MORE THAN 100 human rights defenders from across the globe gathered in Dublin yesterday for the opening of a three-day conference organised by Ireland-based human rights body Front Line.
The event brings together activists and campaigners from countries including Nigeria, Burma, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Yemen and Sri Lanka. The participants work on issues such as the trafficking of women and children and forced prostitution; the rights of indigenous peoples and members of sexual minorities; and illegal logging and environmental protection.
“Despite their radically different backgrounds and issues, the one thing they all have in common is that they are at risk for their legitimate work in defence of the human rights of others,” said Mary Lawlor, director of Front Line.
UN high commissioner for human rights Navi Pillay, who delivered the keynote address, paid tribute to the courage of those who put their lives at risk to protect the rights of others. She stressed the need to improve the effectiveness of protection measures for human rights defenders at risk. “It is of vital importance to discuss at this forum and elsewhere – and as often and as visibly as possible – ways and means to minimise risks for human rights defenders, improve their safety, and foster an environment conducive to human rights advocacy.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin praised the work of those attending. “Human rights defenders put their own lives at risk to break the deafening silence of indifference and complacency.Without human rights defenders, the voices of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society would not be heard.”
He noted that human rights and the cause of human rights defenders occupy “a very important and indeed central place” in the State’s foreign policy. Ireland actively promotes the work of human rights defenders and opposes attempts to undermine their work, he said.
“At a time when economic pressures are being acutely felt, human rights risk becoming a luxury item that we guiltily pencil in and then scrub out at the bottom of the shopping list of global needs,” Mr Martin continued. “Your courage and your struggle to keep human rights alive is the reminder that we need: human rights are not a luxury, they are a basic necessity.”
The conference will cover issues such as recovering from trauma, the special risks faced by women human rights defenders and the importance of digital security.