The OSCE Chairman, Belgian Foreign Minister, Karel De Gucht, marked Human Rights day by calling for increased awareness of the difficulties many human rights defenders face. "Protecting those who, in civil society or within their governments, promote human rights on a daily basis must be a duty for us all," said Minister De Gucht. "All too often, human rights defenders face harassment, persecution, and even death as a result of making the very same statements that us more fortunate take for granted. This situation is, sadly, deteriorating." Read full press release [1]