"Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels." - UN Declaration on human rights defenders

In 1998 the United Nations recognised the importance of the work of human rights defenders and their need for protection by adopting the “Declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms". In November 2009 the UN General Assembly passed a resolution reaffirming its commitment to protecting and supporting HRDs in their work.

In 2004, after initial drafting by an advisory council that included PBI, the European Union produced the first Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders. These Guidelines instructed EU diplomatic missions in their dealings with human rights defenders and governments around the world.

Four years later a second, updated set of EU Guidelines were produced in order to improve effectiveness in protecting HRDs on the ground.

EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders explained

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