Celebrating 25 years of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders
25 years ago, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The declaration has been essential to protect those who defend human rights. It’s time to celebrate the Declaration, human rights defenders and all the contributions they have brought to our societies.
In 2023, the UN and the human rights movement are celebrating an important anniversary: 25 years of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders!
The Declaration is a landmark document that sets out the rights and responsibilities of States, human rights defenders, and all actors in society in ensuring a safe environment where defenders are recognised, valued, and encouraged to work for the promotion and protection of human rights.
As part of this celebration, Amnesty International, CIVICUS, Defend Defenders, Forum Asia, Front line Defenders, FIDH, Gulf Centre for Human Rights, ICNL, ILGA World, the International Service for Human Rights, IM Defensoras, MENA WHRD Coalition, OMCT and Protection International launched a collaborative project to analyse the contributions of the Declaration to defenders’ lives and work, as well as progress in international human rights law on the protection of defenders.
What do we want to achieve?
This project seeks to enhance the awareness of the Declaration and encourage greater dialogue on the protection needs of defenders
One of the outcomes of the project will be the creation of a supplement to the Declaration that will be a civil society-led document taking into account developments in international and regional jurisprudence relating to defenders over the past 25 years and evolutions of human rights movements, addressing key gaps and limitations in the Declaration, and reflecting defenders’ lived experiences and needs.
This supplement will guide change on the ground in the next 25 years, and beyond!
We need the input and voices from human rights defenders everywhere!
#Right2defendRIGHTS
Available in English, French and Spanish. Arabic coming soon!
