This post is a summary of the report published with the title above in July 2012 at https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/report-delivering-on-human-rights-defenders-2012.pdf
On a daily basis, around the world, Human Rights Defenders monitor the state of human rights and fundamental freedoms and strive to address their violations. They fight for 'freedom', 'justice', and 'accountability' even in, especially in, countries and regions of the world where these words are at risk of losing their very meaning, because of laws, practices or actions of governments, criminal organizations, and abuses. For their courageous and visionary work, and despite international standards to protect them, Human Rights Defenders are too often subjected to threats, to severe persecution, to arbitrary arrest and detention. They 'disappear', are tortured, and even killed because of their work. And systematic smearing of their reputations are tools used to intimidate them into submission, to discredit them, and to silence them. Standing by Human Rights Defenders is a longstanding commitment for the European Union. ( EU ). Through EU and delegations on the ground, we monitor their trials, strive to release them when unfairly detained, sensitize local communities and wider public to their work, consult with them on appropriate EU action for improving the human rights situation in specific countries, support their activities, and strive to protect and shelter them against harm. We also encourage governments to engage with Human Rights Defenders and with Civil Society Organizations at large. We believe this is a prerequisite for enhancing the promotion of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and democracy. The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) of 1998 states that all individuals, groups and organs of society have the right and the responsibility to promote and protect universally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms. Yet, in many parts of the world HRDs are too regularly defamed, falsely accused, unfairly detained, threatened with death, beaten, tortured. Their families are harassed and their offices raided. They are socially ostracised and are fired from their jobs. The EU is committed to supporting those who strive to make all human rights recognised, fulfilled and respected, sometimes at the risk of their own lives and the wellbeing of their families. The personal and professional security of HRDs is the first and foremost priority of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). http://www.eidhr.eu/ Making sure that activists are aware of the risks they face when monitoring oppression and promoting human rights. Having access to timely, reliable and independent data about the human rights situation on the ground is paramount. This is particularly difficult in countries where there is a conflict, where there is a partial or complete state control of the media, where secure access to the internet is almost impossible, or where reprisals against dissidents are feared. The work of HRDs in the field also needs to be accompanied by strong advocacy and awareness-raising action on the international scene. The coordination between EIDHR partners, their actions and their capacities and initiatives and the European Parliament on the political level, are paramount to ensuring that HRDs all over the world succeed in making their societies fairer, more democratic and fully endowed with fundamental rights and freedoms. Since 2007, The EIDHR has complemented its geographical coverage with additional support dedicated to targeted groups of HRDs. Below are some examples of various specialised groups of defenders. Journalists, bloggers and media workers are often targeted because of their reports on human rights violations or because they witness human rights violations. Due to the impact they can have on society by disseminating information about human rights, attempts to silence them involve killings, arrests, torture, harassment, or acuse of legal framework such as censorship. Another group of HRDs at particular risk are lawyers, who are regularly subjected to threats. There are cases where the simple appointment of a lawyer to a human rights activist has led to the imprisonment of the lawyer. Defenders of the human rights of women and female defenders who defend any human rights face particular risk because of the intersection between their advocacy and their gender. They are often at risk of violence, prejudice and exclusion because they are challenging socio-cultural stereotypes about the role and status of women. Although economic, social and cultural rights are given the same emphasis in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, legal mechanisms for claiming redress for violations are severely underdeveloped in comparison. An EIDHR project addresses violations of international labour standards and textile workers' human rights, particularly freedom of association and the right to organise and bargain collectively. Also, helps factory workers to be fairly treated and decently paid. It sounds the alarm when workers' rights are violated, ranging from poor working conditions, low or no wages, harassment. violence, suspension, dismissals and some cases death. The project provide immediate support for urgent cases. It helps to build the capacity of defenders of garment workers' rights in producer countries and raise awareness in developed countries. An estimated 500 000 undocumented migrants cross Mexico every year in their attempt to reach USA. They face arrest, extortion, kidnap and murder by criminal organizations or even the police along the way. Their defenders are faced with progressive criminalisation and are victims of harassment and violence simply for providing assistance to migrants. Gender identity and sexual orientation are used as justifications for serious human rights violations around the world. LGBT people are victims of persecution, discrimination and gross ill-treatment or violence. HRDs protecting those who are or who are themselves perceived to be LGBT are at particular risk. Many countries contain ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities whose human rights are often abused due to their perceived threat to majority groups. Discriminatory actions are often justified by reference to 'national security' or populist discourse stressing the preservation of languages and cultures. Generally, these minorities are poorer and face discrimination. Indigenous people are often the victims of historical exclusion or forced assimilation, many are victims of human rights violations, discrimination, and land grabbing. Their defenders are often exposed and become victims of violations themselves. An EU project support the Asia indigenous People Pact (AIPP) in setting up a mechanism to support Indigenous People Human Rights Defenders at risk. The fund created responds to urgent needs of IHRDs and their families, alleviating their suffering and mitigating the consequences of the violation of their rights. The project also promote indigenous people' rights through advocacy and lobbying, supported by increased documentation, capacity and alliance building. HRDs working on land and environmental issues are highly exposed to attacks on their physical integrity, often by non-state agressors, and many are killed because of their work on the environment impact of extractive industries and development projects, or the right to land of indigenous.
