Theo van Boven Lecture 2014: Human Rights Defenders in the Front Line

Human rights defenders are fundamental actors in any effort to implement the overall international human rights framework. Establishing promoting and sustaining democracy, maintaining international peace and security and providing or advancing a people oriented agenda for development cannot be accomplished without the contributions that human rights defenders make. Defenders bring to the fore information on the realities of situations to be addressed without which national and international efforts would be ineffective and contribute to poverty alleviation, humanitarian assistance, and post-conflict reconstruction, and to improving individual indicators of development such as access to health care and adult literacy, among many other activities. In situations of crises, their presence is known to have calmed situations and, at times, to prevent human rights violations from being committed. Civil society actors have played a significant role in bringing recognition of the concepts of participatory democracy, transparency and accountability by both the state and the society.