International Day for Women Human Rights Defenders

November 29, 2013

Warm greetings for women human rights defenders’ day for all women working in defense of all human rights, and all people who engage in defending the rights of women.

Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Article 1 states that "Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels" on 9 December 1998.

The International Consultation on Women Human Rights Defenders held on 29 November – 2 December in Colombo, Sri Lanka was the first of its kind. It was a collaborative effort between women’s rights and human rights groups to bring together women human rights defenders from various sectors and countries worldwide. The Consultation was organized by Amnesty International, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, World Organisation against Torture and International Service for the Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women’s Rights and many other organizations working in this field.  It was decided during the consultation that day 29 November will be commemorated as women human rights defenders’ day every year.

Since then, November 29 became a day of recognition for women human rights defenders, and it is a day to commemorate activism, advocacy and courageous acts of resistance.

There is an increased role, contribution, action and leadership of women human rights defenders in a society, however, they also struggle to defend human rights as they often face any abuses, violations of their rights, and threats from individual, groups, or officials and therefore they face difficulties in regularly conducting their activities. They defend human rights in many ways and sometimes they even sacrifice their life, health and their family.

As a voice representing women human rights defenders on the commemoration of this day, there is an urgent need for Mongolia to pay special attention to the issues of ensuring security and safety of women human rights defenders, regulating their protection through a special law, redressing their violated rights, as well as the issue of their economic and social protection.