[Event] The Role of Defenders in Fostering Accountability for Atrocity Crimes
1 March 2024 10:50 am

At a time of increasing conflicts, the root causes of which include repression and human rights abuses, respect for human rights and accountability for violations is essential to address and resolve these crises.

Amongst other things, this requires that States support and protect the work of human rights defenders, both at the national and international levels. Defenders prevent rights violations, provide essential services, document abuses, promote accountability, and propose solutions that are grounded in community priorities and needs.

Resolving conflicts and crises also requires that States treat human rights as paramount and apply human rights laws and standards in a principled, consistent way. The selective and inconsistent application of international law undermines the integrity of the global human rights system and the responses to urgent situations where gross violations amounting to atrocity crimes may be committed.

UN human rights experts and mechanisms have a crucial role to play in ringing alarm bells and ensuring States take action in a systematic manner – as do human rights defenders.

During this event, we will discuss the powerful role defenders play in mobilising key actors, including the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, to ensure effective measures are taken by multilateral bodies and UN Member States to put an end to impunity and ensure accountability.