Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders

A/HRC/RES/7/8View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Human Rights Council, published in 2008.

What other versions does this mandate have?

5 versions · 2008–2020

This is an older version — the most recent is A/HRC/RES/43/16

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2020	A/HRC/RES/43/16	Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders	837	97%Compare
2017	A/HRC/RES/34/5	Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders	813	95%Compare
2014	A/HRC/RES/25/18	Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders	816	48%Compare
2011	A/HRC/RES/16/5	Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders	621	91%Compare
2008	A/HRC/RES/7/8	Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders	632	–

What subjects does this mandate have?

8 subjects

Coordination Within UN System Declarations Fact-Finding Missions Gender Mainstreaming Human Rights Activists Special Rapporteurs Special Representatives Written Communications

What’s in this document?

13 operative paragraphs

Takes note with appreciation of the work conducted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders;

Decides to extend the special procedure on the situation of human rights defenders as a Special Rapporteur for a period of three years, and requests the Special Rapporteur:

To promote the effective and comprehensive implementation of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms through cooperation and constructive dialogue and engagement with Governments, relevant stakeholders and other interested actors;

To study, in a comprehensive manner, trends, developments and challenges in relation to the exercise of the right of anyone, acting individually or in association with others, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms;

To recommend concrete and effective strategies to better protect human rights defenders through the adoption of a universal approach, and to follow up on these recommendations;

To seek, receive, examine and respond to information on the situation and the rights of anyone, acting individually or in association with others, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms;

To integrate a gender perspective throughout the work of his/her mandate, paying particular attention to the situation of women human rights defenders;

To work in close coordination with other relevant United Nations bodies, offices, departments and specialized agencies, both at Headquarters and at the country level, and in particular with other special procedures of the Council;

To report regularly to the Council and the General Assembly;

Urges all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his/her tasks, to provide all information and to respond to communications transmitted to them by the Special Rapporteur without undue delay;

Calls upon Governments to give serious consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur with respect to the follow-up to and implementation of his/her recommendations so as to enable him/her to fulfil his/her mandate even more effectively;

Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all the assistance to the Special Rapporteur necessary for the effective fulfilment of his/her mandate;

Decides to continue consideration of this issue in accordance with its annual programme of work.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

Table of contents