
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
Who is a Human Rights Defender? What can the Special Rapporteur do?Official Statements

India: arrest of four freelance journalists investigating sand mining (joint communication)
Official Letters and Statements
This is the summary of a joint communication sent to the Government of India about the arrest of four media workers in August 2024, which seems to be linked to their work investigating irregularities around sand mining activities in Chhattisgarh state.
Latest Information Received

Extreme concern for the security of human rights defenders in eastern DRC [EN/FR]
Latest Information[English / Français] I call for urgent and practical support to human rights defenders in eastern DRC.

Academic visit to Angola, South Africa and Ghana
Latest InformationFrom 18 to 30 November, I embarked on an academic visit to Angola, South Africa and Ghana.

Guest Blog: Rambati Chaudhary from Nepal
Latest InformationA guest blog by Nepali women’s rights defender Rambati Chaudhary.
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