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Plan urges governments and multi-lateral institutions to prioritize freedom of expression and association, support human rights defenders

Geneva –Freedom House and Human Rights First delegates who are in Geneva for the 13th Session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations today issued a Plan of Action developed by their organizations and dozens of human rights advocates from 27 countries to advance global human rights.  The plan urges all governments, multi-lateral institutions and civil society to prioritize freedom of expression and association and to support the work of human rights defenders around the globe.

“These recommendations are the product of countless hours of thoughtful discussion and debate with frontline human rights defenders from nearly every corner of the word and draw elements from numerous previous efforts,” said Paula Schriefer, Freedom House’s advocacy director. “The over-arching theme for both governments and multilateral institutions is a commitment to protect the ability of their citizens or members to express themselves freely without fear of recrimination and asking them to insist upon the same from any country or organization with which they have relations.”

The Plan of Action contains recommendations formulated during the 2010 Human Rights Summit, held in Washington, DC from February 17-19. The Summit brought together dissidents and human rights advocates from around the globe – including Iran, Uganda, Taiwan, Egypt, Russia, and Venezuela – with U.S. policy makers, officials from other democratic governments, and human rights and freedom of expression activists. A U.S.-specific plan of action was given to the Obama Administration last week.

“The protection of fundamental human rights cannot be an afterthought as nations grapple with tough socio-economic and national security concerns. This Plan of Action serves as roadmap for all governments as they work to reverse growing abuses that make it increasingly difficult for human rights defenders to make changes in their own countries,” said Human Rights First’s Tad Stahnke.

The Action Plan calls upon governments to make a commitment to respect international human rights norms, including the protection of human rights defenders, journalists and civil society organizations within their own borders. It also calls on governments to strengthen human rights bodies within intergovernmental organizations and support the work and independence of Special Rapporteurs; take action to prevent efforts to engage in internet censorship; and refrain from using the struggle against terrorism or violent extremism as an excuse to crackdown on the legitimate activities of journalists and human rights defenders. In addition, multi-lateral institutions are encouraged to prioritize these core freedoms within their own organizations and to allow more active participation by civil society, particularly within human rights bodies. A more complete list follows this release.

• Download the Plan of Action (PDF)