United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

Who is a Human Rights Defender? What can the Special Rapporteur do?

Official Statements

The flag of Guatemala flying under a cloudy and sunny sky

Guatemala: continuas amenazas, incluso amenazas de muerte, en contra de integrantes de la Organización Trans – Reinas de la Noche (comunicación conjunta)

Official Letters and Statements
Lo que sigue se basa en una comunicación conjunta enviada al Gobierno de Guatemala sobre las presuntas amenazas, incluso amenazas de muerte, en contra de integrantes de la Organización Trans – Reinas de la Noche (OTRANS-RN).
Read Statement • 6th Nov 2024
See more official statements

Latest Information Received

Cropped photo of late Indian human rights defender GN Saibaba and his partner Vasantha. Saibaba, who uses a wheelchair, is seated wearing a checkered shirt. Vasantha stands beside him, dressed in a green saree with intricate patterns, smiling warmly and resting her hands on his shoulders. They are in a cozy room filled with bookshelves that hold a variety of books and artwork.

Guest Blog: Remembering Professor GN Saibaba

Latest Information
A guest blog by Henri Tiphagne on the death of human rights defender GN Saibaba.
• 6th Nov 2024
Portrait of Emmanuel Gumbo, a Zimbabwean lawyer and human rights defender, standing in front of a large blue banner. He is wearing a colorful, patterned shirt with orange, yellow, and blue accents, and has a conference lanyard around his neck. He is looking confidently at the camera.

Guest Blog: Supporting Climate Defenders to Combat Climate Change

Latest Information
A guest blog by Emmanuel Gumbo, Zimbabwean lawyer and human rights defender.
• 30th Oct 2024
Flyer promoting a side event at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. The title of the event is 'Driving sustainable development: the crucial contributions of Human Rights Defenders to the 2030 Agenda'. The event will take place on October 15, 2024, from 13:15 to 14:30 EDT at Conference Room 6 in the UN Headquarters, New York City. The panellists are: Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders. Wellington Gabriel de Jesus dos Santos, Human rights defender from the Pitanga dos Palmares Quilombola community, Brazil. Emily Donovan, Woman human rights defender and co-founder of Clean Cape Fear, USA. The moderator will be Amb. Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations. The opening remarks will be delivered by Amb Joan Cedano, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations. The flyer mentions that the event will be conducted in English only and can be watched live on UN WebTV.

UNGA side event – “Driving sustainable development: the crucial contributions of Human Rights Defenders to the 2030 Agenda”

Latest Information
On 15 October 2024, a side event will take place on the margins of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, discussing my new report on the contributions of human rights defenders to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• 11th Oct 2024
More Information Received “Information received” does not necessarily reflect the views of the Special Rapporteur or the United Nations.

Human Rights Defenders

Headshots of HRDs in a grid with different coloured backgrounds behind each
Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) are people who act peacefully to promote or protect human rights in accordance with the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
“Human rights defenders are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. They work peacefully for the rights of others and help build civil and just societies based on the rule of law.”
Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of HRDs
Violations committed against HRDs Submit Information on HRDs at risk
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