Furthermore, strong and Independent national human rights institutions are considered as important actors in an enabling environment for human rights defenders

Tuesday 5 March 2019 9.15-12.00 Thematic Session

Session Title: The Role of National Human Rights Institutions: Strengthening Structural Responses to Violations against Human Rights Defenders

Organiser: Danish Institute for Human Rights Background

Although the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018, human rights defenders around the world continue to face increasing and significant threats. According to the UN, at least 1019 human rights defenders were killed in the last 3 years in 61 countries.¹ This figure remains an underestimation of the threats they face, as it does not include the increasing legislative and administrative limitations to their work, the stigmatization and attacks against their dignity, and a range of other forms of harassment they face.

National human rights institutions (NHRIs) have been entrusted with a mandate to promote and protect human rights in their countries, including protecting the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders when under threat. Furthermore, strong and Independent national human rights institutions are considered as important actors in an enabling environment for human rights defenders. According to their specific mandates, NHRIs monitor human rights abuses and violations against HRDs and receive and address their complaints; conduct their own investigations when repeated patterns of discrimination and abuse point towards structural problems that need to be addressed; and in general, promote and protect human rights through dialogue with duty bearers on aligning laws, policies, programmes and practices with human rights standards. NHRIs can, and are increasingly, using the 2030 Agenda as a platform for bringing human rights defenders to the table when sustainable development measures are being discussed and using SDG 16 as leverage for promoting an enabling environment for human rights defenders.

But how have national human rights institutions engaged and used their mandates for effective national responses? How can the 2030 Agenda’s Follow-up and Review processes become an effective platform to monitor and promote the rights of human rights defenders? Can national human rights institutions work more with other actors, including human rights defenders themselves, to secure structural responses to repeated violations and abuse? How can regional and international human rights systems be used and strengthened in this regard?

Outcomes of the Session

▪ Identify ways, including new ways, in which NHRIs can strengthen structural responses to violations faced by HRDs

▪ Identify ways in which regional and international systems can be strategically used for furthering HRD protection, and promoting enabling environments for their work

▪ Identify ways to increase collaboration between NHRHs, HRDs and other actors for improved responses to threat

1 E/2018/64, par. 131

AGENDA

9:15-10:15 Panel Discussion

Kristine Yigen, Team Leader, Danish Institute for Human Rights: The opportunities and dilemma for NHRIs when working with HRDs.

Clement N. Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association:

Using international and regional standards for national protection of HRDs.

Roueida El Hage, Regional Director, OHCHR, Lebanon. The role of NHRIs and the international community in securing structural responses for HRD protection in the Middle East:

Lorenzo Urbinati, Programme Officer, Forum Asia: The role of NHRIs from an HRD perspective.

Plenary Discussion and Debate

10.30-10.45 Break

10:45-12.00 Best Practices, New Actions, and Working Together - Workshops Workshop 1 Strengthening National Institutional Responses for HRD Protection

Facilitator: Kristine Yigen Rapporteur: Carol Rask

Panelists:

Commissioner Gwen Gana, Philippines;

Human Rights Ombudsman, Augusto Jordan Rodas, Guatemala

Clement N. Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association

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Workshop 2 Using the SDG Framework as leverage for promoting human rights Facilitator; Sille Sidsen, DIHR; Rapporteur: Steven Jensen

Panelists:

Petronella Mukaindo, Senior Human Rights Officer, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights;

Rouieda El Hage, Regional Director, OHCHR;

Lorenzo Urbinati, Programme Officer, Forum Asia