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 Turkey flying with an old building in the background

Türkiye: Expert dismayed by continued misuse of counter terrorism law to keep human rights defenders in long-term detention (Press Release)

Official Letters and Statements
Press Release: UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor expressed deep concern at the continued long-term detention in Türkiye of nine prominent human rights defenders and lawyers, all of whom were arbitrarily arrested in connection with their peaceful work and convicted in unfair trials on spurious terrorism-related charges.
Read Statement • 16th Jan 2025
See more official statements

Latest Information Received

Collage of pictures from Mary Lawlor's academic visit to Angola, South Africa and Ghana in November 2024.

Academic visit to Angola, South Africa and Ghana

Latest Information
From 18 to 30 November, I embarked on an academic visit to Angola, South Africa and Ghana.
• 20th Dec 2024
UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor stands arm-in-arm with Nepali women's rights defender Rambati Chaudhari at an event. Mary, with shoulder-length blonde hair, wears a black outfit with a bold, colorful necklace. Rambati has silver hair tied back and wears a purple scarf with white snowflake patterns over traditional attire. Both women are smiling slightly. The background of the image is blurred.

Guest Blog: Rambati Chaudhary from Nepal

Latest Information
A guest blog by Nepali women’s rights defender Rambati Chaudhary.
• 15th Nov 2024
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
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
This website is not managed by the Office of the High Commissioner for human rights Its content does not reflect the position of the United Nations