|
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
 |
 |
|
|
||||||||||||
 Save the U.N. Human Rights Investigators (04/11/07)
 
Hina Jilani's presentation to the Third Committee, Nov. 2001 Declaration on Human Rights Defenders Mandate of the Special Representative Report of the Special Representative to the Commission, Feb. 2002 Report
of the Special Representative to Commission, Jan. 2001
|
|
|
|
Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders  Human Rights First was among the first organizations to call for the
adoption of an international instrument focusing on the rights of
human rights defenders, along with the creation of a United Nations
Special Representative. We believed that these measures were necessary
to increase international awareness of the vital work of human rights
defenders, and to serve as a rallying point to support human rights
defenders suffering persecution. From 1994, Human Rights First
repeatedly sent representatives to the Working Group created by the
UN Commission on Human Rights in order to draft the Declaration
on Human Rights Defenders. After years of discussion,
in which we played an active role, governments agreed in 1998 on a
text upholding the rights of human rights defenders to carry out their
work. (See Human Rights First analysis of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
)
During the process of drafting the Declaration, Human Rights First
advocated the creation of a mechanism to monitor restrictions placed
by states on the ability of independent groups and private individuals
to engage in the promotion and protection of universally recognized
human rights. Subsequently, in 2000, the Commission on Human Rights
resolved to create a Special Representative of the Secretary-General
on Human Rights Defenders (See Commission
resolution 2000/61 ) On August 18 2000, Ms. Hina Jilani, a highly
respected human rights lawyer from Pakistan, was appointed to this
position. |
|||||||||
