60th Anniversary of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights" - 10th December
Protect One, Empower A Thousand
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On 10 December 2008, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” and the 10th anniversary of the “UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders”.
The European Union has issued its own Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders. Adopted in 2004 and revised in 2008, these Guidelines were conceived as a practical tool to help the EU reach out to and protect human rights defenders throughout the globe.
The EU recognizes human rights defenders as key actors who contribute to the effective elimination of all violations of human rights. This is why it is of utmost importance to ensure their safety, protect their rights and support their work.
Defending the Defenders
Support for human rights defenders is already a long established element of the European Union’s human rights external relations policy.
The EU uses these Guidelines in contacts with third countries at all levels as well as in multilateral human rights fora, in order to support and strengthen ongoing efforts by the Union to promote and encourage respect for the right to defend human rights.
The Guidelines also provide for interventions by the Union for human rights defenders at risk and suggest practical means to support and assist human rights defenders.
An important element of the Guidelines is support for the Special Procedures of the UN Commission on Human Rights, including the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders and appropriate regional mechanisms to protect human rights defenders.
Who They Are
Human rights defenders are those individuals, groups and organs of society that promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Human rights defenders seek the promotion and protection of civil and political rights as well as the promotion, protection and achievement of economic, social and cultural rights.
Human rights defenders also promote and protect the rights of members of groups such as indigenous communities.
Individuals or groups who commit or propagate violence cannot be considered human rights defenders.
What They Do
Human Rights Defenders have over the years increasingly come to ensure greater protection for the victims of violations. The activities of human rights defenders include:
- documenting violations;
- seeking remedies for victims of such violations through the provision of legal, psychological, medical or other support;
- combating cultures of impunity which serve to cloak systematic and repeated breaches of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Why They Need Protection
The remarkable progress achieved over time by Human Rights Defenders came at a high price: the defenders themselves have increasingly become targets of attacks and their rights are violated in many countries.
The work of human rights defenders often involves criticism of government’s policies and actions. Some governments are better than others in seeing the work of human rights defenders in a positive light.
The principle of allowing room for independent opinion and free debate on government’s policies and actions is fundamental in establishing a better level of protection of human rights.
The EU believes it is important to ensure the safety of the life and to protect the rights of human rights defenders.
What the EU Can Do
EU favors a proactive policy towards human rights defenders, including:
- coordinating closely and sharing information on human rights defenders, including those at risk;
- maintaining suitable contacts with human rights defenders, including by meeting them and visiting their areas of work
- providing, as and where appropriate, visible recognition to human rights defenders, through the use of appropriate publicity, visits or invitations;
- attending and observing, where appropriate, trials of human rights defenders.
How Can the EU Do It
Practical support for Human Rights defenders can include the following:
- bi-lateral human rights and democratisation programmes could include support for human rights defenders through such activities as capacity building and public awareness compaigns;
- supporting the establishment and work of national bodies for the promotion and protection of human rights, established in accordance with the Paris Principles, including National Human Rights Institutions, Ombudsman’s Offices and Human Rights Commissions.
- assisting in the establishment of networks of human rights defenders at an international level, including by facilitating meetings of human rights defenders;
- seeking to ensure that human rights defenders in third countries can access resources, including financial, from abroad;
- ensuring that human rights educations programmes promote, inter alia, the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
The overall objective should be to bring about an environment where human rights defenders can operate freely, for the benefit of many.
Last update: 12.2.2010