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Attached is the Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders to the UN Human Rights Council 2010.

 

Excerpt: (e) 47. "Women (human rights) defenders are most likely to be subjected to certain forms of violence, especially since they frequently work on specific issues that challenge established customs or norms and are therefore often culturally sensitive. Such gender-based violence includes verbal and sexual harassment and rape. Since January 2009, the Special Rapporteur has sent 86 communications concerning the situation of women defenders.".......

 

 

 

UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders - Mandate:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/mandate.htm

 

UN Independent Experts Articulate a Vision for Women's Rights: Post Beijing + 15 -

included Ms. Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders - http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9877&LangID=E

________________________________________________________________

 

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/visits.htm

Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders - Country Visits
Invitations to Visit

The Special Rapporteur is mandated to conduct official visits to States. Some States have issued standing invitations to all Special Procedures mandates of the Human Rights Council, while for others the Special Rapporteur writes to the Government requesting that an invitation be extended.

Visits requested by the Special Rapporteur:

Armenia (2008)
China (2008)
Democratic Republic of Congo (2008)
Egypt (2008)
Honduras (2008)
Ireland (2008)
Nepal (2008)
Pakistan (2008)
The Philippines (2008)
Sri Lanka (2008)
Syria (2008)
Tunisia (2008)
Venezuela (2008)
Zimbabwe (2008)

The purpose of country visits

These visits provide an opportunity to examine in detail the role and situation of human rights defenders in the country, to identify any problems and to make recommendations for how these could be resolved. By the nature of the mandate, the Special Rapporteur is required to look critically at the situation of defenders in a country. Nevertheless, the visits are intended to provide an independent and impartial assessment which will then be of use to all actors in strengthening both the contribution of defenders to human rights and also their protection.

How long are the visits?

Visits usually take place over a period of between 5 and 10 days, with the duration often depending upon the size of the country or the complexity of the issues to be addressed.

What happens during a country visit?

The Special Rapporteur most often meets with the heads of State and of Government, with relevant Government ministers, representatives of independent human rights institutions, UN agencies, the media, and human rights defenders themselves, among others. The Special Rapporteur will usually begin a visit in the capital city and then continue with visits to other cities or towns, as well as to rural areas of particular relevance to the role and situation of human rights defenders.

What sort of issues are discussed during a visit?

Some of the issues that are raised during such visits include: violations committed against defenders; the strength of the ‘environment’ within which defenders conduct their human rights work, including freedoms of association and expression, access to funding, and the compatibility of domestic legislation with the Declaration on human rights defenders; and the efforts undertaken by the authorities to protect defenders from violations.

What happens after the visit?

A few months after each country visit, the Special Rapporteur releases a report indicating, among other things, the main concerns and recommendations for action. The report is presented formally by the Special Rapporteur at the Human Rights Council

Country visits reports

To access the reports in all the official languages, please copy the relevant document code, click on “Categorized Search”, and paste it in the “Symbol Number” Field or alternatively search under "Documents"

CHR/HRC session

Visit

Document Symbol

2010
13th session HRC

Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(June 2009)

Mission to Colombia (September 2009)

A/HRC/13/22/Add.2


A/HRC/13/22/Add.3

2009
10th session HRC

Mission to Togo (July 2008)

A/HRC/10/12/Add.2

Mission to Guatemala (February 2008)

A/HRC/10/12/Add.3

2008
7th session HRC

Follow up mission to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (September 2007)

A/HRC/7/28/Add.4

Mission to the Republic of Serbia, including Kosovo (September 2007)

A/HRC/7/28/Add.3

Mission to Indonesia (June 2007)

A/HRC/7/28/Add.2

2007
4th session HRC

Mission to Brazil (December 2005)

A/HRC/4/37/Add.2

2006
62nd session CHR

Mission to Brazil(December 2005)

E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.4

Mission to Israel and the OPT (October 2005)

E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.3

Mission to Nigeria(May 2005)

E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.2

2005
61st session CHR

Mission to Angola(August 2004)

E/CN.4/2005/101/Add.2

Mission to Turkey(October 2004)

E/CN.4/2005/101/Add.3

2004
60 th session CHR

Mission to Thailand (May 2003)

E/CN.4/2004/94/Add.1

2003
59 th session CHR

Mission to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (January 2003)

E/CN.4/2004/94/Add.2

2002
58 th session CHR

Mission to Guatemala (May 2002)

E/CN.4/2003/104/Add.2

2001
57 th session CHR

Mission to Kyrgyzstan (August 2001)

E/CN.4/2002/106/Add.1

2000
56 th session CHR

Mission to Colombia (October 2001)

E/CN.4/2002/106/Add.2

 





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