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Article 19: Freedoms of opinion and expression 2011, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- It is normally incompatible with paragraph 3 to restrict the freedom of journalists and others who seek to exercise their freedom of expression (such as persons who wish to travel to human rights-related meetings) to travel outside the State party, to restrict the entry into the State party of foreign journalists to those from specified countries or to restrict freedom of movement of journalists and human rights investigators within the State party (including to conflict-affected locations, the sites of natural disasters and locations where there are allegations of human rights abuses). States parties should recognize and respect that element of the right of freedom of expression that embraces the limited journalistic privilege not to disclose information sources.
- Body
- Human Rights Committee
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Urges States to take timely and effective action to prevent and protect against attacks on and threats to persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Declaration and their relatives, when they are attacked or threatened as a result of these activities, including through the possibility of developing, in consultation with human rights defenders, an early warning system to facilitate broader awareness of imminent risks and to enable effective responses;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Families
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Calls upon States to fully support the role of human rights defenders in situations of armed conflict and provide them with the protection due to all civilians in such situations;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- Deeply concerned at the frequency of acts of violence in many parts of the world against journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel in armed conflict, in particular deliberate attacks in violation of international humanitarian law,
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Expressing deep concern at the growing threat to the safety of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel posed by terrorist groups and strongly condemning incidents of killings, kidnapping and hostage taking committed by terrorist groups for any purpose, including raising funds or gaining political concessions, and expressing its determination to prevent kidnapping and hostage taking committed by terrorist groups and to secure the safe release of hostages without ransom payments or political concessions, in accordance with applicable international law,
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing that journalists, media professionals and associated personnel can play an important role in protection of civilians and conflict prevention by acting as an early warning mechanism in identifying and reporting potential situations that could result in genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity,
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Strongly condemns the prevailing impunity for violations and abuses committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict, which in turn may contribute to the recurrence of these acts;
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Recognizes the important role that education and training in international humanitarian law can play in supporting efforts to halt and prevent attacks against civilians affected by armed conflict, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel;
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Affirms that United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions, where appropriate should include in their mandated reporting information on specific acts of violence against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situation of armed conflict;
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Stressing the contribution that peacekeeping operations and special political missions, where mandated, can make to international efforts to promote and protect human rights, and the protection of civilians, including journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel including through monitoring and reporting on violations and abuses as well as providing support for national governments’ efforts to promote and protect human rights, and in order to strengthen the fight against impunity for crimes committed against civilians, including journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel,
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Urges the immediate and unconditional release of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel who have been kidnapped or taken as hostages, in situations of armed conflict;
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
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
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
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
Human rights defenders in the context of 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 2015, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing the substantial role that human rights defenders can play in supporting efforts to strengthen conflict prevention, peace and development through dialogue, openness, participation and justice, including by monitoring, reporting on and contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Bearing in mind that impunity for crimes committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflict remains a significant challenge to their protection and that ensuring accountability for crimes committed against them is a key element in preventing future attacks,
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Requests the Secretary-General to include consistently as a sub-item in his reports on the protection of civilians in armed conflict the issue of the safety and security of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel, including the existence of measures to protect such individuals facing an imminent threat, and to ensure that information on attacks and violence against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel and preventative actions taken to prevent such incidents is included as a specific aspect in relevant country specific reports.
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict 2015, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Urges all parties to armed conflict to do their utmost to prevent violations of international humanitarian law against civilians, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel;
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
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
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- Citizen journalists have come to play an increasingly important role in gathering and disseminating news, in particular in countries where press freedom is restricted, or in a disaster or conflict zone where professional journalists may not be present. While they cannot replace professionally trained journalists, they contribute to the public's access to a richer diversity of views, opinions and information. Like professional journalists, and for the same reasons, citizen journalists are subjected to acts of harassment and intimidation, including death threats, arbitrarily arrested and detained, prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment and/or to harsh fines, and even assassinated. However, they enjoy less protection than professional journalists, as they do not have the support of media organizations and networks, and lack recognition as professional 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)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- Bearing in mind that standards exist in international human rights law for the protection of professional journalists outside of armed conflict situations, the Special Rapporteur urges States, with whom the primary responsibility for the protection of journalists lies, to implement those standards at the national level. This includes ensuring that no legislation is passed to unduly limit the freedom of expression of journalists, ensuring the physical and psychological integrity of journalists, and taking steps to tackle impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations against 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)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Security and protection of human rights defenders 2010, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- In certain States, judges and lawyers are working under constant threat, which may jeopardize their independence. Prosecutors sometimes resort to inadmissible evidence to initiate proceedings against defenders, thus compromising their right to a fair trial. In several countries, the relevant authorities still resort to secret, incriminating evidence to arrest and administratively detain human rights defenders without charges for prolonged periods of time. Such evidence is reportedly often obtained by the security services and not shared with detainees or their lawyers. The Special Rapporteur would like to recall that, although not prohibited under international law, administrative detention should be surrounded by judicial guarantees and used only in exceptional and specific circumstances, such as a public emergency threatening the life of a nation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Outside of the Americas, 2009 saw an alarming rise in comparison to previous years in the number of allegations received regarding murders of women human rights defenders and those working on women's rights or gender issues in the Russian Federation: four communications regarding alleged killings were sent in 2009. In this context, those targeted were often working on human rights in Chechnya and the North Caucasus generally, along with journalists. Other killings and attempted killings were reported in communications sent to the Philippines (eight communications), Iraq (two communications), India (two communications), Nepal (one communication), Sri Lanka (two communications), Israel (one communication), and the Congo (one communication), with further attempted killings being reported in communications sent to Pakistan (two communications), Bangladesh (one communication), the United States of America (one communication, concerning Iraq under U.S. Administration), and France (one communication, concerning French Guyana) during the 2004-2009 period.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Use of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defenders 2012, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- Lastly, excessive use of force by law enforcement officers continues to pose a serious problem during public assemblies. States should ensure that the legal framework contains effective and non-discriminatory provisions governing oversight and accountability of officials, especially with regard to their response to public demonstrations and displays of dissent. Any reported excessive use of force in the context of public assemblies should be investigated and prosecuted in a prompt, impartial and independent manner in order to hold perpetrators to account. Beyond this, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the position of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association that States have a positive obligation to actively protect peaceful assemblies. This obligation implies a responsibility to protect participants from individuals and groups aiming to disrupt or disperse such assemblies (ibid., paras. 33-38). Such an obligation should be enshrined in the applicable legislation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Global trends in risks and threats facing human rights defenders 2015, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur was disturbed at the large number of difficulties encountered by this group of defenders, who have to contend with situations in which their physical and psychological wellbeing are threatened. Defenders working in conflict zones and reporting human rights violations face attacks not only from the State, but also from armed groups, militias or terrorist groups, and are regarded as potential enemies by all the parties to the conflict. In that connection, the defenders recalled that the emergence of terrorist groups makes the work of defending human rights especially difficult in certain regions. They also pointed to material difficulties and restrictions on getting into conflict zones, and also to some defenders' lack of experience particularly when documenting cases of human rights violations and keeping their data secure. Finally, the defenders mentioned the exacerbation of nationalist rhetoric and increasing polarisation in public opinion, which tended to isolate defenders, accusing them of not siding with one party or another.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Global trends in risks and threats facing human rights defenders 2015, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- As regards those communications, the defenders made it abundantly clear that in their experience the mechanism seemed opaque and ineffective and needed to be reviewed in depth with a view to make it more functional. Several difficulties were identified during the consultations, especially by the group of experts: the insufficient number of communications sent by the Special Rapporteur; the lack of a system of notifications and alerts to inform organizations and individuals that have filed a complaint of subsequent developments, due to the principle of confidentiality written into the code of conduct of special procedures mandate holders; and, finally, the lack of follow-up to communications once they have been published. Those difficulties were felt to be factors that may discourage defenders from asking the Special Rapporteur to intervene.
- 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
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124f
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Pay particular attention to the most exposed groups: those who work for economic, social and cultural rights or minority rights; environmental defenders; defenders of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex 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 natural disaster; defenders living in isolated regions; and defenders 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
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- Regional and international forums are also an important mechanism for monitoring the situation of defenders and responses to situations of risk. The Office of the Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights monitors the situation of defenders and issues "precautionary measures", requesting States to take action when defenders are at acute risk. Such urgent action procedures in regional organizations allow for a rapid and context-sensitive response to situations of risk. The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe has raised cases of defenders at risk through his dialogue with authorities and intervened before the European Court of Human Rights in defenders-related cases.
- 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
- 2016
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
Vision and Working Methods of the Mandate 2014, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- Each of the future thematic reports and mission reports will contain a specific section dedicated to analyzing the development of trends and particular threats facing the most exposed groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph