Search Tips
sorted by
30 shown of 156 entities
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is alarmed and concerned that the number of journalists and media personnel killed in 2009 was the highest since 1992, and that 81 per cent of those killings were deliberate and targeted. While the risk of armed conflict increases the risk to the lives of journalists and other media professionals, more journalists were killed in non-conflict situations, mostly for reporting on organized crime or drug trafficking, environmental matters or human rights violations and corruption, or for voicing criticism of Government or the powerful.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 106
- Paragraph text
- The majority of threats, death threats, physical attacks, killings, and attempted killings were attributed to unknown or unidentified individuals. In many such cases, particularly with regard to killings and attempted killings, perpetrators were reported as non-State actors, including armed groups and/or paramilitary groups, most notably in the Americas and parts of Africa.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The right to freedom of opinion and expression in electoral contexts 2014, para. 83b
- Paragraph text
- [Accountability mechanisms are a crucial means of ensuring that regulatory frameworks are enforced and abuses of power are rectified. Impunity is a root cause of the lack of safety faced by journalists. In the context of promoting free expression during electoral processes, States should:] Guarantee the safety of journalists and media workers; legislative and policy measures must be adopted to prevent attacks against journalists and to eradicate impunity in relation to episodes of violence and intimidation;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- While armed conflict situations may place journalists at risk, the Special Rapporteur notes that the majority of attacks against journalists take place outside of armed conflict situations. Individuals who cover public demonstrations, report on issues such as corruption, human rights violations, environmental issues, organized crime, drug trafficking, public crises or emergencies are placed at particular risk of violence. Nevertheless, the Special Rapporteur also reiterates the importance of the following concerns.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- Central challenges in relation to human rights violations committed against journalists include various forms of intimidation, physical attacks - including abductions and killings -, arbitrary detention, as well as impunity and the use of criminal laws to imprison and intimidate journalists. Female journalists face additional risks, such as sexual assault, mob-related sexual violence at public events or sexual abuse in detention or captivity. Due to social, cultural and professional stigmas, many of these attacks are not reported.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 59e
- Paragraph text
- The work of human rights defenders and the much needed space for civil society, including non-governmental organizations and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex groups and persons, calls for more effective safeguards from States against incursions and reprisals from those protagonists, whether State or non-State actors, which act inconsistently with international human rights standards. Cooperation with a multiplicity of actors, including the business sector, the medical/scientific sector, religious and faith groups and the media, including social networks, should be fostered on the basis of international human rights law;
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- States also have an obligation to implement measures to prevent the recurrence of violence against journalists and citizen journalists, which may include ensuring that law enforcement agencies, security personnel and armed forces are provided with training on international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including their obligation to protect journalists and to respect them as civilians during armed conflict.
- 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
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Large-scale development project and human rights defenders 2013, para. 83e
- Paragraph text
- [Private companies should:] Ensure that they, as well as security companies and other subcontractors, respect human rights defenders and do not harass or perpetrate violence against them and that those employing private security forces consider joining initiatives such as the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 105
- Paragraph text
- Based mostly of the review of the communications sent by the mandate during the period between 2004 and 2009, women defenders and those working on women's rights or gender issues seem to be more at risk of being threatened, including death threats, and being killed in the Americas region than in other parts of the world. Arrest and further judicial harassment and criminalization of the work of have been more commonly reported in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Central Asia. Moreover, these defenders also risk being exposed to the reported torture, mistreatment and widespread use of excessive force by State agents in the context of arrests and detention. Furthermore, women defenders face a greater risk of being subject to sexual harassment, sexual violence and rape.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- The precarious situation of journalists is further exacerbated by a culture of impunity. Failure to undertake effective investigations and to prosecute those responsible for attacks against journalists perpetrates further violence and undermines the ability of journalists to report on similar matters in the future.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- Impunity for those who attack and/or kill journalists remains a central obstacle to guaranteeing the protection of journalists. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned that perpetrators have enjoyed total impunity in 94 per cent of cases in which journalists were murdered in 2009, and in only 2 per cent of cases of attacks against journalists in 2009 were the offences tried before the competent authorities and the perpetrators and instigators prosecuted.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
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. 126
- Paragraph text
- States should combat impunity for attacks and violations against these defenders, particularly by non-State actors and those acting in collusion with them, by ensuring prompt and impartial investigations into allegations and appropriate redress and reparation to victims.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Security and protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 112
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is concerned about the paucity of practical initiatives to physically protect human rights defenders effectively. Only a few countries have adopted legislation or taken effective measures to put an end to the numerous and violent attacks against defenders. Impunity continues to prevail and no specific compensation mechanisms for human rights violations committed against human rights defenders have been created.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- States must protect individuals and members of groups who wish to cooperate with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms. States also have a duty to end impunity for perpetrators of violence against individuals who have sought to cooperate with the United Nations and to provide remedies for victims.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 109
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that member States:] Ensure that cases of sexual violence against defenders are attended to by personnel who are qualified from a gender perspective. The victim must be consulted during each step of process.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 111a (i)
- Paragraph text
- [States are encouraged to take the following measures to address the protection needs of the following groups of defenders:] Women defenders: Investigate and prosecute cases of gender-based violence against women defenders during demonstrations;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Groups in need of attention, limitations to the right to freedom of expression, and protection of journalists 2010, para. 133
- Paragraph text
- With regard to the alarming number of journalists who have been killed, kidnapped or threatened, States are reminded of their duty to investigate and prosecute those responsible for planning and perpetrating such acts in order to eliminate the culture of impunity that perpetuates violence.
- 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
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Women’s access to justice 2015, para. 15i
- Paragraph text
- [With regard to justiciability, the Committee recommends that States parties:] Ensure that women human rights defenders are able to gain access to justice and receive protection from harassment, threats, retaliation and violence.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Vision and Working Methods of the Mandate 2014, para. 108
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur hopes to be able to create the conditions that will allow him closer interaction with governments in follow-up to communications and a more effective treatment of the issue of impunity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- Most important, the Special Rapporteur urges all States to end impunity for threats and attacks against and the murder of journalists, media professionals, associated personnel and citizen journalists. In particular, the Special Rapporteur calls upon the 12 countries with the highest rates of impunity (see para. 29 above) to investigate all violations thoroughly and to prosecute the perpetrators.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that the problem with regard to continued and increasing violence against journalists, associated media personnel and citizen journalists is not lack of legal standards, but lack of implementation of existing norms and standards. The Special Rapporteur would thus like to make the following recommendations.
- 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
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 114
- Paragraph text
- States should take additional measures to ensure the protection of defenders who are at greater risk of facing certain forms of violence because they are perceived as challenging accepted sociocultural norms, traditions, perceptions and stereotypes about femininity, sexual orientation and the role and status of women in society.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the workplace 2016, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- Violence against workers is both a reason for and a consequence of the global weakening of workers' rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. In 2015, unionists were murdered in 11 countries for their activism: Chile, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Islamic Republic of Iran, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and Turkey. Honduras has seen a plague of violence, with 31 trade unionists, 57 rural workers and 28 journalists murdered between 2009 and early 2014, while 62 trade unionists have been assassinated in Guatemala since 2008. This violence is generally delivered with impunity and serves as a terrifying deterrent to workers' exercise of rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Security and protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- Individuals acting on their own or as part of groups, whether in collusion with States or not, have been increasingly involved in attacks on human rights defenders. Guerillas, private militias, vigilante groups and armed groups have been implicated in violence against defenders, including beatings, killings and various acts of intimidation. Private companies have also been directly or indirectly involved in acts of violence against defenders. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur would particularly like to underline the situation of defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights, who are increasingly vulnerable, since their work is not always recognized as human rights work.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Security and protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- In Argentina, a witness protection programme was reportedly created by resolution 439/07 of the Ministry of Justice, Security and Human Rights, which is used upon request of judicial authorities in federal investigations into kidnapping, terrorist acts or drug-trafficking offences. In exceptional cases, the Ministry of Justice, Security and Human Rights can include other cases, for example, those related to organized crime. Up to 4,360 people in the country have reportedly benefited from this programme. The programme offers the possibility of relocation, change of identity and protection, inter alia.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 18a
- Paragraph text
- [Specific situations impeding the work of human rights defenders and leading to a highly insecure environment include:] The 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, or working on behalf of foreign countries or their interests. Also, women defenders often face further stigmatization by virtue of their sex or the gender-based rights they advocate;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 18c
- Paragraph text
- [Specific situations impeding the work of human rights defenders and leading to a highly insecure environment include:] Attacks by non-State actors and a climate of impunity. Non-State actors have been increasingly involved in attacks on human rights defenders. Guerrillas, private militias, vigilante groups and armed groups have been implicated in violence against defenders, including beatings, killings and various acts of intimidation. Private companies have also been directly or indirectly involved in acts of violence against defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
On the Declaration on human rights defenders 2011, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Human rights defenders must exercise these activities peacefully in order to be protected under the Declaration. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about the frequent excessive use of force by State agents in responding to situations involving freedom of assembly, which in some instances has provoked violent reactions from otherwise peaceful assemblies. Such behaviour clearly contravenes the Declaration and makes the State accountable for provocations that result in violence. Under the Declaration defenders are entitled to effective protection under national law against actions committed by the State that result in human rights violations. The Declaration also provides defenders with protection when protesting against violent acts of other groups or individuals. Consequently, the protection afforded in the Declaration covers violations committed by both State and non-State actors.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
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 type
- Other
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- A smaller number of communications regarding defenders working on these issues (33) were sent to countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The largest number of these concerned defenders in Zimbabwe. Alleged violations of a judicial nature were reported against defenders working on these issues in the Sudan and Uganda (particularly with regard to LGBT defenders). Communications were also sent to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo where women's rights defenders faced risks such as attacks, raids, death threats, attempted rape, and sexual violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph