“We pay tribute to the courage of human rights defenders. Their willingness to risk everything to protect the rights of others demands our full support”, said Foreign Minister and Council President Ursula Plassnik during the first review by the External Relations Council in Luxembourg of the implementation of EU policy on the protection of human rights defenders.
Since June 2004, the protection of human rights defenders has been a declared priority theme of EU external policy on human rights issues. On the initiative of the Austrian Presidency, the Council has now adopted a comprehensive set of recommendations. The measures contained therein, which are to be implemented by EU Member States, their embassies in third countries and the European Commission should, in cases of acute threat, enable effective EU intervention in favour of activists.
“Committed men and women still have to put themselves in danger when fighting against tyranny, for the rights of the weakest in their society or the protection of minorities. All too many must pay for their actions with their life or face continual death threats, persecution and imprisonment. Our goal is to help these brave individuals both quickly and effectively”, Plassnik said.
For the EU, according to Plassnik, “human rights defenders are an essential partner in the worldwide promotion and implementation of human rights”. “They pave the way for democracy and development. After wars and conflicts it is often they who promote continued reconciliation. In many countries women face further dangers in human rights work. During the Austrian Presidency, embassies in over 40 countries have therefore engaged in awareness-raising activities in support of human rights defenders", she said. This initiative is to be carried forward by the Finnish Presidency in the second half of the year.
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