ABBREVIATIONS = vi
INTRODUCTION = 1
Chapter
I. About human rights defenders = 02
A. What do human rights defenders do? = 02
1. All human rights for all = 02
2. Human rights everywhere = 02
3. Local, national, regional and international action 03
4. Collecting and disseminating information on violations = 03
5. Supporting victims of human rights violations = 03
6. Action to secure accountability and to end impunity = 04
7. Supporting better governance and government policy = 04
8. Contributing to the implementation of human rights treaties = 4
9. Human rights education and training = 05
B. Who can be a human rights defender? = 06
1. Defending human rights through professional activities.paid or voluntary = 06
2. Defending human rights in a non-professional context = 08
C. Is a minimum standard required of human rights defenders? = 08
II. Violations committed against human rights defenders and other difficulties they face = 10
A. Examples of acts committed against human rights defenders = 11
B. The situation of women human rights defenders ..... 13
C. Perpetrators of violations against human rights defenders = 15
1. State authorities = 15
2. Non-State actors = 16
3. Positive role of State and non-State actors = 17
III. United Nations protection of human rights defenders and support for their work = 18
A. The Declaration on human rights defenders = 19
1. Legal character = 19
2. The Declaration’s provisions = 19
(a) Rights and protections accorded to human rights defenders = 20
(b) The duties of States = 21
(c) The responsibilities of everyone = 21
(d) The role of national law = 22
B. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders = 22
1. The formal mandate of the Special Representative = 22
2. The practical activities of the Special Representative = 23
(a) Contacts with human rights defenders = 23
(b) Contacts with States = 23
(c) Contacts with other key actors = 24
(d) Individual cases = 24
(e) Country visits = 25
(f) Workshops and conferences = 26
(g) Strategies = 26
(h) Reports = 26
3. Logistical and resource arrangements.the role of OHCHR = 27
IV. How can human rights defenders be supported and protected in their work? = 28
A. Action by States = 29
1. Using the Declaration on human rights defenders = 30
2. Protection in practice = 30
3. Action by individual State entities = 31
B. Action by non-State actors.including civil society and the private sector = 32
C. Action by United Nations departments, offices and programmes = 33
1. At the country level = 33
2. At the regional and international levels = 34
D. Action by human rights defenders = 35
1. Quality of work = 35
2. Training = 36
3. Networks and channels of communication = 36
4. Analysis = 36
5. Supporting improved State protection for human rights = 37
6. Protection strategies = 37
7. Using the Declaration on human rights defenders = 37
ANNEXES
I. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms = 39
II. Guidelines for submitting allegations of violations of the Declaration on human rights defenders to the Special Representative = 47
INTRODUCTION = 1
Chapter
I. About human rights defenders = 02
A. What do human rights defenders do? = 02
1. All human rights for all = 02
2. Human rights everywhere = 02
3. Local, national, regional and international action 03
4. Collecting and disseminating information on violations = 03
5. Supporting victims of human rights violations = 03
6. Action to secure accountability and to end impunity = 04
7. Supporting better governance and government policy = 04
8. Contributing to the implementation of human rights treaties = 4
9. Human rights education and training = 05
B. Who can be a human rights defender? = 06
1. Defending human rights through professional activities.paid or voluntary = 06
2. Defending human rights in a non-professional context = 08
C. Is a minimum standard required of human rights defenders? = 08
II. Violations committed against human rights defenders and other difficulties they face = 10
A. Examples of acts committed against human rights defenders = 11
B. The situation of women human rights defenders ..... 13
C. Perpetrators of violations against human rights defenders = 15
1. State authorities = 15
2. Non-State actors = 16
3. Positive role of State and non-State actors = 17
III. United Nations protection of human rights defenders and support for their work = 18
A. The Declaration on human rights defenders = 19
1. Legal character = 19
2. The Declaration’s provisions = 19
(a) Rights and protections accorded to human rights defenders = 20
(b) The duties of States = 21
(c) The responsibilities of everyone = 21
(d) The role of national law = 22
B. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders = 22
1. The formal mandate of the Special Representative = 22
2. The practical activities of the Special Representative = 23
(a) Contacts with human rights defenders = 23
(b) Contacts with States = 23
(c) Contacts with other key actors = 24
(d) Individual cases = 24
(e) Country visits = 25
(f) Workshops and conferences = 26
(g) Strategies = 26
(h) Reports = 26
3. Logistical and resource arrangements.the role of OHCHR = 27
IV. How can human rights defenders be supported and protected in their work? = 28
A. Action by States = 29
1. Using the Declaration on human rights defenders = 30
2. Protection in practice = 30
3. Action by individual State entities = 31
B. Action by non-State actors.including civil society and the private sector = 32
C. Action by United Nations departments, offices and programmes = 33
1. At the country level = 33
2. At the regional and international levels = 34
D. Action by human rights defenders = 35
1. Quality of work = 35
2. Training = 36
3. Networks and channels of communication = 36
4. Analysis = 36
5. Supporting improved State protection for human rights = 37
6. Protection strategies = 37
7. Using the Declaration on human rights defenders = 37
ANNEXES
I. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms = 39
II. Guidelines for submitting allegations of violations of the Declaration on human rights defenders to the Special Representative = 47