functioning of any protection programme. Where human rights defenders face
major threats, dedicated and adequately resourced units of specifically trained law
enforcement officers should be set up as a measure to strengthen the overall protection framework and ensure a rapid response and the swift provision of physical
security and other support.
89. Given the specific risks and security needs of women human rights defenders, the
UNGA has urged states to develop and put in place comprehensive, sustainable
and gender-sensitive public policies and programmes that support women human
rights defenders.127 Such policies and programmes should be adequately resourced
so as to provide immediate and long-term protection, while steps should be taken
to ensure that these resources can be mobilized flexibly and swiftly in order to
guarantee effective protection.128 Public protection policies and programmes
should also take into account the specific challenges and needs of other categories
of human rights defenders, including youth and children human rights defenders,
as well as at-risk human rights defenders, for example, those combating intolerance and xenophobia.
90. In addition to providing physical protection and/or emergency relocation, pro-
tection policies and programmes should facilitate, wherever necessary, access to
support services for human rights defenders, including emergency relief, shelters,
psychological support and rehabilitation for victims of human rights violations, as
well as counselling, legal advice and assistance.129 Participating States should designate sufficient funds for this purpose and, where necessary, should seek international assistance to do so. They should also support civil society organizations and
other actors who provide such services.
91. Furthermore, participating States should support at-risk human rights defend-
ers and their organizations in building their own capacity so that they may, for
example, take steps towards their own safety, manage risks and security and build
solidarity, rapid response and support networks among themselves at the local
regional, national and international levels.
127 See UNGA Resolution A/RES/68/181, para. 19.
128 Ibid.
129 The UNGA Resolution on women human rights defenders (A/RES/68/181) calls on States “to adopt and
implement policies and programmes that provide women human rights defenders with access to effective remedies, including by ensuring: […] (b) adequate access to comprehensive support services for those women human rights defenders who experience violence, including shelters, psychological services, counselling, medical
care and legal and social service”, para. 21.
Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
53
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents