Purpose: To inform the Special Rapporteur’s report on human rights defenders working in remote and rural areas, to be presented to the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in March 2025.
Background
In line with the Human Rights Council’s request to study trends, developments and challenges concerning human rights defenders (A/HRC/RES/16/5), the Special Rapporteur will focus her next thematic report on the situation of human rights defenders who, because of their geographic isolation, experience particular difficulties.
It is widely recognized that human rights defenders working in remote or isolated areas are vital to the realization and enjoyment of human rights. Such areas can frequently only count on a weak presence of the state, are often neglected by human rights monitoring agencies, have fewer civil society support structures in place and receive less media attention. Human rights defenders in these areas also play a key role in ensuring the functioning and legitimacy of public institutions, processes and the rule of law.
An environment in which human rights defenders can work safely is one of the pre-conditions for a healthy democracy. The Special Rapporteur has received continuous and increasing reports of the difficulties experienced by human rights defenders working in remote or isolated areas in accessing support and resources which should be readily available to them, threatening their work and their safety. They are also frequently excluded from meaningful consultation in matters which have a significant impact on their lives and livelihoods.
She notes with concern that human rights defenders who work out of the national or international spotlight are often attacked, threatened, sidelined or undermined for their work peacefully promoting the rights of others. These attacks are invariably under-reported. Yet despite very challenging circumstances, some have achieved notable success in their work.
The Special Rapporteur has identified remote and isolated defenders as a priority in her work, as outlined in her 2020 report the General Assembly (A/75/165), including through communications sent to governments and other actors, and meetings and consultations with human rights defenders in remote and isolated spaces.
READ FULL CALL HERE.
