Protecting Human Rights Defenders
Amnesty International supports and protects those who work to defend human rights around the world, for example:
- Journalists exposing human rights violations
- Community workers teaching human rights education
- Trade unionists defending workers' rights
- Women working for the promotion of reproductive rights
- Environmentalists highlighting the impact of development projects on indigenous peoples land rights
Human rights defenders are individuals, groups of people or organizations who promote and protect human rights through peaceful and non-violent means. They uncover violations, subject them to public scrutiny and press for those responsible to be accountable. They empower individuals and communities to claim their basic entitlements as human beings.
Because of this work human rights defenders face a range of challenges. In many countries they are subjected to death threats and torture, persecuted through the use of the judicial system and silenced through the introduction of restrictive laws. Many even disappear or are murdered because of their human rights activism. This is why human rights defenders need our support.
Amnesty International has put together analysis, information and online tools for the protection of human rights defenders. We hope this will assist human rights defenders and those who support and promote their work around the world.
Amnesty International has been working with and for human rights defenders since its inception and believes that supporting the rights of human rights defenders is one of the most important ways to ensure human rights for all.
| Recent feature |
 Overcoming the obstacles: Human rights activists in Guatemala and HondurasReports of killings, death threats, harassment and intimidation of human rights activists continue to be commonplace in Guatemala and Honduras. |
