United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
Who is a Human Rights Defender? What can the Special Rapporteur do?Official Statements
Lebanon: Mohammed Sablouh threatened and intimidated for human rights work (joint communication)
Official Letters and Statements
The following is based on a communication written by the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and other UN experts…
Latest Information Received
Not guilty verdict of Polish Women Human Rights Defenders upheld
Latest InformationOn Wednesday, 12 January 2021, a Polish court upheld the dismissal of the…
Sahrawi WHRD Reports Violent Attacks Under House Arrest
Latest InformationSahrawi Woman Human Rights Defender Sultana Khaya told me she has been forcibly…
Briefing notes: harsh sentencing of human rights defenders in Viet Nam
Latest InformationToday, the Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued the…
More “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