Human Rights Day 2014: Better protection of human rights defenders needed across the OSCE region, ODIHR Director says

WARSAW, 10 December 2014 – On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), called on all OSCE participating States to do more to protect human rights defenders in the OSCE region.

“It is time for all OSCE participating States to move from words to deeds and to provide more effective protection to those who strive to promote and safeguard human rights in our countries,” Link said.

Across the OSCE region, he said, human rights defenders continue to be the targets of abuse, physical and verbal attacks, and threats to their lives. In a number of countries, they face harassment, unwarranted prosecution, criminalization and even imprisonment for their peaceful and legitimate activities, he added

“Unfortunately, in 2014 we have witnessed numerous attacks and threats against human rights defenders,” the ODIHR Director said. “This includes human rights defenders with whom ODIHR has worked, and I am particularly disturbed that those standing up for human rights in the OSCE region may be being targeted for activities they carry out in partnership with our Office.”

At the Budapest Summit, in 1994, OSCE participating States emphasized the need to protect human rights defenders, and at the OSCE Summit in Astana, in 2010, they underscored the important role played by civil society in helping to ensure full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

“That the environment in which human rights defenders operate has become more, not less, restricted across the region over the past few years is disturbing,” Link said. “Determined action is needed to reverse this trend.”

December 10 was proclaimed as Human Rights Day in 1950 by the UN General Assembly to highlight the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all people and all nations. The theme of the day for 2014 is “Human Rights 365”, to emphasize that human rights are to be enjoyed every day of the year, that “every day is human rights day”.

“Just as human rights are universally applicable to all human beings, they are also relevant each day – every day,” Link said. “That is why our Office works continuously to protect and uphold human rights in the OSCE region. It is also why we support the activities of human rights defenders, who work tirelessly to safeguard the human rights of others, often at great personal risk.”