– EU Guidelines on human rights defenders are an important tool for a stronger protection of and support to activists, says the Human Rights House Foundation (HRH). HRH participated at an EU conference last week about implementation of the Guidelines. (15-DEC-04)

In June, the European Union adopted Guidelines on human rights defenders. The purpose of these Guidelines is to “provide practical suggestions for enhancing EU action in relation to this issue. The Guidelines can be used in contacts with third countries at all levels as well as in multilateral human rights fora, in order to support and strengthen ongoing efforts by the Union to promote and encourage
respect for the right to defend human rights.”

Concrete steps
Last week, embassies, NGOs and experts were gathered in the Hague to discuss implementation of the Guidelines at the 6th EU Annual Human Rights Discussion Forum. It was hosted by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The outcome will be a handbook for EU Missions, containing the concrete steps and instruments identified during the Forum as well as ways for monitoring whether the implementation of the guidelines is in fact successful.

Important tool
The Human Rights House Foundation (HRH) participated at the Forum in the Hague, and welcomes the EU Guidelines:
– This is an important tool for a stronger protection of and support to activists, says Borghild T. Krokan at HRH.

Emergency visa
In October, the Human Rights House Foundation hosted an international conference in Oslo about the security and working conditions of human rights defenders. A statement was adopted, with recommendations to governments on how to support and protect human rights activists. Among the recommendations were immediate protection to human rights defenders in urgent situations, such as granting of temporary (emergency) visas to human rights defenders at grave risk or facilitation of asylum procedures and temporary admission programmes. Several NGOs, such as FIDH, regret the fact that no reference has been made to this (emergency visa etc.) in the Guidelines. 

Fast, furious and flexible
– The reaction to threats against human rights defenders should be fast, furious and flexible, said Andrew Anderson at Front Line Defenders, a Dublin-based NGO who has helped prepare the first draft of the Guidelines.

Jilani: Importance cannot be overstated
The Guidelines were adopted on the basis of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders from 1998.
– The importance of the EU Guidelines cannot be overstated, UN Special Representative on human rights defenders Hina Jilani said at the opening of the Forum. In October, Jilani presented a report saying rights groups worldwide should be given greater organizing leeway.