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State obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the context of business activities 2017, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- Finally, the Committee draws the attention of States parties to the challenges facing human rights defenders. The Committee has regularly come across accounts of threats and attacks aimed at those seeking to protect their own or others’ Covenant rights, particularly in the context of extractive and development projects. In addition, trade union leaders, leaders of peasant movements, indigenous leaders and anti-corruption activists are often subject to the risk of harassment. States parties should take all measures necessary to protect human rights advocates and their work. They should refrain from resorting to criminal prosecution to hinder their work, or from otherwise obstructing their work.
- Body
- Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Article 19: Freedoms of opinion and expression 2011, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Extreme care must be taken by States parties to ensure that treason laws and similar provisions relating to national security, whether described as official secrets or sedition laws or otherwise, are crafted and applied in a manner that conforms to the strict requirements of paragraph 3. It is not compatible with paragraph 3, for instance, to invoke such laws to suppress or withhold from the public information of legitimate public interest that does not harm national security or to prosecute journalists, researchers, environmental activists, human rights defenders, or others, for having disseminated such information. Nor is it generally appropriate to include in the remit of such laws such categories of information as those relating to the commercial sector, banking and scientific progress. The Committee has found in one case that a restriction on the issuing of a statement in support of a labour dispute, including for the convening of a national strike, was not permissible on the grounds of national security.
- Body
- Human Rights Committee
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
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
Contemporary challenges to freedom of expression 2016, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- The right to freedom of opinion and expression must be respected "without distinction of any kind" (see article 2 (1) of the Covenant). Members of some groups, however, often face particular discrimination when it comes to the implementation of restrictions on expression. The Special Rapporteurs on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, on the situation of human rights defenders and on the independence of judges and lawyers address issues pertaining to human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), often in collaboration with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Given their focus and detailed reporting, I will not highlight here our shared concerns about restrictions imposed against NGOs, human rights defenders environmental activists, refugees and lawyers. Instead I will highlight several other groups whose expression is particularly subject to repression.
- 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
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- Attacks against journalists may be perpetrated by a range of actors - State or non-State - such as organized crime groups, terrorist groups, security forces or militia. Journalists are placed at risk of attack for documenting and disseminating information deemed to be "inconvenient," including on human rights violations, environmental issues, corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking, public crises, emergencies or public demonstrations.
- 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
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Violence against indigenous women and girls; rights of indigenous peoples in relation to extractive industries 2012, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur further engaged with relevant actors regarding extractive industries through his participation in conferences and meetings in Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In October 2011, he participated in a conference with the theme "A dangerous business: the human cost of advocating against environmental degradation and land rights violations", organized by Peace Brigades International and other non-governmental organizations. The conference, which took place in London, brought together representatives of civil society, the Government of the United Kingdom and transnational corporations based in the United Kingdom to discuss the impacts of extractive industries on the human rights of indigenous peoples and other local communities and the challenges faced by human rights defenders in that context. The Special Rapporteur gave a keynote speech in which he emphasized the need to build the negotiating capacity of indigenous peoples in order for them to be able to overcome power disparities and effectively engage in consultation procedures involving proposed extractive activities on or near their territories. While in London, the Special Rapporteur held informal meetings with representatives of the Government of the United Kingdom, Members of Parliament and representatives of civil society organizations to gather information and views on official policies and legislation concerning the impact of transnational companies based in the United Kingdom on indigenous peoples around the world.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- In many cases, the most egregious violations of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation are committed against groups and individuals inhabiting regions far from centres of power, who are often at risk or already marginalized within society. They may lack access to information or the means of effectively advocating for their concerns, or they may be confronted with authorities are that are unable or unwilling to address their grievances. The ability to freely associate and to peacefully assemble are indispensable in this regard. Some of the categories of persons that require special attention in the context of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and of natural resource exploitation are women (including women human rights defenders), Afro-descendants, indigenous peoples, peasant farmers, fisher folk and forest dwellers.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Challenges faced by groups most at risk when exercising or seeking to exercise the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and/or of association 2014, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- For the purposes of the report, the groups most at risk will also include groups and individuals who are targeted not because of their identity, but because they actively lobby for the rights of those most at risk of discrimination and retribution. Human rights defenders, including journalists, trade unionists and environmental activists, among others, face considerable opposition, harassment, stigmatization and even physical attacks from State and non-State actors in many countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has received numerous reports concerning violations of the rights of human rights defenders, activists and community members who exercised their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly in the context of natural resource exploitation. Civil society activists in countries such as Colombia (A/HRC/28/85, case COL 7/2014), the Philippines (A/HRC/27/72, case PHL 2/2014) and Thailand (A/HRC/24/21, case THA 3/2013), to name a few, have paid with their lives for leading advocacy campaigns against natural resource exploitation operations. According to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, human rights defenders working on extractive and the construction and development projects in the Americas were the subject of most communications to her and faced the highest risk of death as a result of their human rights activities (see A/HRC/19/55, para. 71). In South Africa, over 30 miners at the Marikana Mine were shot and killed by police during a strike, although the workers' action was not entirely peaceful (see A/HRC/22/67 and Corrs.1 and 2, ZAF cases 3/2012). In Guatemala, where agriculture provides the main livelihood for the majority of the population, competition between landowners, farmers, indigenous communities and their associations and large-scale commercial agricultural and mining projects has resulted in the criminalization of social movements and their claims (see A/HRC/26/29/Add.1, paras. 193-199, and A/HRC/10/12, para. 34-35).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Ability of associations to access financial resources as a vital part of the right to freedom of association & Ability to hold peaceful assemblies as an integral component of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly 2013, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- This has also been the case for peaceful protestors advocating economic, social and cultural rights, such as indigenous peoples protesting the exploitation of a coal mine (Bangladesh), local residents denouncing the health impact of nuclear power plants (India), students protesting university reforms (Chile), employees protesting the closure of a mine (Myanmar), activists criticizing the increase in fuel prices (Sri Lanka) or students supporting an ethnic group forcibly displaced by the construction of a dam (Sudan).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Comparative study of enabling environments for associations and businesses 2015, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- In some cases, restrictions on human rights can be directly linked to States' efforts to encourage business investment. Businesses then profit from those violations, sometimes calling upon State security organs for further protection. Crimes are often committed on their behalf with impunity. This is particularly true in the field of natural resource exploitation, as the Special Rapporteur documented in his 2015 report to the Human Rights Council. For example, reprisals against activists who stood up to large business interests have occurred in Colombia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Philippines.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Some States may also target members of civil society based on their foreign citizenship. In 2015, the Government of Cambodia, for example, refused to renew the residence permit of a Spanish environmental activist who was working with the local organization Mother Nature to halt a controversial hydroelectric project in the Areng valley. The activist was later deported. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that nationality is not a proper basis for limiting the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (see A/HRC/26/29, para. 25).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- Individual human rights defenders and associations may also be subject to attacks, stigmatization, intimidation, surveillance, travel bans, and risk the suspension of their activities or even dissolution of the organization when they speak out against natural resource exploitation. The organization Publish What You Pay Uganda reported, for example, that they had had their equipment confiscated for nearly two months after trying to screen a documentary on lessons that could be learned from other resource-rich countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Furthermore, perceived leaders of movements or protests are often subjected to particularly egregious violations of their rights, such as disappearances and arbitrary killings in an effort by States and corporations to intimidate and thus disrupt organized efforts to resist exploitation activities. In Orissa, India, anti-mining campaigners have been killed, and 42 women defenders at the forefront of demonstrations against dams were jailed for protesting (see A/HRC/19/55/Add.1, para. 76).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Legal mechanisms, such as injunctions, civil damages and trespass and defamation suits, are often used to curtail the work of civil society organizations and individuals engaged in defending rights in the context of natural resource exploitation. The increasing use of socalled "strategic litigation against public participation" suits is of concern because of the chilling effect the proceedings may have on the legitimate expression of dissent or opposition, including through peaceful protest. These suits may be brought by corporations against individuals or associations that are critical of natural resource exploitation activities in order to intimidate them or deter them from their work by burdening them with litigation costs and damages they may be unable to pay. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that an independent judiciary should play a positive role in recognizing and upholding international human rights standards , especially in contexts where human rights defenders and communities are subjected to legal proceedings for exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of natural resource exploitation projects 2015, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- It is worth emphasizing that peaceful protests are typically a measure of last resort, when scope for effective engagement with the authorities or businesses is otherwise limited. In some cases, communities may have gone through consultation processes only to find them, from their perspective, improperly conducted, compromised, corrupt or otherwise unsatisfactory. In other cases, agreements reached between the parties may not be not adhered to. For example in Myanmar, protests against the Monywa Copper Project were allegedly sparked in 2012 when the corporation involved in the mining operations reneged on an agreement with affected villagers to halt operations pending negotiations with them. Police later moved in to disperse the peaceful protest camps using inordinate force (see A/HRC/25/64, para. 28). A failure by a company to abide by a contract signed with the owners of community territory in La Sierrita de Galeana in Mexico also resulted in a peaceful protest that was violently dispersed, allegedly under the instructions of company officials.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues 2011, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- During the 2004-2009 period, 28 communications were sent regarding arrests and detentions of women human rights defenders and those working on women's rights or gender issues in the Americas, along with 22 concerning further criminalization of human rights defenders. Regarding arrests and detentions, those most at risk appear to be women activists for indigenous rights, particularly in Chile along with other women community leaders, campesino and rural activists, environmentalists, and lawyers. Similarly, indigenous activists appear to be at risk, particularly in the Chilean context. During 2004-2009, the mandate sent six communications regarding the criminalization of women working on indigenous issues in Chile. Such criminalization usually involved charges and trials based on supposed public order offences related to the right of assembly, and, on occasion, terrorism-related charges.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
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. 90
- Paragraph text
- These journalists have been killed (Honduras, Mexico); suffered physical attacks (Russian Federation, Uganda) and death threats (Honduras, El Salvador); and been subject to different forms of intimidation (Guatemala). They have also been exposed to their cameras being confiscated by police (Uganda) and subjected to raids and searches of their homes and offices, during which images and production equipment were stolen (Guatemala). Journalists working on land and environmental issues have also faced charges of espionage (Islamic Republic of Iran), been arrested (China) and been arbitrarily detained without access to lawyers (Nigeria).
- 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
- 2012
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
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- The assassination of environmental human rights defenders is only part of the overall violence they face. The submissions received by the Special Rapporteur show that environmental human rights defenders confront numerous threats and violations, including violent attacks and threats to their families, enforced disappearances, illegal surveillance, travel bans, blackmail, sexual harassment, judicial harassment and use of force to dispel peaceful protests. Such violations are committed by State and non-State actors, and take place in the context of the overall stigmatization, demonization and delegitimization of environmental human rights defenders. In some countries, violations are intertwined with the overall climate of criminalization of their work, especially in the context of large-scale development projects (see A/68/262).
- 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
- Families
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- Communications sent by the Special Rapporteur reflect the grim picture of the situation of environmental human rights defenders. In the period from December 2006 to July 2016, the mandate sent 2,730 communications on human rights defenders, 243 of which (9 per cent) concerned environmental defenders. There has been a slight increase in the number of cases involving environmental human rights defenders, from a total of 106 (7 per cent) out of 1,498 communications in the first five-year period (December 2006-May 2011) to 137 communications (11 per cent) in the second period (June 2011-July 2016).
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Latin American and Asia have been the most hostile regions for environmental human rights defenders. In the last five years, of the 137 communications, 48 per cent concerned the Americas, the most dangerous area. Those promoting rights in relation to the extractive and mining industries, palm oil cultivation and deforestation proved to be most at risk (27 communications). The largest number of communications concerned Honduras (11), Mexico (10), Brazil (9) and Peru (8). In the vast majority of the fatal cases, the victims had previously reported threats and intimidation, but they received no adequate protection despite a prominent decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights affirming the State duty to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of defenders, as well as to conduct serious and effective investigations of any violations against them, thus preventing impunity.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- The range of actors that stand to gain from hindering their work exacerbates the risks facing environmental human rights defenders. The human rights obligations of business actors have not been articulated as clearly as those of States, and the weak regime concerning the duty of companies to respect the rights of defenders is one factor underlying their vulnerability. Reports have shown that businesses have been involved in human rights abuses that range from restricting the legitimate activities of defenders to curtailing the exercise of their rights, to attacks carried out by private security firms on behalf of companies. National action plans, when established, often fail to advise how States should sanction corporations involved in such abuses. Some corporations have developed social responsibility strategies or mechanisms, which either lack teeth to prevent violations or have been used as publicity tools to whitewash the company's public image.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- Businesses should provide clear guidance to employees, contractors and partners on the rights of environmental human rights defenders and communities to express their views, conduct peaceful protest and criticize practices without intimidation or retaliation. They should have clear procedures for receiving complaints of misconduct and to respond to them in a timely manner. Human rights due diligence should involve tracking responses and explaining how the impacts are addressed. Businesses need to set up transparent processes that provide remedies for negative human rights impacts.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- Environmental education is, laudably, becoming widespread, as expressed both in formal curricula in educational institutions and in public education campaigns. Such education initiatives should recognize the crucial role played by environmental human rights defenders in environmental protection. Building public support for defenders through education serves important preventive and protective functions. Human rights education must also be available for government officials, journalists and others working on environmental and development issues. The Special Rapporteur encourages initiatives such as the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and supports the call by UNESCO for inclusive, empowering education about the environment, engaging civil society and local communities as active participants.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- Similarly, it is important for different branches of Government beyond traditional units responsible for law enforcement to recognize the role of environmental human rights defenders in environmental protection. State entities responsible for other activities, including for the environment, resource development and indigenous peoples, must also be involved in the protection of the environment and environmental human rights defenders. States are encouraged to integrate a human rights-based approach into the work of environmental protection agencies and other relevant institutions. It is important that such institutions be given the resources and support required for effective environmental governance.
- 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
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- Awards and prizes for environmental human rights defenders are an important means of drawing attention to their work and the risks they face. Awards are based on their environmental achievements generally or on specific risks. An example of the latter is the Goldman Environmental Prize, awarded annually to environmental human rights defenders from around the world. Awards also help build the profile and legitimacy of defenders, give voice to their security concerns and celebrate their successes. However, awards are not a panacea, and should be supported by robust protection measures for defenders at risk. Wherever advisable, they should recognize groups of defenders and communities rather than singling out individuals.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- Regional and international forums provide important mechanisms for monitoring and responding to the situation of environmental human rights defenders. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights established the Office of the Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, which monitors the situation of defenders, including environmental human rights defenders. The Commission and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights have provided important relief to environmental human rights defenders through court decisions and "precautionary measures", requesting States to take action where defenders are at acute risk. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about the budgetary reduction facing the Commission and its impact on the continuing ability of the Commission to monitor, support and protect defenders in the region.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is extremely concerned about the lack of independent and prompt investigations into attacks perpetrated against environmental human rights defenders, which is often linked to a lack of resources, corruption and collusion between perpetrators. States have nearly always failed to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and sanctioned. This has been the case in countries such as Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras and the Philippines, and this situation can perpetuate the climate of impunity, sending the message that environmental human rights defenders cannot trust the justice system to seek remedy for violations.
- 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
- 2016
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- According to Global Witness campaigner Ben Leather: The mandate holder has rightly identified environmental defenders as one of the groups that are most at risk. For us, whose work is to support these defenders, the mandate holder has addressed a number of critical issues in his innovative report that has proved useful in many ways. First and foremost, the report strongly and unequivocally stresses the importance of human rights defenders in fighting for our planet and our rights in the face of powerful private interests. Secondly, the report identifies the various actors who are seeking to hinder, threaten and attack defenders and highlights the changes that must take place, particularly in relation to private businesses and investment banks. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, this report is far more than a mere document. It contains a straightforward analysis of the risk factors and clearly indicates how the numerous attacks against defenders can be stopped. It is by drawing inspiration from the strength of conviction, innovation and tenacity of defenders that the mandate can best support and protect them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph