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An illustration showing three people holding signs with faceless portraits of missing individuals. The text on the image reads 'International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.' The first person on the left, wearing an orange scarf, holds two signs with the text '¿Dónde Están?' (Spanish for 'Where Are They?'). The person in the centre wears an orange headscarf and holds a sign with a faceless portrait. The person on the right wears glasses and carries a sign with the word 'Missing' and another faceless portrait. The background is a gradient of light blue to darker blue.

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 2024

30 August 2024 | Today, which marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, I am thinking of all the human rights defenders who have been subjected to this most cruel and callous crime in retaliation for their work.

An illustration featuring a group of diverse people standing at the base of a large book, which is held upright by columns resembling those of a courthouse. The text on the image reads 'Introducing the Declaration+25' and '#Right2defend RIGHTS' against a split orange and grey background.

Welcoming the Declaration+25

16 July 2024 | Last month, a number of human rights organisations launched Declaration+25, a supplement to the HRD Declaration, designed to ensure better protection for all those around the world who defend human rights.

European flags outside the EU Commission building in Brussels

Updates to the EU Visa Code Handbook: encouraging news for human rights defenders

2 July 2024 | In June 2024, the EU Commission issued an update to the EU Visa Code Handbook. The update, which is to be applied immediately, could go some way to addressing the long-standing discord between the EU’s acknowledgement of the risks for human rights defenders around the world and its visa policy as it impacts upon them.

The image shows a blue boat where Iuventa is written in white letters. Many people are standing on the boat and clinging to its railing.

On the Iuventa Trial: the criminalisation of solidarity

7 March 2024 | Last week, a member of my team travelled to Trapani to observe the concluding arguments in the pre-trial proceedings against the Iuventa search and rescue crew.

European flags outside the EU Commission building in Brussels

Position Paper: on the EU Commission’s proposed Directive to update the EU legal framework on people smuggling

February 2024 | I am issuing the following position paper in response to the EU Commission’s proposed Directive to update the Facilitators Package, with specific recommendations to improve the environment for human rights defenders in the EU.

European flags outside the EU Commission building in Brussels

Position Paper: concerning EU visas as a protection tool for human rights defenders

December 2023 | I am issuing the following position paper on EU visas as a protection tool for human rights defenders, including recommendations on what could be done in the short and medium term to remedy the current disconnect between the EU’s external human rights policy and its visa framework.

The top of the image features the dates "May 2020 - May 2023" on a purple and orange gradient background. Below is a black and white photo of Mary Lawlor, accompanied by the text "In her first mandate as UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor..." on a white background. The image is meant to lead to the statistics compiled in the related blog piece.

Reflections on my first term as mandate holder – August 2023

15 August 2023 | Looking back on my first term as Special Rapporteur, I’m sharing an overview of my work between May 2020 and May 2023.

RIP Fr Brendan Forde

9 July 2023 | Fr Brendan Forde died yesterday. He was a wise, humble, compassionate and intense advocate against injustice.

On HRDs and the Updated OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

14 June 2023 | Earlier this month, the OECD issued an update of its Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, including recognition of the risks for human rights defenders peacefully opposing negative impacts of corporate activity and voicing concerns about them.

European flags outside the EU Commission building in Brussels

HRDs and the progress of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

15 May 2023 | Despite cross-cutting improvements proposed by the JURI Committee, the Parliament’s expected position on the EU’s due diligence Directive falls short of fully reflecting the role of human rights defenders and the risks they face.

Mary Lawlor and Brian Dooley are standing outside a building, both smiling, while Mary is being interviewed.

Tribute to Brian Dooley

17 March 2023 | My senior advisor Brian Dooley is finishing up with the Mandate today after three years of exceptional support, guidance, wise counsel and endless energy.

The flag of Greece against a blue sky background

Op-Ed: Why are human rights defenders in Greece at risk and what can be done about it?

14 March 2023 | This week at the United Nations I will present a report focused on Human Rights Defenders in Greece. It will detail the risks and threats faced by people in the country who take peaceful action to promote and protect the rights of others.