International Service for Human Rights

In June 2004, The European Union (EU) adopted the Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and undertook a review of the Guidlines' implementation in 2006. The purpose of the Guidelines is to guide EU action regarding human rights defenders. The Guidelines identify practical ways for the EU to support and assist human rights defenders working in 'third' (non-EU) countries. They are useful to support the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders and the regional mechanisms for human rights defenders' protection.

The EU Guidelines identify practical ways to work towards the promotion and protection of human rights defenders in third countries, in five different areas:

• Monitoring and reporting on the situation of human rights defenders
• Support and protection of human rights defenders
• Human rights defenders promotion with third countries and in multilateral fora
• Support for the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council
• Support through other EU programmes, including development policy

To find out more about the European Union and its Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, please visit the European Union page in our Regional Systems section.