Quote: "A human rights defender or human rights activist is a person who, individually or with others, acts to promote or protect human rights."
Explores the role of human rights defenders, NGOs, and social movements in promoting and protecting human rights, including strategies for effective advocacy and using the media to raise awareness.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): The UDHR is a foundational document in human rights law that provides a comprehensive framework of rights that should be recognized and protected by all governments around the world.
International human rights treaties: These are legal agreements between countries that outline specific obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights. Examples of international human rights treaties include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
Human rights monitoring and reporting mechanisms: These are systems designed to monitor and report violations of human rights by governments and non-state actors. Examples include the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Advocacy and Activism: Advocacy and activism are strategies used to raise awareness and mobilize action around human rights issues. These may include campaigns, protests, lobbying, and social media activism.
Human rights violations: Human rights violations refer to actions that harm or deny individuals their basic human rights. Examples include discrimination, torture, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detention.
Human rights defenders: Human rights defenders are individuals, groups, or organizations working to promote and protect human rights. They may include lawyers, journalists, activists, and community leaders.
Human rights education: Human rights education is the process of teaching people about their rights and responsibilities as human beings. It may include formal education in schools, community-based training, or public awareness campaigns.
Intersectionality: Intersectionality refers to the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, gender, class, and sexuality, and how they impact individuals' experiences of discrimination and inequality.
Corporate accountability: Corporate accountability refers to the responsibility of corporations to respect and protect human rights in their operations and supply chains.
Transitional justice: Transitional justice refers to the processes and mechanisms used to address human rights violations that occurred during periods of conflict, repression, or authoritarian rule. These may include truth commissions, reparations, and trials.
Legal Advocacy: Legal advocacy involves working with and supporting human rights lawyers and legal organizations to provide legal representation for individuals or groups who have had their human rights violated. This includes writing briefs, providing research support, and representing clients in court.
Policy Advocacy: Policy advocacy involves working with policymakers and government officials to develop and implement laws, regulations, and policies that promote human rights. This includes advocacy for the adoption of human rights conventions, lobbying for funding to support human rights programs, and drafting and promoting human rights legislation.
Grassroots Activism: Grassroots activism involves working with local communities and grassroots organizations to raise awareness of human rights issues and advocating for changes at the local level. This includes organizing marches and protests, providing education and training to community organizations, and engaging in direct action to hold organizations and governments accountable for violating human rights.
International Advocacy: International advocacy involves lobbying international organizations such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and other human rights organizations to promote and protect human rights. This includes advocating for human rights treaties and conventions, intervening in individual cases of human rights violations, and holding governments accountable for their human rights records.
Online Advocacy: Online advocacy involves using social media platforms and other digital tools to promote human rights issues and engage in online activism. This includes sharing information and resources, creating online petitions and campaigns, and using data and technology to monitor and document human rights abuses.
Quote: "They can be journalists, environmentalists, whistleblowers, trade unionists, lawyers, teachers, housing campaigners, participants in direct action, or just individuals acting alone."
Quote: "As a result of their activities, human rights defenders (HRDs) are often subjected to reprisals including smears, surveillance, harassment, false charges, arbitrary detention, restrictions on the right to freedom of association, physical attack, and even murder."
Quote: "In 2020, at least 331 HRDs were murdered in 25 countries."
Quote: "The international community and some national governments have attempted to respond to this violence through various protections..."
Quote: "Women human rights defenders... face greater repression and risks than human rights defenders working on other issues."
Quote: "In 1998, the United Nations issued their Declaration on Human Rights Defenders to legitimize the work of human rights defenders and extend protection for human rights activity."
Quote: "Following this Declaration, increasing numbers of activists have adopted the HRD label; this is especially true for professional human rights workers."
Quote: "They can defend rights as part of their jobs or in a voluntary capacity."
Quote: "Women human rights defenders and environmental human rights defenders... face greater repression and risks than human rights defenders working on other issues."
Quote: "As a result of their activities, human rights defenders (HRDs) are often subjected to reprisals including smears, surveillance, harassment, false charges, arbitrary detention, restrictions on the right to freedom of association, physical attack, and even murder."
Quote: "In 2020, at least 331 HRDs were murdered in 25 countries."
Quote: "They can be journalists, environmentalists, whistleblowers, trade unionists, lawyers, teachers, housing campaigners, participants in direct action, or just individuals acting alone."
Quote: "But violence against HRDs continues to rise."
Quote: "Women human rights defenders and environmental human rights defenders... face greater repression and risks than human rights defenders working on other issues."
Quote: "In 2020, at least 331 HRDs were murdered in 25 countries."
Quote: "In 1998, the United Nations issued their Declaration on Human Rights Defenders to legitimize the work of human rights defenders and extend protection for human rights activity."
Quote: "As a result of their activities, human rights defenders (HRDs) are often subjected to reprisals including smears, surveillance, harassment, false charges, arbitrary detention, restrictions on the right to freedom of association, physical attack, and even murder."
Quote: "Following this Declaration, increasing numbers of activists have adopted the HRD label; this is especially true for professional human rights workers."
Quote: "They can defend rights as part of their jobs or in a voluntary capacity."