78. 2015 年，各区域的国家在言论、结社与和平集会的各项自由方面都经受了挑战，特别是大选之前、打击恐怖主义的背景下和面临社会与政治抗议时。人权维护者及家属、环保工作者、反腐败活动人士、记者和反对派领导或支持者在很多情况下受到限制。特别令人关切的是，寻求同联合国在人权领域开展合作的人士持续遭到报复。高级专员反复提请关注人权维护者和记者遭受的攻击，人权高专办就如何改善保护的问题为危地马拉、南苏丹和突尼斯当局提供了技术顾问。哥伦比亚检察长办公室借助人权高专办的顾问通过了暴力侵害人权维护者调查工作战略规划。人权高专办协助了萨尔瓦多和墨西哥强化受到攻击或攻击威胁的人权维护者的保护机制。
78. In 2015, countries in all regions experienced challenges to the rights to freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, particularly ahead of elections, in the context of counter-terrorism and in the face of social and political protests. In many instances, restrictions were placed on human rights defenders and their families, environmentalists, anti-corruption activists, journalists and opposition leaders or supporters. The persistent reprisals against those seeking to cooperate with the United Nations in the field of human rights were of particular concern. The High Commissioner repeatedly drew attention to attacks on human rights defenders and journalists and OHCHR provided technical advice to authorities on how to enhance protection, including in Guatemala, South Sudan and Tunisia. In Colombia, further to OHCHR advice, the Attorney-General’s Office adopted a strategic plan for the investigation of violence against human rights defenders. In El Salvador and Mexico, OHCHR contributed to strengthening the protection mechanism for human rights defenders under attack and under the threat of attack.