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International Advocacy & Resources

Front Line is working to ensure that the principles and standards set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders are known, respected and adhered to worldwide. The Declaration, which was adopted by consensus at the UN General Assembly, makes clear that all Governments have a duty to protect, promote and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It states in article 1 that "'Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels.'"

International Advocacy

Front Line engages in advocacy for strengthened protection of human rights defenders with individual Governments and with regional and international organizations.

Front Line seeks to promote the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the work of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. We provide practical support to the work of the office of the Special Rapporteur through funding an internship program in Geneva. Front Line also seeks to facilitate access to the UN human rights mechanisms for human rights defenders.

Front Line has launched an internship at the African Commission on Human and People's Rights in Banjul which is intended to support the work of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa.

In 2003, Front Line lobbied the Irish government to get them to agree to prioritise the protection of human rights defenders during their Presidency of the European Union in 2004. Front Line was commissioned by the Irish Government to draft a consultation paper that fed into the process which led to the adoption of the EU Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.

Front Line has established a European Union office in Brussels to advocate for the protection of human rights defenders and the implementation of the EU Guidelines with the different EU institutions and with individual European Governments. This has enabled Front Line to develop relationships with key decision makers and to engage them in action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk. Front Line lobbying has resulted in concrete action and statements by the European Union towards countries where human rights defenders are threatened.

The goal of Front Line advocacy is to encourage EU, national and intergovernmental decision makers to take quick action, so as to create a safe space for human rights defenders to carry out their legitimate non-violent work for others.

Human rights defenders tell us:

  • Rapid international action can in many cases make a real difference to the security of human rights defenders at risk. In some cases it can also be counter-productive and Front Line is always led by the views of human rights defenders or their family members about what could be most effective.
  • Even where international action does not result in the release of detained human rights defenders it can often result in better treatment.
  • Torture and ill-treatment are most likely to occur in the first days of detention.
  • International action gives moral support and solidarity to human rights defenders and encourages human rights defenders to continue their work.
  • International reactions have a preventive effect - i.e. the authorities are often less likely to repeat the repressive measures if they know they are likely to provoke a reaction.
  • In a limited number of cases of “disappearances”, rapid international reaction has led to the individual being “reappeared”.
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