Latest developments

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders for the 13th session of the Human Rights Council
(advance edited version)

Latest press releases

UN EXPERTS: PRESIDENT CHÁVEZ DEALS NEW BLOW TO INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGES AND LAWYERS IN VENEZUELA
16 December 2009
[Spanish version]

"ARE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS STILL SAFE IN THE GAMBIA?" QUESTION HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS
9 October 2009

HONDURAS: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS UNDER THREAT?
2 October 2009
[Spanish version]

STATEMENT OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS,
MARGARET SEKAGGYA, AS SHE CONCLUDES HER VISIT TO COLOMBIA
18 September 2009
[Spanish version]

More press releases...

Introduction

The mandate on the situation of human rights defenders was established in 2000 by the Commission on Human Rights (as a Special Procedure) to support implementation of the 1998 Declaration on human rights defenders.

In March 2008, the Human Rights Council, with resolution 7/8 decided to continue the mandate on human rights defenders for a period of three years. The Human Rights Council appointed Mrs Margaret Sekaggya as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. Mrs Sekaggya is a magistrate from Uganda and was the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission from 1996 to 2008. She is also a member of the United Nations High Level Task Force on the Implementation of the Right to Development. She is conversant with the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Union, the African Peer Review Mechanism and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. She has also participated in the drawing up of a Bill of Rights for the East African Community. She further has experience on the human rights situation concerning groups like people affected and infected with HIV/AIDS, the disabled, children, women and the elderly.

Mrs Sekaggya succeeds Ms Hina Jilani as Special Representative of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights defenders (2000-2008).

 

Fact Sheet 29 - Human Rights Defenders: Protecting the Right to Defend Human Rights

Contact

To	Email	Fax
- To submit an allegation of a violation against a human rights defender:	urgent-action@ohchr.org	+41(0) 22.917.90.06
- To contact the mandate holder for other purposes:	defenders@ohchr.org	+41(0) 22.917.90.06

Mail

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders,
Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Palais Wilson
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH 1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland