often encounter prejudice and additional complexities in protection due to their gender identities. In several countries, environmental and indigenous HRDs are particularly vulnerable to being targeted, including by private sector actors because of their work defending land and environmental rights. Additionally, disability rights HRDs commonly face discrimination and exclusion, highlighting the need for targeted support and inclusive initiatives. As well as human rights defenders themselves, their families and communities may face risks due to the work of HRDs. Resources 5 • APF (2019): NHRI Guidelines for Mainstreaming the Human Rights of Women and Girls into Our Everyday Work • Protection International: Collective Protection of Human Rights Defenders - A collective approach to the right to defend human rights • UNDP & APTN (2017): Legal Gender Recognition: A Multi-Country Legal and Policy Review in Asia • Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law, and Development (2007): Claiming Rights, Claiming Justice: A Guidebook on Women Human Rights Defenders • Destination Justice (2018): Revealing the Rainbow: The Human Rights Situation of LGBTIQ HRDs in Southeast Asia • APF (2019): Human Rights and Disability: A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions • UNEP (2018): Promoting Greater Protection for Environmental Defenders Policy Who perpetrates violations against HRDs? Violations against HRDs are often carried out by powerful State agents, such as the police, military, judiciary or other government actors, who act to protect themselves or the State from criticism. Incidents targeting HRDs are also perpetrated by non-State actors, including private sector actors, members of criminal groups, armed groups, and extremist groups such as religious fundamentalist or ultranationalist groups, and even by members of local communities who feel threatened by changes HRDs seek to implement. Their links to the state may be direct, indirect or absent altogether. In Asia Pacific, government agents are the most common perpetrators of violations against HRDs. However, companies – often agri-businesses and multinational companies conducting business across borders – are also frequent participants in violations against HRDs in the region. In some countries, non-state actors are responsible for the majority of attacks against HRDs. According to FORUM-ASIA, in Afghanistan, the Taliban was responsible for all attacks on HRDs documented in 2021 and 2022 where the perpetrator was known.2 The primary obligation to protect human rights defenders lies with states. But non-state actors, including businesses, are also encouraged to have human rights policies setting out how they will respect human rights and HRDs. Resource • The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, recognise “the role of business enterprises as specialized organs of society performing specialized functions, required to comply with all applicable laws and to respect human rights.” 2. FORUM-ASIA, Defending in Numbers 2021-2022. 8 Relocation and Respite Toolkit