The universal declaration of human rights udhr is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Human rights defenders in uganda human rights centre. The declaration s full name is the declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms with this longer title is frequently abbreviated to the declaration on human rights defenders. Universal declaration of human rights preamble whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous.
United nations declaration on human rights education and. Furthermore, in july 2011, margaret sekaggya issued a commentary to the declaration on human rights defenders, a key document mapping out the rights provided for in the declaration based mostly on information received and reports produced by the mandate. Child human rights defenders the children and young. The world report makes clear that the situation of human rights defenders. This repression takes the form of restrictive laws and practices regarding freedom of association, expression and peaceful assembly, smear campaigns, abuse, death threats, arbitrary arrests and detention, forced. Model law for the recognition and protection of human rights defenders olga abramenko, expert, adc memorial. The universal declaration of human rights udhr turns 70 in 2018. Human rights defenders under attack 25 march 2015 1. Human rights defenders and the resource extraction industries in uganda and tanzania foreword exploiting the natural resources of a country is a powerful method for growing a nations economy and building the human, physical, and social capital needed for real national development. Declaration on human rights defenders 1998 geschichte.
In promotion of the declaration, the assembly adopted a resolution on protecting women human rights defenders. There is ongoing discussion about how to reform the treatybody system. The declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms is an international instrument for the protection of the right to defend human rights. Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders vii list of abbreviations achr american convention on human rights cedaw convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Ohchr the declaration on human rights defenders in. This compilation of documents has been prepared by the. The declaration emphasizes that everyone has duties towards and within the community and encourages us all to be human rights defenders. Human rights defenders in uganda annual report 2016 email. The commentary to the declaration on human rights defenders maps the rights protected in the declaration and explains in what parts of the document are they protected, unpacks what each right entails and which are the common restrictions and violations of those rights, and lastly highlights good practices and recommendations regarding those rights. Human rights defenders, as a result of their commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, are the target of repression by states or by private or parastatal groups. The report also contains proposals for the implementation of the declaration. The universal declaration of human rights at seventy. Finally, the special rapporteur convened an expert meeting on the situation of environmental human rights defenders on 4 and 5 july 2016 in florence, italy.
Anniversary resolution on human rights defenders norway in. Trends in the observance of the most violated rights at the international level are discussed with a. Human rights watch submission re the situation of human. And it is no coincidence that those who attack the declaration at the united nations are the same who attack human rights defenders on the ground and who try to. A milestone document in the global history of human rights, the udhr is infused with values and ideals drawn from the world over. The declaration provides for the support and protection of human rights defenders in the context of their work. Petition united nations human rights defenders declaration. We must find new ways to protect human rights defenders. The commissions intention was to give support to implementation of the declaration on human rights defenders and also to gather information on the situation of human rights defenders around the world see resolution 200061 establishing the mandate.
In international law, human rights defenders are anyone who protects or promotes human rights whether these are their own, or the rights of others. General assembly office of the united nations high. A child human rights defender is someone who does this and is under 18. United nations niversa eclaratio uma ight 1 whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom. Human rights watch, office of the united nations high commissioner for human rights ohchr, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, special rapporteur on the situation of.
Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders osce. United nations declaration on human rights defenders, it is opportune to bring together a holistic tool that is as uptodate as possible, and to make it available to human rights defenders and others, with a view to usefully and effectively supporting the rights of human rights defenders. Welcoming the adoption by the human rights council, in its resolution 161 of 23 march 2011, 1 of the united nations declaration on human rights education and training, 1. Human rights were also protected through the net work of human rights defenders in individual countries, operating within the framework of the 1998 dec laration on human rights defenders. The united nations human rights council adopted in 2016 the resolution on the. The special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders has observed. Child human rights defenders the children and young people. One frequently cited definition of human rights posits four necessary requirements. Introduction this report describes the situation of human rights defenders in libya against the backdrop of severely deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situations since the escalation of armed conflicts in may 2014 in the east of the country and in july 2014 in the west. First, it must be possessed by all human beings, as well as only by human beings. The adoption of the declaration on human rights defenders has.
Ohchr english your human rights srhrdefenders the declaration on human rights defend ers in different languages. Adopts the united nations declaration on human rights education and. They do so in the sincere hope that, if i record what is actually happening, it. Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders. The article explores who can be a human rights defender and particularly looks at the definition of defenders derived from article 1 of the declaration on human rights defenders.
It does not create new rights but instead articulates existing rights in a way that makes it easier to apply them to the practical role and situation of human rights defenders. Elaboration of the declaration on human rights defenders began in 1984 and ended. However, it contains a series of principles and rights that are based on the human rights standards enshrined in other international instruments that are legally binding. United nations adopted the declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, a document commonly referred to as the declaration on human rights defenders. Part of the problem is that neither states nor human rights defenders are sufficiently familiar with the declaration. Generating awareness of the declaration remains a challenge.
Over the last two decades, we have also seen the creation of international and regional mechanisms, which we represent. United nations for the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons in all countries of the world, taking note of commission on human rights resolution 19987 of 3 april 1998, in which the1 commission approved the text of the draft declaration on the r ight and responsibility of individuals, groups. United nations for the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons in all countries of the world. Parisgenevanew york, december 18, 2015 the final adoption of a resolution on the protection of human rights defenders by the united nations general assembly, in its plenary session, on thursday december 17, 2015, with 127 states voting in favour i. We must continue to work to get all governments to take seriously their obligations in this regard and take effective measures to ensure protection of human rights defenders. However since then, neither nations or states have come close to fully adapt the declaration, implement and enforce its content meaningfully. In line with the resolution, ohchr is now requesting input from civil society on maximizing implementation. Second, because it is the same right that all human beings possess, it must be possessed equally by all human beings. A general assembly protecting defenders united nations. Third, because human rights are possessed by all human beings, we. On december 10, 1948, the united nations general assembly passed the universal declaration of human rights udhr, the most significant statement from the global community regarding what constitutes the ideal human life in any society and the rights to which all people are entitled. A collective effort by a number of human rights nongovernmental organizations and some state delegations helped to ensure that the final result was a strong. If you have reached this site from a web link, through your internet options, adjust your privacy settings to allow cookies or check your security settings and make sure this site has not been blocked or. Of the then 58 members of the united nations, 48 voted in favor, none against, eight abstained, and two did not vote the declaration consists of 30.
Article 1 everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels. General to establish a mandate on human rights defenders. Elaboration of the declaration on human rights defenders began in 1984 and ended with the adoption of the text by the general assembly in 1998, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights. The declaration on human rights defenders states that everyone has a responsibility. The declaration is not, in itself, a legally binding document. However, the gravity of the risks faced on a daily basis by. The resolution on human rights defenders has traditionally been adopted by consensus, but was voted for the first time two years ago.
A collective effort by a number of human rights nongovernmental organizations and some state delegations helped to ensure that the final. Universal declaration of human rights united nations. Special rapporteur on the situation of human rights. This handbook provides comprehensive stepbystep instructions on how to document human rights violations, particularly indigenous peoples collective rights, and use the. United nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.
The united nations universal declaration of human rights have been created approximately 62 years ago and have slowly been adapted by nations and states with some more active than others. Ateso, kiswahili, luganda, luo acholi and lango, runyakitara runyonkore rukiga and runyoro rutooro. Human rights ohchr for input on the implementation of the declaration on human rights defenders. The declaration of a right to defend human rights, and a right to protection when doing so, was. Human rights defenders play a crucial role in promoting the realisation of human rights and, in doing so, are often subject to human rights violations. In 2016, the international service for human rights published the model national law on the recognition and protection of human rights defenders. The report identifies and analyses the legal, policy and institutional framework that impacts on the environment in which human rights defenders operate. General assembly resolution ares53144 adopting the declaration on human rights defenders elaboration of the declaration on human rights defenders began in 1984 and ended with the adoption of the text by the general assembly in 1998, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the universal.
The declaration is not, in itself, a legally binding. When children and young people defend human rights in scotland, they arent likely to be shot or thrown in jail. The united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples undrip was adopted by the general assembly on thursday, september 2007, by a majority of. United nations protection of human rights defenders and. The implementation of human rights commitments remains the big challenge. Articles 10, 11 and 18 outline responsibilities for everyone to promote human rights, to safeguard democracy and its institutions and not to violate thehuman rights of others. Aug 11, 2017 human rights watch submission re the situation of human rights defenders working on business and international financial institutions. Although the defenders units are all different, part ii uses a focus that maintains a broad. Human rights defenders international federation for human. United nations general assembly adopts resolution on the. United nations for the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons in all countries of the world, reaffirmingalsothe importance of the universal declaration of human rights and the international 2 covenants on human rights as basic elements of international efforts to promote universal respect for and 3. Commentary to the declaration on human rights defenders. Communitybased indigenous peoples human rights defenders iphrds are the target.