QUICK FACTS ABOUT NHRIS AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

According to a NHRI survey, fewer respondents (62.2%) carried out activities aimed at protecting human rights defenders. This percentage was highest in the Asia Pacific, with 11 respondents (91.6%), followed by 7 in the Americas (77.7%), 11 in Africa (57.8%) and 9 in Europe (42.8%).

Only two thirds had dedicated activities for human rights defenders. When establishing and strengthening capacity in this area, NHRIs should be considering developing their work through the following types of activities:

• receiving and handling complaints from human rights defenders;
• programs to sensitize the general public and particular target groups (state institutions, lawyers, etc.) on the importance of respecting the work of human rights defenders;
• advocating on behalf of human rights defenders at risk, for example through protection programs or by submitting complaints to regional bodies, an appointed Rapporteur on freedom of expression;
• establishing a focal point or unit within the NHRI for human rights defenders; and
• supporting the work of human rights defenders, for example through sharing best practices and holding training workshops, presenting awards (e.g. two NHRIs from Africa, two from the Americas, one from the Asia Paci"c region and two from Europe).

Source: OHCHR, Survey of National Human Rights Institutions: Report on the Findings and Recommendations of a Questionnaire Addressed to NHRIs Worldwide. 2009. www.nhri.net