Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders

Date: 
Thursday, December 20, 2012
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
General Women, Peace and Security
Human Rights
United Nation Theme: 
UN Reports & Resolutions

The present report is the third submitted to the Human Rights Council by the present Special Rapporteur, and the eleventh thematic report submitted by the mandate-holder on human rights defenders since 2000. The report is submitted pursuant to Council resolution 7/8.

The mandate has consistently addressed the specificities of the situation of women human rights defenders and the particular challenges they face. But in the present report, the Special Rapporteur focuses, for the first time, explicitly and solely on the situation of women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues.

The report reviews the international legal framework as well as the approach of the mandate to the particular situation of women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues. The report further examines the risks that these defenders face, identifies the nature of the activities of the reported victims, the alleged violations and the perpetrators involved. The report also looks at the existing protection mechanisms and the strategies that these defenders use to keep themselves safe.

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Special Rapporteur Report on the situation of human rights defenders