Human Rights Defenders – HHRI

“Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization
of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels.”
Article 1of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders

The different declarations, resolutions and guidelines that are related to the protection of human rights defenders.

Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
General Assembly Resolution A/RES/53/144
Articles 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13 of the Declaration provide specific protections to human rights defenders, including the rights:

• To seek the protection and realization of human rights at the national and international levels;
• To conduct human rights work individually and in association with others;
• To form associations and non-governmental organizations;
• To meet or assemble peacefully;
• To seek, obtain, receive and hold information relating to human rights;
• To develop and discuss new human rights ideas and principles and to advocate their acceptance;
• To submit to governmental bodies and agencies and organizations concerned with public affairs criticism and proposals for improving their functioning and to draw attention to any aspect of their work that may impede the realization of human rights;
• To make complaints about official policies and acts relating to human rights and to have such complaints reviewed;
• To offer and provide professionally qualified legal assistance or other advice and assistance in defence of human rights;
• To attend public hearings, proceedings and trials in order to assess their compliance with national law and international human rights obligations;
• To unhindered access to and communication with non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations;
• To benefit from an effective remedy;
• To the lawful exercise of the occupation or profession of human rights defender;
• To effective protection under national law in reacting against or opposing, through peaceful means, acts or omissions attributable to the State that result in violations of human rights;
• To solicit, receive and utilize resources for the purpose of protecting human rights (including the receipt of funds from abroad).

Commentary to the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders: an essential guide to the right to defend human rights
OHCHR 2011
This “Commentary to the Declaration on human rights defenders”, is aimed at building on the efforts to raise awareness about the Declaration and the crucial role of human rights defenders. It maps out the rights provided for in the Declaration, based mostly on information received and reports produced by the two Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights defenders, Hina Jilani (2000-2008) and Margaret Sekaggya (since 2008).

What rights for human rights defenders? 
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders provides an overview of human rights defenders’ rights. Also available in French and Spanish.

Rights of Defenders: Principles and Standards Protecting and Empowering Human Rights Work
Human Rights House Foundation
With this booklet, HRHF aims to promote and build understanding of international standards and provide clear, accessible, and targeted insight into the standards and the context that surrounds them. It is a tool for defenders to disseminate standards nationally, engage with authorities and hold them accountable to the commitments they make internationally, and initiate national conversations on the importance of defenders and their work. The booklet is divided into 16 standards, inspired by the strong content of landmark resolutions related to human rights defenders and their work. It condenses the main points of each standard as outlined in the resolutions. Also available in Russian.

Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), 2014
The present guidelines are based on OSCE commitments and universally recognized human rights standards that OSCE participating States have undertaken to adhere to. The guidelines do not set new standards or seek to create “special” rights for human rights defenders but concentrate on the protection of the human rights of those who are at risk as a result of their human rights work. As such, the guidelines aim to contribute to promoting equal protection of human rights for all. Available in multiple languages here.

New Protection Manual for Human Rights Defenders
Enrique Eguren Fernández and Marie Caraj, Protection International, 2009
Developed to provide human rights defenders with additional knowledge and tools useful for improving their understanding of security and protection. It is the result of over 25 years combined experience of PI’s members in working with HHRR and humanitarian law and in the protection of HRD. Also available in French, Spanish, Arab, Indonesian and Swahili.

Protecting the Right to Defend Human Rights Fact Sheet No 29
OHCHR – 2004
This Fact Sheet has been prepared with the aim of supporting human rights defenders in their invaluable work. It is addressed primarily to State authorities, national and international non-governmental organizations, United Nations personnel, major private sector actors (including transnational corporations) and human rights defenders themselves. The Fact Sheet is also aimed at the wider public and may be useful to journalists and others in disseminating information on the role and situation of human rights defenders. It is hoped that the manual will support training on security and protection and will help defenders to undertake their own risk assessments and define security rules and procedures which suit their particular situation. Available in English, French, Spanish, Arab, Indonesian and Swahili.

Resolution on protecting women human rights defenders
United Nations General Assembly 2013
Gravely concerned that women human rights defenders are at risk of and suffer from violations and abuses, including systematic violations and abuses of their fundamental rights to life, liberty and security of person, to psychological and physical integrity, to privacy and respect for private and family life and to freedom of opinion and expression, association and peaceful assembly, and in addition can experience gender-based violence, rape and other forms of sexual violence, harassment and verbal abuse and attacks on reputation, online and offline, by State actors, including law enforcement personnel and security forces, and non-State actors, such as those related to family and community, in both public and private spheres.

Comments to the Resolution on protection Women human rights defenders
Amnesty International, Association for Women’s Rights in Development, the International Service for Human Rights and Jass, Just Associates (2014)
It is deeply regrettable that this last minute consensus came at the expense of a crucial paragraph containing language calling on States to condemn all forms of violence against women and women human rights defenders, and to refrain from invoking any customs, tradition or religious consideration to avoid obligations related to the elimination of violence against women.

 European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders
Support for human rights defenders is already a long-established element of the European Union’s human rights external relations policy. The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide practical suggestions for enhancing EU action in relation to this issue. The Guidelines can be used in contacts with third countries at all levels as well as in multilateral human rights fora, in order to support and strengthen ongoing efforts by the Union to promote and encourage respect for the right to defend human rights.

Acts of intimidation and reprisal for cooperation with the special procedures
OHCHR
Addressing acts of intimidation and reprisal against those who seek to cooperate, cooperate or have cooperated with the UN. They have consistently raised their concerns about this unacceptable practice individually and as a system. As a result of the mandate holders agreed during the 22nd Annual Meeting of Special Procedures, to consolidate and enhance special procedures’ response to this unacceptable practice by establishing a coherent framework for action, the main points of which can be found in this webpage.

Guidelines against Intimidation or Reprisals (“San José Guidelines”)
OHCHR 2015
A group of UN bodies responsible for monitoring human rights has adopted a significant policy to combat intimidation and reprisals against those who provide information or contribute to the treaty bodies’ work to promote and protect human rights.

What are the obligations of States?
States have the obligation to respect and implement all the provisions of the Declaration, and in particular to ensure the rights and protections contained for human rights defenders.