A/HRC/16/44 21. These rights, among others, are reiterated in the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, also known as the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 March 1999. The Declaration applies to every man and woman acting to promote and protect human rights as long as they accept and apply the principles of universality of and nonviolence. B. The approach of the mandate 22. Notwithstanding the legal recognition of the legitimacy of their work, women defenders continue to face significant challenges. Since its inception, the mandate has, both in its thematic and mission reports and other aspects of its work, consistently addressed the specificities of the situation of women human rights defenders and the particular challenges they face.1 23. In this regard, the mandate holders have reiterated on several occasions that women defenders are more at risk of suffering certain forms of violence and other violations, prejudice, exclusion, and repudiation than their male counterparts. This is often due to the fact that women defenders are perceived as challenging accepted socio-cultural norms, traditions, perceptions and stereotypes about femininity, sexual orientation, and the role and status of women in society.2 Their work is often seen as challenging “traditional” notions of the family which can serve to normalize and perpetuate forms of violence and oppression of women. This can, in certain contexts, lead to hostility or lack of support from the general population,3 as well as the authorities. 24. As pointed out by the former Special Representative in her 2002 report to the Commission on Human Rights, the violations faced by women defenders may themselves take a gender-specific form, ranging from verbal abuse based on their sex, to sexual abuse and rape. Cases of the latter are particularly prevalent in situations of conflict, which are often characterized by an environment of complete impunity for perpetrators. Further, in certain contexts, if a women human rights defender is subjected to rape or sexual abuse as a result of her work, she may be perceived by her extended family as having brought shame on both the family and the wider community.4 Indeed, even when no rape or sexual abuse has occurred, women defenders are often subjected to stigmatization and ostracism by community leaders, faith-based groups, families and communities who consider them to be jeopardizing religion, honour or culture through their work. 25. In her 2007 report to the General Assembly (A/62/225), the Special Representative also highlighted the violations faced by women defenders in the context of their exercise of the right to freedom of assembly; particular note was made in this regard of the frequency with which instances of gender-based violence occurred, and the alarming proportion of violations and harassment of women defenders related to celebrations on International Women’s Day.5 26. This attention to the situation of women human rights defenders was further mandated by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 7/8 in which, when renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a further three years, it requested that the Special 1 2 3 4 5 6 See for example E/CN.4/2006/95 and A/HRC/4/37 See for example E/CN.4/2002/106 Ibid, see also A/59/401 and E/CN.4/1999/68 OHCHR fact sheet No. 29: “Human Rights Defenders: protecting the right to defend human rights” A/62/225