US urged to boost support for human rights defenders globally on key anniversary

(WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 17) – Human rights defenders (HRDs), government dignitaries, an independent United Nations expert, and human rights organizations today urged the US government and the international community to continue to stand with and increase support and protection for human rights defenders worldwide.
Several
leading human rights organizations also hosted a delegation of HRDs
from Colombia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Ukraine in
Washington, D.C., for an event on Capitol Hill to mark the 25th
anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998.
“The
US played a key role ahead of the adoption of the UN Declaration, which
was an important step towards better recognition and protection of
human rights defenders around the world who are at risk for their
peaceful
work. But a quarter of a century on, much work remains to be done,” said
Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights
Defenders.
“Human
rights defenders around the world face threats, smear campaigns,
judicial harassment, violence, and even death. In some countries, the
risk has only grown – hundreds are killed each year.”
Since the adoption of the UN Declaration on HRDs in 1998 until 2021, an estimated 4,814 human rights defenders have been killed worldwide. In 2022 alone, at least 401 HRDs were killed globally, based on statistics by the HRD Memorial, as published by Front Line Defenders.
The
US and other democratic governments must increase efforts to stand with
HRDs and speak out against such attacks regardless of where they take
place, the organizations said.
Celebrating human rights defenders
HRDs put their lives on the line every day to defend and advance the ability of all people to access their fundamental human rights, and this critically important role was formally recognized with the adoption of the UN Declaration. The HRDs visiting Washington, D.C., exemplify this hardship, and the urgency of doing more to protect them and their vital work in defense of human rights.
“I had to leave my home and livelihood in northern Nigeria because of fears for my life. I received death threats because I left my religion and criticized its contributions to child marriage, abuse of women, and restrictions on women’s growth," said Mariam Oyiza Alliyu, Founder and Executive Director, Learning Through Skills Acquisition Initiative, Nigeria.
A
two-part event in Washington, D.C., celebrated the achievements of HRDs
over the last 25 years by featuring courageous human rights defenders
and high-level speakers from the US State Department, USAID, the US
Congress, the European Union, the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights
Defenders, and the diplomatic community.
The event was organized
by a coalition of international human rights organizations, including:
Amnesty International USA, American Bar Association Center for Human
Rights, Freedom House, Freedom Now, Front Line Defenders, International
Center for Not-For-Profit Law, International Federation for Human Rights
(FIDH), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), Martin Ennals
Foundation, Peace Brigades International, PEN America, Robert F. Kennedy
Human
Rights, and World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). They emphasized
the role governments, multilateral institutions, and international
organizations play in supporting and elevating the work of HRDs.
The
visiting HRDs include: Astrid Torres, Corporación Jurídica Libertad,
Colombia; Mariam Oyiza Alliyu, Founder and Executive Director, Learning
Through Skills Acquisition Initiative, Nigeria; Lina Al-Hathloul, ALQST,
Saudi Arabia; Bussarin Panaeh, iLaw, Thailand; and Maryna Slobodianiuk,
Truth Hounds, Ukraine.
Legislation to protect HRDs
The
groups called on US lawmakers to introduce and pass bills in both the
House and Senate to protect human rights defenders. An example would be
legislation creating a limited, targeted visa program to offer HRDs at
risk a way out of life-threatening situations of persecution and
violence.
The US and other governments should also shore up emergency financial assistance to HRDs on the front lines, including through existing initiatives like the Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund. Such initiatives allow HRDs and civil society organizations at risk to receive timely and tailored assistance that meets needs like relocation, medical treatment, psychosocial support, security trainings, and more.
The
Biden administration must also do more to engage with HRDs, including
by ensuring its embassies and consulates meet regularly with HRDs
in-country, providing emergency assistance to frontline HRDs at risk,
observing trials, publicly and privately condemning attacks against
HRDs, denouncing the unjust detention of human rights defenders, and
advocating for their release worldwide. The State Department has taken
important steps in this direction with its Guidelines for U.S. Diplomatic Mission Support to Civil Society and
Human Rights Defenders but these guidelines need to be strengthened and mainstreamed at every US mission.
“Communities across the US have a long history of hosting and supporting human rights defenders fleeing from persecution overseas. There are key steps Congress and the administration can take to advance protections of human rights defenders globally,” said Mary Lawlor.
“Protecting
and supporting human rights defenders – who are often the first line of
defense against waves of persecution and authoritarianism – is crucial
to living up to the spirit of the UN Declaration.”
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
At Front Line Defenders, Conor Fortune: cfortune@frontlinedefenders.org or +353 (0)85 802 0895
At Freedom House, Maryam Iftikhar: press@freedomhouse.org or (202) 747-7064.
At FIDH, Maxime Duriez: mduriez@fidh.org or +33 6 48 05 91 57
At OMCT, Claire-Marie Germain: cmg@omct.org