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An
inhabitant of a rural community who coordinates a demonstration by members of
the community against environmental degradation of their farmland by factory
waste could also be described as a human rights defender. A politician who takes
a stand against endemic corruption within a government is a human rights
defender for his or her action to promote and protect good governance and
certain rights that are threatened by such corruption. Witnesses in court cases to
prosecute the perpetrators of human rights abuses, and witnesses who provide
information to international human rights bodies or domestic courts and
tribunals to help them address violations, are also considered to be HRDs in the
context of those actions.
People all over the world strive for the realization of human rights
according to their circumstances and in their own way. The names of some HRDs
are internationally recognized, but the majority of defenders remain unknown.
Whether an individual works as a local government official, a policeman
upholding the law or an entertainer using his or her position to highlight
injustices, all of them play a role in the advancement of human rights. The key is
to look at how such people act to support human rights and, in some instances, to
see whether a “special effort” is made.
Clearly, it is impossible to catalogue the huge variety of contexts in
which HRDs are active. However, common to most defenders is a commitment
to help others, a commitment to international human rights standards, a belief in
equality and non-discrimination, persistence and, in many instances,
tremendous courage.
C.
Is a minimum standard required of HRDs?
No “qualification” is required to be a human rights defender, and the
Declaration on HRDs makes it amply clear that we can all be defenders of human
rights if we choose to be. Nevertheless, the “standard” required of a human rights
defender is a complex issue, and the Declaration clearly indicates that defenders
have rights as well responsibilities.
Accepting the universality of human rights
HRDs must accept the universality of human rights as defined in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A person cannot deny some human
rights and yet claim to be a human rights defender because he or she is an
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