A/HRC/RES/58/23 tracking, trafficking in persons, extortion, censorship, illegal access to digital accounts, mobile telephones or other electronic devices, in line with international human rights law, Recognizing also that human rights defenders have been the target of a growing number of digital attacks, paralyzing their means of communication, and that lack of accountability for online attacks is a protection gap, Acknowledging that, while the digital environment offers new opportunities for the realization of the rights of the child, it also poses risks of violation or abuse of those same rights, Deeply concerned that unpunished threats, attacks and violence against human rights defenders, both online and offline, contribute to a persistent climate of impunity, which in turn contributes to the recurrence of these crimes, Gravely concerned that national security, counter-terrorism and cybercrime legislation and other measures, such as defamation and libel laws and laws regulating civil society organizations, are in some instances misused to target human rights defenders, or have hindered their work and endangered their safety, in contravention of international law, including human rights law, Mindful that domestic law and administrative provisions and their application should not hinder but enable the work of human rights defenders, including by avoiding any criminalization, stigmatization, impediments, discrimination, obstructions or restrictions thereof contrary to the obligations and commitments of States under international law, including human rights law, Expressing serious concern at the rise of strategic lawsuits against public participation, including those brought by business entities, to exercise pressure, intimidate or exhaust the resources and morale of human rights defenders and thereby impede them in the performance of their work, including on matters of public interest, Recognizing that the protection of human rights defenders can be fully achieved only in the context of a holistic approach that includes the strengthening of democratic institutions, protecting the international legal order, safeguarding civic space, the fight against impunity, ending gender and economic inequality and social exclusion, bridging all digital divides, including the gender and geographic digital divides, including between and within countries, and securing equal access to the Internet, 1. Stresses that the right of everyone, individually or in association with others, to promote and strive for the protection and realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, without retaliation or fear thereof, both online and offline, is essential in building and maintaining inclusive, peaceful and democratic societies; 2. Also stresses the positive, important and legitimate role and contribution of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, in promoting and protecting human rights, strengthening understanding, tolerance and peace, promoting equal access to new technologies and bridging digital divides, and urges States to create and support a safe, enabling, accessible and inclusive environment online and offline for their participation in all relevant activities; 3. Strongly condemns the violence against and the criminalization, intimidation, attacks, torture, enforced disappearance and killing of, and all other human rights violations or abuses online and offline against, human rights defenders, including women, environmental and Indigenous human rights defenders, by State and non-State actors, stresses the need to combat impunity by ensuring that those responsible for violations and abuses against human rights defenders, or against their legal representatives, associates and family members, are promptly brought to justice through impartial and independent investigations, and underlines that ensuring accountability is a key element in preventing future violations and abuses of international human rights; 4. Recognizes that democracy and the rule of law are essential components for the protection of human rights defenders, and urges States to take measures to strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard civic space, uphold the rule of law and combat impunity; 4