A/HRC/22/47
(h)
Should work closely with human rights defenders when setting up,
implementing and evaluating programmes and policies aimed at ensuring their
protection;
(i)
Should make sure that protection mechanisms for defenders are
adequately resourced and have adequate capacity to respond to and investigate
complaints received in a prompt and impartial manner;
(j)
Should ensure that the mechanisms available for protecting human
rights defenders are widely known to them and easily accessible through telephone,
Internet, social media and publications. It should be possible to present complaints by
various means, including on the website of the institution, through a hotline and
through text messaging;
(k)
Annual reports on activities should be widely disseminated and include a
specific section on the situation of defenders with a brief description of the general
context, relevant references to the regulatory frameworks, main challenges and
opportunities, and groups most at risk;
(l)
Should strengthen their interaction with regional and United Nations
human rights mechanisms by actively reaching out to them, including for their
protection when needed, and periodically providing reports and/or participating in
their sessions;
121.
To ICC and the regional networks:
(a)
Should advocate for the consideration of national human rights
institutions as defenders and disseminate knowledge about the Declaration on human
rights defenders among its members;
(b)
Should continue to publicly support those national institutions whose
members and staff are intimidated, harassed, stigmatized and attacked;
(c)
ICC should provide guidance to national institutions about risks
assessment and protective measures for members and staff, including by offering
relevant information on how to react depending on the specific case and context. This
could be done in cooperation with OHCHR, if necessary;
(d)
Regional networks should enhance their cooperation, ideally by setting
up permanent secretariats, to reinforce the regional dimension of the work of national
institutions and provide the necessary guidance at this level;
(e)
Regional networks should be active in providing support to their
members, notably when they are exposed to harassment or intimidation, and
strengthen their capacity where needed;
(f)
Regional networks should also strengthen their interaction with regional
and United Nations human rights mechanisms.
122.
To defenders and civil society:
(a)
Continue disseminating the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, in
particular regarding the work of national human rights institutions;
(b)
Continue supporting the work of national human rights institutions by
cooperating with them, advocating for their strengthening and collaborating in the
planning and implementation of their activities and programmes;
(c)
Cooperate with national institutions in the follow-up to their
recommendations, including by giving visibility to their work;
22
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