United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
Who is a Human Rights Defender? What can the Special Rapporteur do?Official Statements
Israel: arrest, detention without charge and ill-treatment of five Palestinian human rights defenders (joint communication)
Official Letters and Statements
This is the summary of a joint communication about the arrest, detention without charge and ill-treatment of five Palestinian human rights defenders, Bassem Tamimi, Diala Ayesh, Omar al-Khatib, Baraa Awad Ahmad Odeh and Sumoud Mtair.
Latest Information Received
Meeting with Georgian human rights defenders with disabilities
Latest InformationHuman rights defenders with disabilities in Georgia stand to be greatly affected by the proposed Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence.
Hearing with Human Rights Defenders in Ecuador
Latest Information[Español / English] Last month, I held two online hearings with human rights defenders in Ecuador. It was an opportunity for me to learn more about the environment for promoting human rights in the country.
Statement on the situation of human rights defenders in Palestine and Israel in the context of the war on Gaza
Latest Information[English / العربية ]
More than three months into its war on Gaza, the indiscriminate killing of Palestinians by Israel continues. Among those killed by Israeli bombs and bullets have been human rights defenders, including medical workers, journalists and Palestinian human rights activists.
More Information Received
“Information received” does not necessarily reflect the views of the Special Rapporteur or the United Nations.
Human Rights Defenders
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