Legal recognition and protection of HRDs

Legal protection of human rights defenders

The legal recognition and protection of human rights defenders is crucial to ensuring that they can work in a safe, supportive environment and be free from attacks, reprisals and unreasonable restrictions.

However, there is a significant implementation gap between the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and national laws and policies to support and protect defenders. There is also a proliferation of national laws which restrict and criminalise defenders' work.


