The 2010 press law, which decriminalises defamation and bans pretrial detention of. Winner of front line award for human rights defenders at risk 2009 front line addresses the safety and protection of human rights defenders, especially women human rights defenders, in its programmes. See official records of the economic and social council, 1998, supplement no. A collective effort by a number of human rights nongovernmental organizations and some state delegations helped to ensure that the final result was a strong. There is no specific legislation addressing human rights defenders such as a declaration on human rights defenders, but chapter 3 of the constitution of sri lanka guarantees fundamental rights of citizens.
In march 2009, the iachr decided to place commissioner carozza in charge of the unit for human rights defenders. International human rights principles amnesty international. Condemned to silence the situation of women human rights defenders 5 introduction. The goal of the human rights centre uganda is to facilitate the work of human rights defenders generally and through these translations to more widely disseminate the declaration among all stakeholders, thus improving the human rights defenders environment in. The commissions intention was to give support to implementation of the declaration on human rights defenders and also to gather information on the situation of human rights defenders around the world see resolution 200061 establishing the mandate. Such a right cannot be inferred from the ordinary meaning of any human rights document. Universal declaration of human rights united nations. We must find new ways to protect human rights defenders.
The declaration is not, in itself, a legally binding document. Human rights defenders some of the bravest people in the. Develop, enact and implement a specific national law on the protection of human rights defenders in accordance with the international declaration on human rights defenders. Human rights ohchr for input on the implementation of the declaration on human rights defend ers. Oas iachr rapporteurship on human rights defenders. A resource book for human rights defenders 2nd edition defending human rights.
Universal declaration of human r ights, the international covenants on human rights and other. The commentary to the declaration on human rights defenders maps the rights protected in the declaration and explains in what parts of the document are they protected, unpacks what each right entails and which are the common restrictions and violations of those rights, and lastly highlights good practices and recommendations regarding those rights. Resolution on human rights defenders european data protection. Childrens human rights as defined in the united nations convention on the rights of the child uncrc are used as the foundation for the work described in this toolkit. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
Unga passes resolution on the protection of human rights. This compilation of documents has been prepared by the. United nations, universal declaration of human rights, 1948. Universal declaration of human rights preamble whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous.
However, the gravity of the risks faced on a daily basis by human rights defenders is such that it is also important to pursue other. A human rights defender or human rights activist is a person who, individually or with others, acts to promote or protect human rights. He was the first commissioner to directly oversee the unit. The report identifies and analyses the legal, policy and institutional framework that impacts on the environment in which human rights defenders operate. In the words of current high commissioner, michelle bachelet, without human rights defenders, the universal declaration of human rights would be lifeless. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. The country entries reveal a much wider set of individuals and groups identifying themselves as human rights defenders, using. Article 10 no one shall participate, by act or by failure to act where required, in violating human rights and fundamental freedoms and no one shall be subjected to punishment or adverse action of any kind for refusing to do so. Rights defenders, the state has a duty to protect, promote and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and ensure that all persons under its jurisdiction are able to enjoy those rights and freedoms in practice. Human rights defenders in national action plans naps on. Although states bear the main responsibility for protecting defenders, the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders has stated, that article 10 of the declaration on human rights defenders establishes that nonstate actors, including individuals, groups and organs defenders. In that capacity, commissioner carozza supervised a stage of the preparation of the followup report to the report on the situation of human rights defenders in the americas. Universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms more commonly called the declaration on human rights defenders.
The universal declaration of human rights the universal declaration of human rights udhr is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Jan 04, 2017 for the human rights defenders political realism and the consequences of their actions have no importance. Ohchr the declaration on human rights defenders in. Parisgenevanew york, december 18, 2015 the final adoption of a resolution on the protection of human rights defenders by the united nations general assembly, in its plenary session, on thursday december 17, 2015, with 127 states voting in favour i. This is a simplified version of the universal declaration of human rights from amnesty international uk. However, it contains a series of principles and rights that are based on the human rights standards enshrined in other international instruments that are legally binding. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. Introduction to human rights is a short course into human rights and their importance in our daily lives. Petition united nations human rights defenders declaration. In the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the promotion and protection of human rights as referred to in the present declaration, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to benefit from an effective remedy and to be protected in the event of the violation of those rights. The traumatic events of world war ii dramatically brought home that these rights are not always universally respected. Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders osce. Published 2012 east and horn of africa human rights defenders project human rights house, plot 1853, lulume rd. Nov 25, 2015 the committee took up a draft resolution on human rights defenders in the context of the declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and.
We take this opportunity to affirm the crucial role of human rights defenders and our firm commitment to. In backing the declaration, governments promised to support human rights defenders and enable them to work free from obstacles and without fear of reprisals. You will also learn about your rights and how the state must protect them. Human rights defenders need new strategies that are inspired by a theory of security and human rights, of dignity, freedom and justice. Acknowledge that the work of human rights defenders is important to building a solid, lasting democratic society, and that rights defenders play a significant role in the process of fully achieving the rule of law and the strengthening of democracy. The attacks against human rights defenders have become increasingly alarming particularly in bangladesh during the first two quarters of this year. Yet several of the most critical rights for human rights defenders remain unresolved.
Using an abstract notion of humanness for thinking about rights can. Human rights defenders must accept the universality of human rights as defined in the universal declaration of human rights. They can be journalists, environmentalists, whistleblowers, trade unionists, lawyers, teachers, housing campaigners, or just individuals acting alone. In 2018, human rights defenders across the world, and in africa, have increasingly been made the target of government attack and recrimination. For human rights defenders while the constitution protects the rights of hrds and there is little legislation which formally restricts their activities, the actions of the government on the ground however appear to restrict the space for hrds. Human rights defenders in uganda annual report 2016 email. Human rights defenders in asia in the asian region, and despite the extreme diversity of country situations, most human rights defenders operate against the background of national security laws that put a serious strain on their activities. Articles 10, 11 and 18 outline responsibilities for everyone to promote human rights, to safeguard democracy and its institutions and not to violate thehuman rights of others. Some human rights defenders who have fled have explained that they continued to receive death threats on their mobile phones and social media pages. This year, human rights day marks the 70th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being regardless. Ohchr would appreciate receiving any feedback in this sense by competent agencies.
The observatory for the protection of human rights defenders in more than 80 countries across the world, fighting for the respect of human rights is a highrisk activity, and groups and individuals who engage themselves on this road are the preferred targets of authorities and private groups who make use of enforced disappearances, summary executions, arbitrary. A collective effort by a number of human rights nongovernmental organizations and some state delegations helped. Protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms. The asean human rights declaration, adopted in 2012 without civil society participation, undermines, rather than affirms, international human rights law and standards. The united nations universal declaration of human rights have been created approximately 62 years ago and have slowly been adapted by nations and states with some more active than others. Preamble whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts. Human rights defenders are people who champion and fight for human rights of other people. However, it contains a series of principles and rights that are based on human rights standards. It is the courage, the generosity of spirit, the integrity and the selflessness of human rights defenders which have kept the.
Human rights defenders demand national legal recognition. Human rights defenders risks facing human rights defenders liberia, with a population of 4 million people, is home to an estimated 1,000 nongovernmental organisations according to the government. Promote a greater awareness of the declaration on human rights defenders. The fourth essay makes the case for human rights defenders and why business should work with, rather than against, human rights defenders.
On the contrary, human rights documents call upon states to protect life. The declaration s full name is 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 with this longer title is frequently abbreviated to the declaration on human rights defenders. Further, violence against women, domestic violence and female genital mutilation, is common. Article 5 for the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the. Human rights department of foreign affairs and trade. United nations general assembly adopts resolution on the. Human rights are the fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to every single one of us. Women human rights defenders confronting extractive. Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders will serve as a basis for a renewed, genuine partnership between governments and human rights defenders to effectively address these challenges and combine efforts with the shared objectives of. Geneva, newyork, paris the observatory for the protection of human rights defenders a joint fidhomct programme commends the passing of a united nations general assembly resolution on the protection of human rights defenders in the third committee yesterday. Threats to human rights defenders in cambodia 2005 3 the declaration sets out rights and protections for human rights defenders to be upheld by member states, such as the rights to seek, obtain, receive and hold information relating to human rights or to criticize a governments noncompliance with human rights standards. Framed this way, the concept puts all individuals on equal footing. The third essay shows the growing trend worldwide to crack down on civil society. However since then, neither nations or states have come close to fully adapt the declaration, implement and enforce its content meaningfully.
Although it is certainly very difficult to make any such assessment, the. In at least two cases reported to unsmil, including one documented in this report, human rights defenders were physically assaulted in tunisia, apparently by libyans. Of the 193 members of the united nations, only four have. Human rights day is observed every year on 10 december the day the united nations general assembly adopted, in 1948, the universal declaration of human rights.
The declaration emphasizes that everyone has duties towards and within the community and encourages us all to be human rights defenders. The commission recalls general assembly resolution 53144 of 9 december 1998 by which it adopted the declaration on the rights and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms it calls upon all states to promote and give effect to the declaration. They challenge brutality, oppression and injustice in every part of the world, often risking their lives to expose abuses and hold powerful people to account, while supporting the survivors of human rights abuses. Evolution of the use of the term human rights defenders first, the discussion of the situation of human rights defenders and the rise in the usage of the term has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. Swiss guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders 10 2. Declaration on human rights defenders 1998 geschichte. Defending ehahrdp is the secretariat of ehahrdnet, a network. In 2003, the fifth international conference on new and restored democracies ulaanbataar, 1820 june 2003 made a strong reference to the declaration on human rights defenders in the conferences own concluding declaration. Viet nam committee on human rights ohchr bears no responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the nonofficial united nations language versions. The declaration s full name is 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 with this longer title is frequently abbreviated to the declaration on human rights defend ers. In less than two hours, you will discover what human rights are and their basic characteristics. Anniversary resolution on human rights defenders norway in. Declaration on human rights defenders 27 violations committed by both state and nonstate actors. Resource sheet 1 universal declaration of human rights.
Commentary to the declaration on human rights defenders. Model law for the recognition and protection of human rights. Nevertheless, with no specifi c law to protect hrds in liberia, and few measures taken to reinforce civil society, their impact tends to be. The declaration is not, in itself, a legally binding instrument.
The right to be protected and the declaration on human rights defenders. It guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and freedom of speech and freedom of movement. Elaboration of the declaration on human rights defenders began in 1984 and ended with the adoption of the text by the general assembly in 1998, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights. They can defend rights as part of their jobs or in a voluntary capacity. It seemed that the declaration would be completed in 1992, but a few governments obstructed its completion by proposing measures that would restrict the rights of human rights defenders rather than protect them. The observatory for the protection of human rights defenders.
General to establish a mandate on human rights defenders. Iii, 20 understanding and overcoming otential violations of their rights human rights defenders in uganda vii foreword the human rights centre uganda hrcu has for the past five years been involved in a number of activities to promote and protect the rights of human rights defenders hrds in uganda. Declaration on the protection of human rights defenders. Oct 11, 2017 the resolution on human rights defenders has traditionally been adopted by consensus, but was voted for the first time two years ago. Our response the promotion and protection of universal human rights are an integral part of irelands foreign policy and the work of the department of foreign affairs and trade. We must continue to work to get all governments to take seriously their obligations in this regard and take effective measures to ensure protection of human rights defenders. Swiss guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders. The uk supports human rights defenders, through funding local and international csos and ngos and in other ways, to build civil society capacity, helping. The overall framework for the protection of defenders. The discourse of human rights is a field of contradictions, exacerbated by the abstract notions of human and right. Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders. Concluding intense session, third committee approves final. Article 3, universal declaration of human rights, 1948. So, in 1948, representatives from the 50 member states of the united nations came.
1132 1067 12 849 609 547 1086 1478 172 297 916 332 619 217 534 304 591 1201 1153 1089 691 1328 360 70 1134 104 387 1204 864 259 214