Who is responsible for protecting human rights defenders?

The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders stresses that the state is primarily responsible for protecting human rights defenders. It also acknowledges “the valuable work of individuals, groups and associations in contributing to the effective elimination of all violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms” and “the relationship between international peace and security and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”.

But according to Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the UN General Secretary on Human Rights Defenders, “exposing human rights violations and seeking redress for them is largely dependent on the degree of security enjoyed by human rights defenders” . A look at any report on human rights defenders throughout the world reveals stories of torture, disappearances, killings, threats, robbery, break-ins to offices, harassment, illegal detentions, being subjected to intelligence and surveillance activities, etc. Unfortunately, this is the rule and not the exception for defenders.