A/HRC/43/51 the armed groups in control of the areas where they operate. In some instances, defenders are being arbitrarily arrested, detained and subjected to judicial harassment at unprecedented levels through the misuse of antiterrorism, sedition, national security and drug-related legislation. Multiple procedures and repeated adjournments of legal proceedings are often used to maintain pressure. As defenders, we are on the hit list. I had to relocate my family, limit my movements within the country. I have to leave it periodically, return each time with a different phone number. (Defender, Somalia) 30. Impunity and failure to protect and provide effective remedy still prevail in several conflict and post-conflict situations, most notably where international scrutiny is limited or absent. Extrajudicial killings of defenders often remain unresolved and threats, including those carried out online, remain unaddressed. Individual defenders have been suspected of fabricating the threats they have sought to report and it has been suggested that they find and rely on their own protection solutions or simply terminate their activities. Failure to conduct independent and transparent investigations on wider violations of international law, including humanitarian law, persist. Those launched, including in contexts of occupation, often prove manifestly selective or limited in scope, are discontinued or excessively prolonged, or lead systematically to decisions not to prosecute or to acquittals. For some defenders, turning to public authorities for protection is simply not an option. 31. The Special Rapporteur has recently addressed the question of impunity. 42 In conflict and post-conflict situations, emergency laws and other exceptional provisions often limit judicial oversight and restrict options to challenge the actions of the authorities, including law enforcement and armed forces, while State actors, most notably the security forces, often remain major perpetrators of violations of human rights and humanitarian law against defenders. Such violations often occur where no reliable protection mechanism can be activated by defenders and where awareness of defenders’ rights and the legitimate nature of their work is excessively limited, including among the authorities. This situation needs to be urgently remedied. B. Impacts on defenders, societies and the international community The major challenge for me now is to remain in my region despite the threats and challenges, and continue to stand for the rights of our communities. This cannot be done if I leave. (Defender, Mali) 32. Repeated and systematic attacks on defenders in conflict and post-conflict situations have far-reaching consequences and impacts. They affect their physical and mental health and undermine their ability to work. Many of them have had no choice but to shut down their organizations and end their activities. Others must continuously censor themselves, work undercover or drastically downplay some of their advocacy. Considerable time and resources of organizations and individuals are diverted in order to ensure defenders’ own security and that of colleagues or family, and to deflect attacks. Forced relocations, whether temporary or permanent, push many to remote urban centres, the capital, sometimes away from occupied areas or even beyond national borders. Many lose their regular job or are unable to secure employment because of judicial harassment. This reality is still overlooked and must be taken into account when designing protection and support programmes. 33. The broader consequences and impact on societies must be highlighted. Several countries in conflict and post-conflict situations that a few years ago had witnessed an expansion of civil society have since seen that course reversed. Reporting on human rights violations, access to support services for victims and international attention and scrutiny into these areas is declining. Attacks and human rights violations perpetrated against journalists, limit access to independent and reliable information. In areas of active hostilities, humanitarian organizations must sometimes withdraw, leaving civilians without essential assistance. In post-conflict contexts, intimidation of defenders perpetuates mistrust 42 10 A/74/159.