politically-motivated investigations and prosecutions or to the otherwise abusive application of laws and regulations for their human rights work. 28. Effective oversight mechanisms should be put in place to investigate possible mis- conduct by law enforcement and judicial officials concerning the judicial harassment of human rights defenders. In addition, any structural shortcomings that may give rise to the abuse of power or corruption within the judiciary and law enforcement should be rigorously addressed. 29. Law enforcement officers, military personnel, public servants and other state employees who speak out against human rights violations or are engaged in other activities in defence of human rights should be protected from intimidation and harassment, disciplinary or other proceedings. In particular, the justice and discipline systems should not impose disproportionate limitations on members of the armed forces that would effectively deprive them of the right to defend human rights. Limitations on the rights of members of intelligence services and other security-sector officials have to meet the strict requirements of necessity and proportionality. 30. States should also protect, in law and practice, human rights defenders who are engaged in litigation from retaliatory charges, arbitrary prosecutions and other legal actions in response to cases that they file. Furthermore, their physical and personal integrity must be fully protected within and outside of the courtroom. Lawyers engaged in human rights work should not face intimidation or reprisals, such as the threat of disbarment, for their defence of human rights or of other human rights defenders. Arbitrary detention and treatment in detention 31. States should not subject human rights defenders to arbitrary deprivation of lib- erty because of their engagement in human rights activity. Any form of deprivation of liberty must be based on and in accordance with procedures established by law, subject to the possibility for the detained to challenge the legality of detention before a competent court and otherwise comply with international human rights standards. 32. Human rights defenders arbitrarily detained should be immediately released. In this context, states should fully comply with decisions and opinions issued by international human rights mechanisms. 33. Human rights defenders should not be held in temporary or administrative deten- tion for the purpose of intimidation or coercion or to prevent them from carrying out their human rights work. 34. Human rights defenders deprived of their liberty must always be treated with respect for and in accordance with international standards, without discrimination of any kind. Human rights defenders should not be singled out for selective 6 Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders