The legal recognition and protection of defenders is crucial to ensuring that they can work in a safe, supportive environment and be free from attacks, reprisals and unreasonable restrictions.
A ‘Model National Law on the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders’ is intended to guide and assist states and other actors to ensure the full and effective implementation of 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’ (the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders) at the national level.
ISHR’s Model Law is available in several languages in our resource section.