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Summary: The Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders today presented her report to the Human Rights Council, followed by an interactive discussion with States and NGOs. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs), Margaret Sekaggya, today presented her report to the Human Rights Council.
'Trouble makers'
Sekaggya expressed particular concern about the perception of youth, in particular the image disseminated by established media outlets: "Youth student protestors are seen as trouble makers rather than groups that can contribute to constructive debate.”
She registered concerns about recent trends seen in several countries, where legislation has been passed prohibiting young people from participating in public assemblies, as well as other legislative moves, such as blocking access to the Internet.
Sekaggya also said the judiciary contributed to the persecution of youth and student HRDs.
The role of NGOs
The Special Rapporteur said NGOs have an important role to play in supporting human rights defenders, particularly youth defenders, especially through education.
States' views
Countries took their turn to comment on the report and recommendations issued by Special Rapporteur Sekaggya. There was repeated mention of the worrying trend on the criminalisation of the work of human rights defenders (HRDs), with key examples being new laws on NGO registration restricting human rights work and the increase in cases of HRDs being tried under anti-terrorism laws.
According to a number of countries, including Bangladesh and Belarus, human rights defenders should be accountable under national law for their actions like any other citizen, which the Special Rapporteur did not challenge, but additionally highlighted that national laws are not always compliant with international human rights law and that HRDs are often targeted for criticising the State. In view of this, the Special Rapporteur requested States to express their views on this issue more objectively.
The delegation of Switzerland was one of only a few to recognise that HRDs are not only adults, but that young people and students are also often found taking part in peaceful demonstrations, although some countries prevent such participation outright. Accordingly, the Swiss delegation requested advice from the Special Rapporteur on HRDs on how to better protect student movements.
Despite the Sri Lanka delegation saying that the term “human rights defender” is an amorphous one - warning against those who “masquerade behind the heavy cloak of human rights” - Ms Sekaggya clarified any doubts in her concluding observations on the debate by defining a human rights defender as anyone whose work raises human rights issues or seeks to protect human rights in a peaceful manner. As such, all human rights defenders, in any capacity, should be entitled to the same protections as any other.
Side event on human rights defenders
The issue of protecting human rights defenders featured prominently in a side event organised by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR).
A journalist from Brazil spoke about the judicial and political pressure against journailsts, citing examples from various South American countries where journalists had been threatened, including in Chile where the special police target journalists. He said "the wider civil society has a role to play in pressuring govenments to protect the rights of journalists”.
More legislative protection
A short discussion focused on the existing debate on whether there is a need for a new Convention to protect journalists (an additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions) or whether existing mechanisms should be strengthened.
Private sector have obligations too!
In response to a comment by a representative from Reporters without Borders, who raised concerns about private sector companies siding with governments in the access to internet issue, as a means to keeping on their side and winning contracts, the journalist said: "We must look at the obligations of private media companies and not just States' obligations."