Human rights defender

Human rights (including human rights activists, or the English " Human Rights Defenders" also human rights defenders ) are people who are committed to non-violent human rights and fundamental rights.

Situation

Especially in Colombia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Iran, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, China and Russia human rights defenders massive persecution are exposed to the most severe abuse, murder and disappearances. For female human rights defenders and those who belong to disadvantaged groups such as indigenous peoples or rural grassroots groups, the situation is often particularly difficult.

Violent attacks on human rights defenders are usually committed by representatives of the State or commissioned, as they learn through their activities criticism and resistance. This is particularly true in countries that lead the so-called dirty war against domestic opponents. But even in so-called failed states their situation is often threatened.

Campaigns

The United Nations decided to protect human rights defenders, the Resolution " Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ". In Europe now already two national parliaments, the Belgian and German, have adopted resolutions. Governments will call therein for enhanced efforts for human rights defenders in their foreign and development policy.

The German Bundestag has thus an initiative to protect parliamentarians joined the in distress because of their commitment to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

On 8 June 2004 the EU Council of Ministers has adopted with Ireland's President of the Council of the European Union a " Guideline for the protection of human rights defenders ", aimed in particular at the diplomatic missions of the EU in third countries.