Summary

The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which marks its twentieth anniversary in 2018, recognizes the central role of individuals and groups in society in the realization of human rights. In order to assess the implementation of the Declaration, a global survey covering 140 States has been conducted. The survey reveals three key trends and issues: the evolution of the use of the term “human rights defenders”, the development of mechanisms and practices to support them and the relevance of legal and administrative frameworks for their protection. The survey also highlights the role played by various stakeholders vis-à-vis human rights defenders, in particular, regional organizations, businesses and the United Nations system. The report concludes with a reflection on the future of the Declaration and of the situation of human rights defenders.