Resolution on Human Rights Defenders

UN Human Rights Council. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Resolution on Human Rights Defenders

Norway has been leading the work on a new UN-resolution on human rights defenders wich was passed this week.

- This resolution is extremely important and we want to congratulate the Norwegian government with its work. All over the world we see human rights defenders and their families are threatened, stigmatised, subjected to violence, or even killed for their work, says Andrew Preston, director of the Norwegian Forum for development and environment.

Human rights are seeing set-backs in many areas of the world today, and there where over 30 counterproposals that tried to weaken the text.

- I am pleased we have succeeded in gaining broad support for the UN resolution on the protection of human rights defenders. It is vital that human rights defenders are able to carry out their work safely and without risk of reprisals if we are to build sustainable, open and democratic societies, says Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

The resolution urges all UN member states to pass laws, make policies and programs that give better protection and guartees safety for Human rights defenders. It also encourage member states to investigate treaths and attacs on people who are engaged in humanrights work and to avoid impunity.

- Not long ago we saw another tragic example on how important it is to protect Human rights defenders when the famous environment activist Berta Caceres was killed for her engagement in rights in Honduras, says Preston.

More on Human rights defenders (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)