1. Who is the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders?

Ms. Margaret Sekaggya is the current UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders until 2014, having already served a three year term.

2. What is the role of the UN Special Rapporteur on Defenders?

The UN Special Rapporteur is a mechanism by the Human Rights Council, established to support the implementation of the declaration on defenders (Declaration on rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups, organs of society by monitoring the situation of human rights defenders worldwide.

3. Who is a human rights defender?

A human rights defender is everyone who individually or in association with others promotes and strives for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels, and can include NGO Members, lawyers, teachers, Government agents etc.

4. How does the offi ce the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders work?

The office of the UNSR works through ;
• Carrying out country visits
• Issuing communications against those who violate rights especially states
• Issuing press releases on violations
• Carrying out thematic studies on the situation of defenders and presenting fi ndings to the human rights council and General Assembly.

5. Why is it important to have UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders?

It is important to have a special rapporteur on human rights defenders to ensure that the rights of defenders enshrined in the declaration on human rights are respected and to ensure that states understand the responsibility they have towards promoting those rights.

6. How can a human rights defender make use of the offi ce of the UN Special rapporteur to address his or her challenges?

The offi ce of the UNSR receives complaints of violations from individuals who have suffered these violations or anyone on their behalf, against which investigations are carried out. The SR then issues an urgent appeal or a letter of allegation against the perpetrators, who can either, be the State or non- state actors. These communications are consistently followed up until the state addresses the issue

7. What have you done for HRD’s in Uganda or have you worked with HRD’s in Uganda?

I work together with the Human Rights Centre Uganda to raise the profi le of defenders in Uganda by providing training and information on the declaration of human rights defenders in which their rights are enshrined, how to use the UN protection mechanisms to address the violations of their rights, and how to develop strategies that ensure their protection.HRD’s in Uganda like any others around the world can send complaints of violations through my office.
I have mostly worked with the media, and women defenders in Uganda, but iam still reaching out to other groups of defenders.

8. Are there any other international human rights protection mechanisms?

Special procedures include; special rapporteurs, independent experts and working groups on particular human rights situations or particular countries. The Universal Periodic review mechanism is a method in which the human rights record of a particular country is reviewed before the Human Rights Council, and recommendations made towards its improvement. Treaty bodies that are meant to monitor the implementation of international human rights treaties .

9. What have been your achievements and successes in the past three years as UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders?

• I have presented 12 reports to the human rights council and 3 to the General Assembly on issues facing defenders globally.
• I have visited 6 countries since 2009 that have had serious cases of violations against defenders and made reports assessing the situation, these include India, Togo, Congo, Armenia and Colombia.
• I have issued over 800 communications to 110 countries on the situation of more than 2200 defenders especially women.
• I have issued several press releases raising concerns about the situation of defenders that has brought International attention to the violators.

10. What have been your challenges as the UNSR on HRD’S?

The biggest challenge has been the lack of political will from States that continue to violate rights of defenders despite the fact that they have the primary responsibility to promote and protect these rights. Violators of rights continue to enjoy impunity and are not accountable to their citizens.

11. In light of the renewal of your mandate, what is your vision for HRD’s for the future?

• I intend to focus more on defenders in confl ict and social protest issues.
• To address issues of legislation affecting the rights to freedom of expression and assembly for defenders.
• Ensuring that the presence of International human rights mechanisms is more present at the national level, and that these mechanisms are more accessible to the individual.
• To advocate on issues of impunity and accountability.
• Advocating that states follow up on recommendations made after country visits.
• To disseminate the UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders widely.

12. How can Human Rights defenders contact you, or where can they fi nd you?

Allegations can be sent to: reprisals@ohchr.org

To submit an allegation of a violation against a human rights defender or any other person: urgent-action@ohchr.org
To contact the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders for other purposes: defenders@ohchr.org Fax: +41(0) 22.917.90.06

Webpage: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/index.html Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais Wilson CH - 1211 Geneva, SWITZERLAND

The Human Rights Centre Uganda
Plot 65 Luthuli Avenue.
P. O. Box 25638
Tel: 0414266186
Email: hrcug@hrcug.org