Anyone could and should be a Human Rights Defender, regardless of any personal features

Who are the human rights defenders, in what context they live and work, what challenges do they face were some of the key topics of the panel discussion at the Faculty of Law dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The Declaration affirms the importance and legitimacy of human rights work and confirms that anyone can act as human rights defender, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or social status.

"The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders is a framework for the promotion of freedom and the strengthening of democracy, as stated in the Declaration itself: Everyone has the right, individually and together with others, to promote and strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms. This means that protection of human rights is on all of us," said Ivan Ivanišević, Director General for Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Everyone can and should be a Human Rights Defender, regardless of any personal features"

Ivan Ivanišević, Director General for Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The discussion on the application of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders gathered numerous actors from the country and international communities, including professors and students from the Faculty of Law, representatives of the Government of Montenegro, representatives of the non-governmental sector, the Ombudsperson office as well as representatives of the international community, including Pol Planas, Human Rights Adviser at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - OHCHR from Geneva.

Speaking of the challenges faced by human rights defenders, Planas noted alarming levels of reprisals against rights activists documented in many countries, including allegations of killings, torture and ill-treatment, detention, criminalization and media smear campaigns. He noted the crucial importance of promoting the Declaration in its 20th anniversary in an environment where many Governments and non-State actors continue to challenge its scope and question its relevance.

According to the UN Resident Coordinator Fiona McCluney, Human Rights Defenders are everyday people that dedicate their lives for the defense of human rights. "Human Rights Defenders exist in many forms. They may be working in the field to preserve nature from toxic wastes and contamination, or in shelters to support victims of gender-based violence, or protesting in the street in support of LGBT and Intersex rights, or carrying out monitoring and research to expose corruption and abuse, or helping poor communities suffering from forced eviction and displacement," said Ms. MCcluney.

"Human Rights Defenders are everyday people that dedicate their lives for the defense of human rights"

Fiona McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro

"Respect for human rights is not only in the interests of individuals, but also in the interests of the states. You will rarely find a country that is developed without a developed human rights protection system," said professor Nebojsa Vučinić, stressing out that the protection of Human Rights Defenders is a challenge both locally and internationally.

"You will rarely find a country that is developed without a developed human rights protection system"

Nebojsa Vučinić, Professor at the Law Faculty and former judge of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg

The organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UN System in Montenegro and the Faculty of Law of the University of Montenegro is part of the joint initiative of the Government of Montenegro and the UN System in a country to mark the 70th Anniversary of adoption of Universal Declaration.