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Situation of human rights in the South Sudan, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Emphasizing the importance of good governance and the rule of law as key elements of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, expressing particular concern at the undue reduction of democratic space in South Sudan, including through undue restrictions on freedom of expression and the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, attacks on journalists and media workers, and the limitations on the operations of civil society, human rights defenders and the media, and stressing the responsibility of the Government of South Sudan to address these issues in the interest of fostering an open and inclusive political environment,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Situation of human rights in Myanmar, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- 21. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar to fulfil its commitment to release unconditionally all remaining political prisoners and to provide for the full rehabilitation of former political prisoners, and to amend restrictive laws and to end remaining curbs on exercising the rights to the freedoms of religion or belief, expression, association and peaceful assembly, which are essential to ensure a safe and enabling environment, notably for civil society, journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers, environmental and land rights activists and civilians, and expresses concern at reports of the arrest of individuals in relation to the exercise of those rights;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- 20. Calls upon Israel to end all harassment, threats, intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders and civil society actors who peacefully advocate for the rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including by cooperating with United Nations human rights bodies, and underscores the need to investigate all such acts, ensure accountability and effective remedies, and to take steps to prevent any further such threats, attacks, reprisals or acts of intimidation;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Stressing the need for the protection of human rights defenders engaged in the promotion of human rights issues in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to allow them to carry out their work freely and without fear of attack, harassment, arbitrary detention or criminal prosecution,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- 7. Denounces all acts of intimidation, threats and delegitimization directed at civil society actors and human rights defenders involved in documenting and countering violations of international law and impunity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States to ensure their protection;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Situation of human rights in Myanmar, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- 24. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar to accelerate its efforts to ensure thorough, independent and impartial investigations into the killings of constitutional legal expert and senior National League for Democracy adviser Ko Ni, in January 2017, land and environmental activist Naw Chit Pan Daing, in November 2016, and journalist Soe Moe Tun, in December 2016, the rape and murder of Kachin school teachers Maran Lu Ra and Tangbau Hkawn Nan Tsing in January 2015, as well as other cases, and that those responsible are held accountable;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Situation of human rights in Myanmar, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- 25. Also calls upon the Government of Myanmar to immediately release journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and to allow unhindered access of journalists throughout Myanmar, in particular in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Acknowledging the ongoing efforts of human rights defenders active in the Syrian Arab Republic to document violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law, despite grave risks,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- 25. Recalls the reports of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism of 26 October 2017, and expresses grave concern at its findings that the Syrian authorities were responsible for the use of chemical weapons in attacks in the Syrian Arab Republic, including sarin in one attack — in Khan Shaykhun on April 2017 — and chlorine in three attacks — in Tallmannis in 2014 and in Qaminas and Sarmin in 2015 — and that the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Daesh) was responsible for two sulphur mustard attacks in the Syrian Arab Republic, in Marea in 2015 and in Umm Hawsh in September 2016;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing the work of Palestinian, Israeli and international civil society actors and human rights defenders in documenting and countering violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Situation of human rights in Myanmar, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- 20. Welcomes the release of political prisoners in accordance with the obligation of the Government of Myanmar, and calls upon the Government to ensure that no one remains in prison because of his or her political or religious beliefs, including those recently detained or convicted, human rights defenders and students;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also planned follow-up visits to countries that had been visited by his two predecessors in order to discuss, with the Governments of those countries and with other stakeholders, the actions taken in follow-up to the recommendations contained in the mission reports. The Special Rapporteur is also mandated to provide assistance with practical initiatives aimed at improving the protection of human rights defenders. In that capacity, he has proposed to the authorities of Serbia and Kosovo that visits should be conducted over the next three years.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has engaged in discussions with representatives of numerous countries during sessions of the Human Rights Council in Geneva and of the General Assembly in New York, as well as in the field when on academic assignment or upon invitation by regional defender networks. Thus, between 2014 and 2017, he met with representatives of Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Honduras, Ireland, Mexico, Mongolia, Norway, Serbia, Sweden and the United States. Even though such meetings take place outside the framework of official country visits, the Special Rapporteur believes that they are no less essential in facilitating information-sharing and in strengthening the dialogue with his office. He extends thanks to the States that made their representatives available for such meetings and encourages the Governments of countries that receive similar requests to respond positively to them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- If the Special Rapporteur has the opportunity to continue his work under a second mandate, he will further such discussions and will explore additional options with the States involved, for instance, establishing a network of countries that have taken measures towards protecting human rights defenders. In that connection, he believes that it is important to facilitate opportunities for dialogue between States to foster the sharing of good practices and to improve follow-up on recommendations. He would also like to explore ideas such as the designation of focal points, in ministries and embassies, who would be tasked with monitoring the situation of human rights defenders, and the inclusion of a section on defenders in all reports submitted under the universal periodic review.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Through his discussions with relevant stakeholders, the Special Rapporteur has been made aware of countless initiatives that offer practical solutions to defenders' problems, ranging from relocation programmes and national protection mechanisms to the establishment of national and regional networks. If given the opportunity to continue his work under a second mandate, the Special Rapporteur intends to further strengthen some of these initiatives, such as the cities of refuge network and regional and subregional defender networks. A number of these networks require additional support; the Special Rapporteur intends to provide capacity-building assistance to some of these networks, which have become essential in ending the isolation that defenders sometimes experience in the field and to take action when people are at risk.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur remains deeply concerned at the lack of visibility and of recognition of defenders' work. He notes that there is often a disconnect between public opinion and the active community of human rights defenders. The lack of understanding around the role of defenders is a formidable means used by some States to pit entire sectors of the population against one another and to undermine the situation of people who are working to protect human rights and freedoms. If people do not understand the role of human rights defenders, it is largely because we have not been successful in explaining it to them and because too often we remain bound by institutional or legal jargon. This helps to perpetuate the misconception that the struggle for human rights is the privilege of an erudite minority oblivious to everyday reality. The Special Rapporteur would like to do some case studies and focus more on individual testimonies in his messages to emphasize that ordinary heroes are first and foremost mere individuals motivated by their hope for a better world. It is also crucial to take advantage of the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, in 2018, to bring together all the various stakeholders and to launch ambitious initiatives aimed not only at familiarizing more people with the Declaration, but also to demonstrate the essential role of defenders in safeguarding democracy and basic rights. The Special Rapporteur intends to make films, web documentaries or short videos to present, in a fun and accessible manner, the Declaration and major resolutions on the protection of defenders. He also plans to develop partnerships and thus work more closely with schools, universities and vocational training institutions in order to meet young people and show them the relevance of the struggle for human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- It is not only the general public who is unfamiliar with the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. During the Special Rapporteur's numerous discussions with defenders, many admitted that they themselves were unaware of or not sufficiently familiar with the Declaration. Too often, the Declaration is seen as abstract or is not understood by the people it was designed to protect. However, the Declaration is meaningful only if it is applied on a daily basis. The Special Rapporteur has therefore developed tools to clarify the contents of the Declaration and make it more accessible, using infographics and posters available online and in hard copy. The Declaration will soon be translated into several new languages and dialects, making it accessible to even more people.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- Increasing visibility will also require support from regional and national partners, such as United Nations country offices. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the firm declarations of support by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the fact that some regional offices have paid tribute to the work of defenders and have condemned legislative developments aimed at criminalizing their work. Other initiatives, such as the designing of new tools and means of communication, should also be explored. It would be particularly useful, for defenders, to produce summaries of the recommendations contained in the Special Rapporteur's reports and their application to national and regional contexts.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Moreover, the Special Rapporteur, recognizing his responsibility to raise awareness about the situation of defenders, was eager to rapidly develop tools that facilitate greater access to information about the various issues that his mandate seeks to address. He therefore decided to strengthen his mandate's visibility on digital media, including through a multilingual website that presents, in an accessible manner, his mandate's mission and working methods and highlights his activities as Special Rapporteur. In just a few months, over 10,000 people have visited the website, the visibility of which he now hopes to increase further so as to reach as many people as possible.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- A simpler version of the Special Rapporteur's reports, targeted at the general public, has been developed and distributed during his numerous trips. He also recently designed a brochure, now available in three languages, to explain the role of the Declaration, the importance of defenders' work, and his mandate. He has strengthened his presence on social media. The ever-increasing number of accounts created is proof of the interest and concern of the general public with regard to human rights and the situation of those who promote them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Because they have primary responsibility for protecting human rights defenders and for ensuring respect for human rights, States have been treated as privileged partners and the Special Rapporteur has sought to strengthen his relationships with them. During his mandate, he conducted four official visits (Burundi in 2014 and Australia, Azerbaijan and Hungary in 2016). He has repeatedly raised the difficulties encountered in setting up country visits, including the lack of responsiveness by States, as a result of which he conducted no official visits in 2015. The Special Rapporteur is already in discussion with the Government of Peru with a view to conducting an official visit during the second half of 2017. He has also sent visit requests to the authorities of Afghanistan, Israel, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Serbia and the State of Palestine, as well as to Kosovo.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Like his predecessors, the Special Rapporteur has sought to develop innovative working methods in order to be more effective and to better respond to defenders' need for protection. This commitment to action is meaningful only if it is accompanied by objective assessments. That is why, in his view, it was essential to spend time reflecting on what has been implemented in order to analyse and assess the impact of all the work that he and his team have carried out over nearly three years. To that end, this report takes stock of the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead. It also identifies those areas in which, in view of the possible renewal of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur intends to become more involved so that his work remains relevant and responds as effectively as possible to defenders' expectations. This report should be seen not as an exhaustive exercise, but as a mirror held up to the action plan established in October 2014 (A/69/259).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- All of these initiatives will be inadequate if they are not appropriately disseminated through various communication channels. Increased media coverage will therefore be necessary. The Rapporteur has published opinion pieces in various international dailies, including on the consequences of counter-terrorism laws for defenders and on the spread of attacks on environmental defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
The role of digital access providers 2017, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Restrictions on expression must be necessary to achieve aims specified by article 19 (3) of the Covenant and may never be invoked to justify the suppression of advocacy for democratic rights (see Human Rights Committee general comment No. 34, para. 23; and A/71/373, para. 26). However, governments frequently impose shutdowns during demonstrations, elections and other events of extraordinary public interest, with little or no explanation. In Bahrain, disruptions to mobile and Internet access in Duraz allegedly coincided with sit-ins outside the home of a prominent religious leader whose citizenship the Government had revoked. Internet users in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela were reportedly denied Internet access during widespread protests against the Government in 2014. Network disruptions have been recorded during or around elections or protests in Cameroon, the Gambia, India, Myanmar, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Uganda and Montenegro.
- 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
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate violence against women: engaging men and boys in preventing and responding to violence against all women and girls 2017, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Continues to express particular concern at the systemic and structural discrimination and violence faced by women human rights defenders of all ages, and calls upon States to fulfil their obligations to prevent violations and abuses against all human rights defenders, including through practical steps to prevent threats, harassment and violence, and to combat impunity by ensuring that those responsible for violations or abuses, including all types of gender-based violence and threats, committed by State or non-State actors, are promptly brought to justice through impartial investigations;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 25d
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert underlines the key role of civil society and human rights defenders and the need for more effective action to counter threats and reprisals against them. Of note is a submission to the Human Rights Council by a number of non-governmental organizations earlier this year, in which they called upon States, inter alia:] To ensure that organizations working on issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics can seek, receive and use funding and other resources from individuals, associations, foundations or other civil society organizations, foreign Governments and aid agencies, the private sector, the United Nations and other entities.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- Rather than constituting a static programme of action, the proposals contained in this report should be understood as key areas of focus. The Special Rapporteur wishes to retain some flexibility in responding to requests that might arise during his second mandate. It is important to pay particular attention to new trends and alerts from civil society and the various actors involved in protecting defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- It was during these exchanges, and through the many reports and documents submitted by civil society and partners involved in protecting defenders, that the Special Rapporteur became aware of the groundswell of coordinated attacks that seek to undermine and cause lasting damage to civil society. He is dismayed to note the increasing number of attacks intended to undermine the role of defenders, irrespective of the country or the area of human rights involved. In the face of these attacks, civil society is required to constantly reinvent itself and to adopt new strategies in order to continue to promote and protect human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Although precise figures are difficult to obtain, the number of defenders killed around the world is continuously rising. This rise is in part the result of deliberate and concerted actions by persons capitalizing on major institutional weaknesses and the lack of political will to halt attacks and threats. The profound political shake-ups taking place on every continent and the growing numbers of actors who adopt ever more sophisticated strategies and tools to undermine human rights work oblige us, as never before, to refine our analysis of the situation of defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- The three accounts below attest to the significant cooperation enjoyed with regional mechanisms. According to Nils Muižnieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe: Close cooperation with the universal human rights system and regional mandate holders plays a significant role in my efforts to protect and support human rights defenders in Europe. I collaborate regularly with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on countries where the situation of human rights defenders is very challenging. I am convinced that by working together we will effectively combat impunity for attacks on defenders and prevent the worsening of their working environment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph