy for their activities and to underscore the compatibility of human rights with religious beliefs. The support of religious leaders can often facilitate access for defenders to communities, including marginalized groups within those communities. Religious groups can also shield defenders at risk by providing sanctuary and making otherwise marginalized individuals more visible and accepted by the community.
- 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
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 111
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur proposes seven principles that, in his view, should underpin good practices by States in the protection of human rights defenders:] Principle 2: They should recognize that defenders are diverse; they come from different backgrounds, cultures and belief systems. From the outset, they may not self-identify or be identified by others as defenders.
- 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
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- Aside from the "political" stigmatization to which both women defenders and their male counterparts are subjected in certain contexts, including accusations of being fronts for guerrilla movements, terrorists, political extremists, separatists, foreign countries or interests, women human rights defenders often face further stigmatization by virtue of their sex or the gender- or sexuality-based rights they advocate. As noted above, such work can be perceived as challenging established socio-cultural norms, tradition or perceptions about the role and status of women in society. As a result of this, women defenders often find themselves and their work subjected to stigmatization by both State and non-State actors. A common accusation directed in particular at those working on women's rights, gender issues, and LGBT rights, is the assertion that these defenders are somehow advocating or attempting to import "foreign" or "Western" values which contradict national or regional culture. State agents or representatives are often alleged to be responsible for such stigmatization.
- 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
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Indigenous communities also face multiple forms of aggression and violence. In specific situations, oppression against them is encouraged by institutionalized racism and stigmatization that deny the rights of these communities. Private actors such as agribusinesses and extractive industries as well as law enforcement agencies have been regularly observed to commit violations against environmental human rights defenders from indigenous communities. National development strategies often fail to include specific approaches and processes for indigenous communities that would ensure the conservation of their ancestral lands and recognize their rights to their livelihoods and environment. Linguistic barriers, countless obstacles to accessing basic social services and the imposition of unfavourable models of consultation aggravate the vulnerability of indigenous environmental human rights defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- A good practice in this regard is the development of "human rights cities", places where a human rights framework guides the development of community life. The vision of a human rights city has been articulated in a number of joint declarations of local governments, beginning with the European Charter for the Safeguarding of Human Rights in the City (2000) and culminating more recently with the Gwangju Human Rights Charter (2012). In this vision, the city and its government are a key conduit for the expression, association and assembly of defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Large-scale development project and human rights defenders 2013, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Rather than being perceived as demonstrating an opposition to development, the positions advocated and the activities undertaken by defenders and leaders of local communities affected by large-scale development projects should be seen as expressions of support for a sustainable model of development that is people-centred, non-discriminatory, participatory and transparent and that requires public authorities and others responsible for implementation to be held accountable for their actions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders 2012, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is concerned that, through new laws that have recently been passed or are under discussion, Governments are increasingly seeking to restrict the thematic areas upon which associations are permitted to work. Examples include prohibition from engaging in political activities, from defending political rights and from including human rights in the association's objectives. In the Special Rapporteur's view, such provisions are contrary to the spirit of human rights, notably the principles of indivisibility, interconnectedness and interdependence, which emphasize that all human rights are equally important and cannot be separated. Furthermore, they violate the right of human rights defenders to non discrimination. The Special Rapporteur urges the States in question to remove such registration criteria from their legal framework.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Large-scale development project and human rights defenders 2013, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders addressed the risks and challenges faced by defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights in her 2007 report to the Human Rights Council. In the report, she underlined the heightened risks faced by defenders working on land rights, natural resources and environmental issues, and those campaigning against illegal or forced evictions. She also noted that defenders working on land rights and natural resources comprised the second group of defenders most at risk of being killed (A/HRC/4/37).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
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
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- The mandate has consistently held that the protection accorded to defenders by the Declaration is not dependant on whether the focus of their work is on civil and political or economic, social and cultural rights (see, for example, A/HRC/4/37, paras. 27-30, and A/HRC/19/55, paras. 61-63). As recently as March 2016, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 31/32 on protecting defenders addressing economic, social and cultural rights, reaffirming the urgent need to respect, protect, promote and facilitate the work of those defending economic, social and cultural rights as a vital factor contributing towards the realization of those rights, including as they relate to environmental and land issues and development.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Environmental human rights defenders are identified above all by what they do. They are characterized as such through their actions to protect environmental and land rights. Although they may work as journalists, activists or lawyers who expose and oppose environmental destruction or land grabbing, they are often ordinary people living in remote villages, forests or mountains, who may not even be aware that they are acting as environmental human rights defenders. In many other cases, they are indigenous leaders or community members who defend their traditional lands against the harms of large-scale projects such as mining and dams.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
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. 61
- Paragraph text
- The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, in its preamble, recognizes the legitimacy of activities for the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights when it acknowledges the "valuable work of individuals, groups and associations" in the elimination of violations including those resulting from "the refusal to recognize the right of peoples to self-determination and the right of every people to exercise full sovereignty over its wealth and natural resources".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Global trends in risks and threats facing human rights defenders 2015, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- The consultations also revealed the sense that national human rights laws were enacted and implemented without prior consultation with civil society or even the National Human Rights Institution of the country, if such an institution existed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- Environmental human rights defenders are one of the most heterogeneous groups of defenders. The category includes a diverse range of people, profiles and trajectories, from small-scale farmers with no land deeds to environmental lawyers and journalists, from well-organized non-governmental organizations to isolated indigenous communities. In many cases, some of these groups already experience marginalization. In many situations, they do not always have the capacity to challenge decisions in courts or they do not have access to mass media. Their marginalization is also due to the nature of their struggles as human rights defenders. Many become environmental human rights defenders by "accident" or "necessity", taking a stand against injustice or harm to their environment. This may amplify their vulnerabilities, as they may not self-identify as environmental human rights defenders and therefore they may be unaware of their rights or existing protection measures, mechanisms or organizations that could support them. The very specific nature of rural communities can also aggravate their vulnerability, as these communities can be located in isolated areas without access to communication and support networks.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Large-scale development project and human rights defenders 2013, para. 85b
- Paragraph text
- [Human rights defenders should:] Pay close attention to the needs and views of local communities, and ensure participation of those traditionally marginalized or excluded from decision-making.
- 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
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph