ISHR's interactive map for national protection instruments for human right defenders
Check out our updated world map on legislative protection, which collates developments in national legal instruments related to defenders and compares existing and draft instruments with the standards set by the Model Law.
Human rights defenders do vital work in advancing the enjoyment of all human rights by their communities. The right to defend human rights needs to be protected, which is why ISHR advocates for the strengthening of legal frameworks at the national level, including through the implementation of laws that recognise the rights of defenders and establish strong and concrete protections for them and their work.
As part of this mission, we developed an interactive map that collates national efforts around the world to protect human rights defenders. This includes laws, policies, protection mechanisms and guidelines for the protection of defenders, among others.
The map is intended to complement existing resources on human rights defenders’ protection, while also providing an analysis on how protective and respectful of the rights of defenders these instruments are. For each instrument, we have prepared a short summary of its legal status, a general summary of the key elements as well as a more detailed comparison table vs our Model Law for the recognition and protection of Human Rights Defenders, which provides authoritative guidance to States on how to implement the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders at the national level.
We hope that activists, policymakers and other stakeholders find our interactive map a useful tool in their efforts to foster progress in legal protections for human rights defenders.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) recently published its General Comment on the environmental dimension of sustainable development. In addition to recognising human rights defenders, the Comment clarifies State obligations towards marginalised communities and notes the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels. It also outlines States’ extraterritorial obligations.
The General Assembly elected 14 States to seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council in a process closer to a nomination than a constructive and competitive election.
Indigenous women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and women safeguarding land and community rights from across the globe gathered in Geneva from 22 to 26 September to take part in the Women Human Rights Advocacy Week (WHRD-AW) 2025.
