[04/11/08] After a two-day round table with human rights activists from all parts of Europe, Commissioner Hammarberg, stated that "human rights defenders should be seen as key partners in governmental endeavours to promote and protect the rights of individuals".
"Such defenders are carrying out very valuable work to raise awareness among the population about human rights" said the Commissioner. "They point at gaps and deficiencies in the national policies and protection systems and they can also assist authorities in addressing these and finding solutions."
During the round table, human rights activists and journalists from all over Europe have shared with the Commissioner their experiences of obstacles and problems in their daily work of promoting human rights for everyone in their respective countries.
"I am concerned about the many methods used to impede the work of human rights defenders" he continued. "I have received reports about outright threats to their lives, legal or administrative harassments and conditioning state funding to not issuing public reports. I am deeply worried about instances of pressure from officials and other individuals to silence or dissuade applicants or their legal representatives from bringing cases to the European Court of Human Rights."
The 2008 Declaration on Council of Europe action to improve the protection of human rights defenders and promote their activities reinforced the mandate of the Commissioner and his possibilities of promoting a conducive working environment, including to raise individual cases with Governments, in close cooperation with the United Nations Special Rapporteur and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. The Declaration designated the Commissioner as the main regional mechanism to strengthen the protection of human rights defenders and their activities.
"Human rights defenders work on a wide range of issues. We must ensure that their work is not only protected, but supported by both national authorities and international organizations" he concluded.
In their Declaration adopted at the end of the round table, human rights defenders called upon Council of Europe member States to enhance the support to the Commissioner's work.