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The Special Rapporteur submits annual thematic reports to the March session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) and to the General Assembly (GA) in October. Thematic reports document the Special Rapporteur’s findings on particular topics and provide guidance and recommendations for UN member States, civil society organizations and other stakeholders.

YearPresentedSubject of the reportReport and related links
2024HRC 55th session"We are not just the future": challenges faced by child and youth human rights defendersA/HRC/55/50
2023GA 78th sessionPathways to peace: women human rights defenders in conflict, post-conflict and crisis-affected settingsA/78/131
2022GA 77th sessionRefusing to turn away: human rights defenders working on the rights of refugees, migrants and asylum-seekersA/77/178
2022HRC 52th sessionSuccess through perseverance and solidarity: 25 years of achievements by human rights defendersA/HRC/52/29
2022HRC 49th sessionAt the heart of the struggle: human rights defenders working against corruptionA/HRC/49/49
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2021GA 76th sessionStates in denial: the long-term detention of human rights defendersA/HRC/76/143
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2021HRC 46th sessionFinal warning: death threats and killings of human rights defendersA/HRC/46/35
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2021HRC 46th session

Observations on communications

 

A/HRC/46/35/Add.1

 

2020GA 75th sessionSpecial Rapporteur priorities for the mandateA/75/165
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2020HRC 43rd session

 

Human rights defenders operating in conflict and post-conflict situations

Observations on communications

A/HRC/43/51
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A/HRC/43/51/Add.3

2019GA 74th sessionImpunity for human rights violations committed against human rights defenders

A/74/159

 

2019HRC 40th session

 

Women Human Rights Defenders

Observations on communications

 

A/HRC/40/60

 

 

 

A/HRC/40/60/Add.1

 

2018GA 73rd sessionDeclaration on human rights defenders:20th Anniversary

A/73/215

 

2018HRC 37th session

Human rights defenders on the rights of people on the move

Observations on communications

 

A/HRC/37/51
 

A/HRC/37/51/Add.1

 

2017GA 72nd sessionHuman Rights Defenders working on business and human rightsA/72/170
2017

 

HRC 34th session

 

Work in progress, challenges and the way forward

Observations on communications

 

A/HRC/34/52

A/HRC/34/52/Add.1

 

2016GA 71st sessionEnvironmental human rights defenders
(Report's pictorial representation
English | Français | Español)

A/71/281

 

2016

 

HRC 31st session

 

Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders

Observations on communications

 

A/HRC/31/55
 

A/HRC/31/55/Add.1

 

2015GA 70th sessionGlobal trends in risks and threats facing human rights defenders

A/70/217

 

2015HRC 28th session

Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur

Observations on communications

 

A/HRC/28/63
 

A/HRC/28/63/Add.1

 

2014GA 69th sessionVision and Working Methods of the Mandate

A/69/259

 

2014

 

HRC 25th session

 

Elements of a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders

Observations on communications

 

A/HRC/25/55
 

A/HRC/25/55/Add.3

 

2013GA 68th sessionLarge-scale development project and human rights defenders

A/68/262

 

2013

 

HRC 22nd session

 

 

Role of national human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights and as protectors of human rights defenders
Responses to questionnaires sent in English, French and Spanish

Observations on communications

Protecting human rights defenders

 

A/HRC/22/47



 

A/HRC/22/47/Add.4

A/HRC/22/L.13

 

2012GA 67th sessionUse of legislation to regulate activities of human rights defendersA/67/292
2012

 

HRC 19th session

 

Selected groups of defenders at risk: journalists and media workers, defenders working on land and environment issues; and youth and student defenders

Observations on communications report

 

A/HRC/19/55


 

A/HRC/19/55/Add.2

 

2011GA 66th sessionOn the Declaration on human rights defendersA/66/203
2011

 

HRC 16th session

 

 

Women human rights defenders and those working on women's rights or gender issues

Summaries of individual cases raised by the SR during 2010 and summaries of Government responses

Responses to the questionnaire on the challenges faced by women human rights defenders and those working on women's rights or gender issues

 

A/HRC/16/44
 

A/HRC/16/44/Add.1

 

A/HRC/16/44/Add.3

 

2010GA 65th sessionViolations committed against defenders by non-State actorsA/65/223
2010

 

HRC 13th session

 

 

 

Security and protection of human rights defenders

Summaries of individual cases raised by the SR during 2009 and summaries of Government responses

Responses to the questionnaire on the security and protection of human rights defenders

 

A/HRC/13/22

A/HRC/13/22/Add.1


 

A/HRC/13/22/Add.4

 

2009GA 64th sessionMeeting the standards of the right to freedom of association; analysis of NGO lawsA/64/226
2009

 

HRC 10th session

 

Universal Periodic Review (UPR): enhancing the protection of human rights defenders

Summaries of individual cases raised by the SR during 2008 and summaries of Government responses

 

A/HRC/10/12


A/HRC/10/12/Add.1

 

2008GA 63rd sessionVision and priorities of the Special Rapporteur

A/63/288

 

2008

 

HRC 7th session

 

From action to impact: follow-up to the activities of the special representative

Summaries of individual cases raised by the SRSG during 2007 and summaries of Government responses

 

A/HRC/7/28


A/HRC/7/28/Add.1

 

2007GA 62nd sessionThe right to protest in the context of freedom of assemblyA/62/225
2007

 

HRC 4th session

 

The work of human rights defenders in the field of economic, social and cultural rights

Summaries of individual cases raised by the SRSG with Governments during 2006 and summaries of Government responses

 

A/HRC/4/37


A/HRC/4/37/Add.1

 

2006GA 61st sessionAnalysis of methodology of work and the right of freedom of assembly

A/61/312

 

2006

 

CHR 62nd session

 

 

1) Implementation of the mandate since its creation in 2000

2) Key developments and major constraints in the implementation of the declaration

Summaries of individual cases raised by the SRSG during 2005 and summaries of government responses

Compilation of developments for the situation of human rights defenders 2000 - 2006

 

E/CN.4/2006/95



 

E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.1
 


E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.5

 

2005GA 60th sessionThe contribution of human rights defenders to peace and security

A/60/339

 

2005

 

CHR 61st session

 

1) Trends in the situation of human rights defenders

2) Human rights defenders and peace and security

Summaries of individual cases raised by the SRSG during 2004 and summaries of government responses

 

E/CN.4/2005/101

 


E/CN.4/2005/101/Add.1

 

2004GA 59th sessionApplying the Declaration on human rights defenders. Meeting the standards of the right to association

A/59/401

 

2004

 

CHR 60th session

 

1) Trends in the situation of human rights defenders

2) Follow-up of cases and trends in government responses

Summaries of individual cases raised by the SRSG during 2003 and summaries of government responses

 

E/CN.4/2004/94



 

E/CN.4/2004/94/Add.3

 

2003GA 58th sessionAnalysis of impact of security legislation and of emergency situations on defenders

A/58/380

 

2003

 

CHR 59th session

 

The role and situation of defenders in key contexts, including the UN

Summaries of individual cases raised by the SRSG during 2002 and summaries of government responses

 

E/CN.4/2003/104


E/CN.4/2003/104/Add.1

 

2002GA 57th sessionResults of regional consultations with States and defenders in Africa, Latin America, Asia, the middle East and the Euro-Mediterranean

A/57/182

 

2002CHR 58th sessionAnalysis of trends affecting human rights defenders. Summary of cases sent to Governments

E/CN.4/2002/106

 

2001GA 56th sessionImpunity, legal actions, intelligence activities and smear campaigns against defenders. Impact of militarism on the Declaration; compatibility of national legislation

A/56/341

 

2001CHR 57th sessionAnalysis of trends affecting human rights defenders. Summary of cases sent to GovernmentsE/CN.4/2001/94

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