A/HRC/13/22 trends identified below call for urgent and effective solutions by not only States, but also defenders themselves. 1. Facts and trends 26. Since the beginning of her mandate, the Special Rapporteur has identified specific situations impeding the work of human rights defenders and leading to a highly insecure environment. (a) Stigmatization 27. The growing characterization of human rights defenders as “terrorists”, “enemies of the State” or “political opponents” by State authorities and State-owned media is a particularly worrying trend, as it is regularly used to delegitimize the work of defenders and increase their vulnerability. The Special Rapporteur expresses serious concerns in relation to this phenomenon, since it contributes to the perception that defenders are legitimate targets for abuse by State and non-State actors. 28. On 9 October 2009, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued a joint press release denouncing the stigmatization of human rights defenders by the Gambian authorities and the public threats to kill defenders working in the Gambia or those collaborating with them. This stigmatization was even more symbolic given that the statements in question were made in Banjul, at the headquarters of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, only a few days before the Commission’s forty-sixth ordinary session. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that human rights defenders are frequently victims of campaigns of defamation by State-owned media and are often portrayed as traitors or enemies of the State, which puts their lives in danger. 29. States should refrain from portraying human rights defenders and their activities as dangerous, illegal or a threat to the security of the State. Their important role and efforts in the promotion, protection and the full enjoyment of human rights by all should instead be praised. The Special Rapporteur would like to recall the primary importance of acknowledging the work and role of groups, organs or individuals in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. This is the first step towards a safe working environment for defenders. By adopting the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, States have committed themselves to recognizing their valuable role in the elimination of human rights violations and should therefore act accordingly at the national level. 30. Certain countries have taken action in this regard, which should be commended. The Special Rapporteur notes with satisfaction the public statement by the President of Colombia on 17 September 2009 after his meeting with the Special Rapporteur to the effect that “the defence of human rights is a necessary and legitimate action for democracy in a country like Colombia which is proud to be completely open to international scrutiny in this field” and she calls upon the authorities to give effect to this statement.2 In Belgium, both the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives adopted resolutions on the protection of human rights defenders, acknowledging the role of defenders and their need of protection. The resolutions also establish clear goals to be achieved by the Belgian authorities. 2 6 Press statement of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, at the conclusion of her visit to Colombia, on 18 September 2009. GE.10-10012