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PACE demands appointment of special rapporteur on human rights defenders

28 June 2012 08:15 (UTC +04:00)

PACE members underlined the necessity of strengthening protection of human rights defenders.

Governments should create a safe environment for human rights defenders to play their vital role, and pursue anyone who seeks to harm them or obstruct their work, PACE has said. In a resolution based on a report by Mailis Reps (Estonia, ALDE), the Assembly also called for public recognition of their work.

â€œIn the draft resolution, the committee points out that responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights defenders lies first and foremost with member States and calls on them to make sure that human rights defenders are able to carry out their activities without any hindrance, reprisals or threat thereof. Member States should also put an end to the impunity of perpetrators of violations against human rights defenders and involve the latter in the process of drafting legislation that concerns themâ€, the reportâ€™s summary said.

â€œThe Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights considers the situation of human rights defenders in Europe and concludes that it is far from satisfactory. In particular, in some Council of Europe member States, human rights defenders are the victims of serious crimesâ€, the document reads. â€œAlthough in most European countries human rights defenders are generally well protected in law and practice, they often face obstacles in their daily activities.â€

The report touched upon the problems in registration of NGOs in Azerbaijan and obstacles for the activity of some local and foreign NGOs. It also mentioned the violation of freedom of speech and assembly, arrest of some journalists. Member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samed Seyidov also attended the hearing. Speaking on behalf of the European Democratic Group, Seyidov gave positive assessment to the report generally. â€œI consider that all European countries have problems with the human rights and human rights defenders. The Council of Europe must defend human rights in all countries and not use this issue as a political tool in any country.â€