In a report to the UN Human Rights Council, Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor said 'states can and should do more to protect defenders,' noting that 25 years after countries agreed on a declaration to promote and protect such defenders' work, their contributions were often ignored.
For some human rights defenders, just continuing their work under immense pressure is in itself a significant achievement, according to her. The report also notes that victories for human rights secured by defenders rarely happen overnight, but are often the result of long struggles requiring perseverance and the help of networks and other allies. 'Ignoring or underplaying the vital contribution of human rights defenders increases the risks to them and their work,' Lawlor said.