National human rights institutions (NHRIs) in all regions have reported serious threats against their members and staff, as well as against other human rights defenders, in response to their peaceful and lawful work.
GANHRI today released the findings of its March 2024 survey of NHRIs, drawing on detailed responses from GANHRI members in Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe.
Respondent NHRIs noted that human rights defenders and NHRI staff experienced: arbitrary arrests, detention and prosecution; harassment, intimidation and smear campaigns; abductions and threats to physical safety; and restrictions to freedom of expression, including in online spaces.
Budget cuts and the use of restrictive laws were also used to curb operations and silence dissent.
NHRIs reported that journalists, environmental human rights defenders, women human rights defenders, LGBTIQ human rights defenders, university students and activists experienced significant risks. In some cases, family members were also threatened.
Given the serious and persistent nature of the threats, most respondent NHRIs have prioritized the protection of human rights defenders in their strategic plans.
Some NHRIs also reported experiencing intimidation and reprisals after cooperating with the United Nations or regional human rights systems.
“NHRIs and human rights defenders play a vital role to safeguard human rights in countries across the globe,” said GANHRI Chairperson Maryam Al-Attiyah. “These threats and reprisals, originating from both state and non-state actors, endanger the safety of human rights defenders and NHRI staff and undermine their ability to operate independently and effectively,” she said.
The report includes recommendations to counter threats to human rights defenders and civic space, including:
GANHRI will present the findings of Standing Strong: Challenges and Reprisals against NHRIs and Human Rights Defenders in its advocacy with partners across the UN system.
The report forms part of GANHRI’s commitments under the Global Action Plan to Support the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights Defenders and Civic Space.
The report is accompanied by case studies of NHRI support for human rights defenders provided by the NHRIs of Guatemala, Germany and the Philippines (to be published in the coming weeks).
GANHRI and members of its Caucus on Indigenous Peoples contributed to the 19th session of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), in Geneva from 13 to 17 July, addressing issues such as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the approaching 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The twentieth anniversary of the Human Rights Council marks a significant milestone for the international human rights system. Over two decades, its work has helped shape global norms, strengthen accountability, and provide a platform for dialogue between States and stakeholders, including NHRIs.
From 15 June to 10 July 2026, GANHRI together with its members will engage at HRC62 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
GANHRI welcomes the statement by UN Special Rapporteurs expressing concern about the increasing attacks against NHRIs. The statement highlight the critical role NHRIs play in promoting and protecting human rights, including through their contributions to accountability, access to justice, and the effective functioning of democratic systems.