Human Rights Defenders
Human rights defenders are individuals, groups of people or organisations who legitimately seek to promote and protect human rights through peaceful and non-violent means.
Through their actions, they help uncover human rights violations, bring them to public attention and call for fair and just solutions. They can also work to empower individuals and communities to understand and claim their fundamental rights.
Because of their actions, human rights defenders face a range of challenges in the countries in which they work. These can include harassment, detention, death threats and torture. People can be silenced by restrictive laws. Some have been disappeared or murdered.
In 1998, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
The document sets out the rights and protections necessary to support the vital work of human rights defenders. It also encourages governments to establish independent national human rights institutions (NHRIs) to promote and protect human rights in their country.
Role of the APF
NHRIs can play a key role in supporting the work of human rights defenders.
They can investigate the issues and violations that they raise, as well as any alleged ill-treatment of human rights defenders.
The APF runs a training program to help staff of NHRIs to understand the role and functions of human rights defenders and the international standards and mechanisms that protect their rights.
The program, developed in partnership with the International Service for Human Rights, also examines the practical steps that NHRIs can take to more effectively support and protect human rights defenders.
The APF Conference, held every two years in conjunction with our annual meeting, provides an opportunity for APF members, non-government organisations and others to discuss the regional situation of human rights defenders and propose recommendations.
More information
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
