Human Rights Defenders
Human Rights Defenders (W/HRDs) are individuals dedicated to ensuring that all human beings enjoy dignity, freedom, and fundamental human rights without discrimination. They fight for this cause, often paying a heavy price for their legitimate activities. The status of a W/HRDs is usually determined by their actions in the service of human rights. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), W/HRDs are all persons, who individually or in association with others, act to promote or protect human rights peacefully. This definition includes anyone who defends any human right (or group of rights) on behalf of individuals or communities. W/HRDs also work to promote and protect civil and political rights, as well as the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights.
According to the criteria that define W/HRDs based on their activities, our definition includes individuals engaged, whether in voluntary or paid roles, in human rights organizations or groups. It also includes trade union leaders who defend workers’ rights, students who advocate for the autonomy of their universities, journalists whose reporting promotes human rights, and medical professionals who disseminate sound health information and combat harmful traditional practices. Furthermore, it may include, among others, farmers who organize peaceful protests against environmental pollution affecting their villages, and so on
If W/HRDs are defined by their work, what activities do they undertake? Their work generally includes activities commonly associated with human rights defense, such as monitoring and documentation, advocacy, legal, medical, and psychological support, education and training, knowledge production and research, and the provision of consultations. It also includes cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms, exposing violations, advocating for democratic transition and good governance, and combating corruption.However, we also recognize that anyone working directly to fulfill a fundamental human right, such as the rights to health, housing, decent work, food, or clean water, is W/HRD, even when this work is described using other frameworks, including development, empowerment, or humanitarian relief.
Although we believe in the broadness of the concept of “W/HRDs”, there are minimum standards required of W/HRDs. The most important of such standards are:
- Accepting the universality and indivisibility of human rights as defined by international standards, without denying or selectively applying any of them.
- Adhering strictly to peaceful actions.
- Not being involved in committing or justifying a violation of any of the human rights.
Worldwide, W/HRDs are subjected to various forms of harassment, stigmatization, and reprisals as a consequence of their legitimate work. These violations are frequently perpetrated by State actors, or occur when the State fails to fulfill its obligation to protect W/HRDs from violations committed by non-State actors