Not only do human rights defenders have to contend with restrictions on their basic right to freedom of expression, their right to organize and to gather together to promote human rights is often restricted or denied.  Presenters on this panel will describe restrictions emanating from state authorities, including extra-judicial killing, arbitrary detention, show trials on fabricated charges, torture and brutalization of detainees, and increasing bureaucratic harassment through onerous registration and reporting requirements for civil society organizations.  Human rights defenders also face violence and intimidation from non-state actors, including religious extremists, criminal groups and combatants in civil conflicts.