HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN THE
AMERICAS: SUPPORT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS,
GROUPS, AND ORGANIZATIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY WORKING TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN
RIGHTS IN THE AMERICAS
(Adopted at the fourth plenary session held on June 4, 2002)
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
HAVING SEEN the report
presented by the Permanent Council on the topic “Human Rights Defenders in the
Americas: Support for the Individuals,
Groups, and Organizations of Civil Society Working to Promote and Protect Human
Rights in the Americas,” in keeping with resolution AG/RES. 1818 (XXXI-O/01);
CONSIDERING that, at
its thirty-first regular session, through the aforementioned resolution AG/RES.
1818 (XXXI-O/01), it instructed the Permanent Council, to continue to examine
this matter in the context of the dialogue on strengthening and enhancing the
inter-American human rights system and to present a report on implementation of
the resolution;
CONSIDERING FURTHER:
That, in the context
of the dialogue on the functioning of the system and pursuant to the mandates
contained in resolution AG/RES. 1818 (XXXI-O/01), on November 15, 2001, the
Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the Permanent Council held a
meeting at which it considered the topic;
That the participants
at that meeting included not only a representative of the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights, but also the Special Representative of the UN
Secretary General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, who gave a
presentation on the treatment of this issue in her area of competence; and
That the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has expressed its concern
over the situation of human rights defenders in the region, and has recommended
to the member states that they should take the necessary steps to protect the
lives, personal safety, and freedom of expression of those who work to ensure
respect for fundamental rights, in accordance with the collective commitment
expressed in resolutions AG/RES. 1671 (XXIX-O/99), AG/RES. 1711 (XXX-O/00), and
AG/RES. 1818 (XXXI-O/01);
BEARING IN MIND the
practice of the IACHR in this area and the measures it has taken to protect the
fundamental rights of defenders; and, in particular, the decision taken on
December 7, 2001, by the Executive Secretary of the Commission to establish an
operational unit on human rights defenders, taking into account the mandate
issued in resolution AG/RES. 1818 (XXXI-O/01);
RECALLING:
That, at the Third
Summit of the Americas, held in Quebec City, Canada, the heads of state and
government reiterated in the Declaration that their “commitment to full respect
for human rights and fundamental freedoms is based on shared principles and
convictions” and reaffirmed in that Plan of Action that they will “seek to
promote and give effect to the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders”; and
That the OAS General
Assembly has previously made similar statements on this subject reiterating its
recommendation that the member states “grant the necessary guarantees and
facilities to enable nongovernmental human rights organizations to continue
contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights, and that they
respect the freedom and safety of the members of such organizations”;
RECOGNIZING the
important work, at both the national and regional levels, of human rights
defenders in the Americas, as well as their valuable contribution to the
protection and promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms;
CONCERNED over the
persistence in the Americas of actions that directly or indirectly prevent or
hamper the work of individuals, groups, or organizations working to promote and
protect fundamental rights; and
AWARE of the need to
promote respect for the essential aims, principles, and standards set forth in
inter-American and international instruments on this matter,
RESOLVES:
1. To reiterate its support for the work
carried out, at both the national and regional levels, by human rights
defenders; and to recognize their valuable contribution to the protection,
promotion, and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the
Hemisphere.
2. To condemn actions that directly or
indirectly prevent or hamper the work of human rights defenders in the
Americas.
3. To urge member states to step up their
efforts to adopt the necessary measures, in keeping with their domestic law and
with internationally accepted principles and standards, to safeguard the lives,
personal safety, and freedom of expression of human rights defenders.
4. To invite member states to publicize
and enforce the instruments of the inter-American system and the decisions of
its bodies on this matter, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the
Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to
Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms.
5. To invite the Inter-American Commission
on Human Rights to continue to pay due attention to the situation of human
rights defenders in the Americas and to consider, inter alia, preparing
a comprehensive study on the matter and to give due consideration to this
situation at the level it may judge appropriate.
6. To continue the dialogue and
cooperation with the United Nations, in particular with the office of the
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Report on the Situation
of Human Rights Defenders, through the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights and the Permanent Council.
CPSC01321S01.doc
7. To
instruct the Permanent Council to follow up on this resolution and to report on
its implementation to the General Assembly at its thirty-third regular session.
8. To direct that the mandates in this
resolution be executed in accordance with the resources allocated in the
program-budget and other resources.