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Conference Report: Resources and Proceedings 37The UN Declaration on Human Rights DefendersThe UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs ofSociety to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and FundamentalFreedoms (commonly known as the “Declaration on Human Rights Defenders”) wasunanimously adopted by the General Assembly in 1998 after an elaborate lobbying andconsultation process.By adopting the Declaration, member states recognized the plight of HRDs worldwide, the rightof HRDs to defend human rights and the need for international cooperation in the protection ofthis right to defend human rights. The declaration reaffirms that individuals, groups, institutionsand non-governmental organizations have an important role and a responsibility in contributing tothe promotion of the right of everyone to a social and international order in which the rights andfreedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rightsinstruments can be fully realized. It articulates existing rights in a way that makes it easier toapply them to the practical role and situation of human rights defenders. It specifies how therights contained in the major human rights instruments apply to human rights defenders. Itfurthermore contains principles and rights based on human rights standards protected in otherinternational instruments, such as the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly,and the right to freedom of movement.The Declaration outlines some specific duties of States and the responsibilities of everyone withregard to defending human rights. Article 2 states that each State shall adopt such legislative,administrative and other steps as may be necessary to ensure that the rights and freedoms referredto in the present Declaration are effectively guaranteed. Article 11 makes special reference to theresponsibilities of persons exercising professions that can affect the human rights of others, and isespecially relevant for police officers, lawyers, judges, etc.Articles 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13 of the Declaration provide specific protections to humanrights defenders, among others the rights to o seek the protection and realization of human rightsat the national and international levels; to conduct human rights work individually and inassociation with others; to form associations and non-governmental organizations; to meet orassemble peacefully; to seek, obtain, receive and hold information relating to human rights.The UN Special Representative on Human Rights DefendersIn 2000, the UN Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 2000/61 calling on theSecretary-General to appoint a Special Representative on human rights defenders 14 . This was thefirst mechanism to be created at the international level to protect human rights defenders inaccordance with the rights enshrined in the Declaration. Ms. Hina Jilani, a noted human rightsattorney from Pakistan, was appointed as the first Special Representative.The Special Representative undertakes activities in complete independence of any State, is not aUnited Nations staff member and does not receive a salary. The Special Representative’s mandateis to seek, receive, examine and respond to information on human rights defenders, promoting theimplementation of the Declaration by establishing cooperation and conduct dialogue with14Contact details of the Special Representative for submissions or correspondence can be found in theresource section of this report.