In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, analyses the situation of women human rights defenders working in conflict, post-conflict and crisis-affected settings and highlights their contributions to peace and security, despite the often difficult and even hostile environments in which they work. The report contains examples of individual cases of women human rights defenders working in these contexts, as well as recommendations to States and other relevant stakeholders on providing a safe and enabling environment in which to carry out their legitimate human rights work.

In a submission for the present report, April Dyan Gumanao of Alliance of Concerned Teachers in the Philippines noted that “we work on the premise that, to achieve sustainable peace, there should be food on tables, decent work and opportunities, equality, respect for human rights and justice”.