5 Annexes

5.1 Appendix A: International human rights treaties and treaty bodies

* Norway has not acceded to this convention.

**The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration is not legally binding.

5.2 Appendix B: List of organisations and sources of information

5.2.1 UN including special procedures:

• UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). OHCHR also tracks country-specific information: UN Status of Ratification, and UN Treaty Collection.
• OHCHR alsopublishesannual reportson cases ofreprisals for cooperatingwiththe UN.
• The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders publishes annual reports on the situation for human rights defenders, including individual cases.
• Other Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.
• Universal Periodic Review. UPR info provides an overview of previous recommendations.
• International Labour Organization.
• UNESCO’s information on the safety of journalists.

5.2.2 Regional organisations and mechanisms:

• African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights: The commission has its own mandate for a Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders in Africa.
• The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has its own rapporteurship on human rights defenders and justice operators.
• The Council of Europe has a Commissioner for Human Rights.
• There is a Special Rapporteur under the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) on environmental defenders.
• The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) supports human rights defenders. See also OSCE guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in appendix D, and a compilation of all OSCE human rights commitments.
• ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

5.2.3 Norwegian civil society organisations with a particular focus on human rights defenders:

• Amnesty International Norway
• Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF)
• The Norwegian Helsinki Committee
• The Norwegian Human Rights Fund (NHRF) provides small-scale grants to local human rights organisations.
• The Rafto Foundation
• SAIH: Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund.
• FRI – The Norwegian Organization for Sexual and Gender Diversity.

PEN Norway

5.2.4 Examples of international civil society organisations with a particular focus on human rights defenders:

• AfricanDefenders: Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network.
• Amnesty International
• Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
• Civicus
• Civil Rights Defenders
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
• DefendDefenders: East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project
• Freedom House
• Front Line Defenders (The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders): Runs a hotline service for human rights defenders, issues urgent appeals and provides emergency support. See also the yearly global analysis.
• Human Rights First
• The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL)
• International Federation for Human Rights: Publishes annual reports on the situation of human rights defenders in a number of countries.
• International Service for Human Rights: Provides advocacy training and support for human rights defenders including towards UN and other international organisations.
• Peace Brigades International: Can escort and protect human rights defenders in critical situations.
• People in Need
• SouthernDefenders: Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network.
• World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT): Issues urgent appeals and provides emergency support.

5.2.5 Other relevant sources:

• The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ webpage on human rights defenders
• Local human rights defenders. National and regional networks of human rights defenders.
• Independent national human rights institutions. Home - GANHRI
• UN offices in the country, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and/or UN human rights advisers.
• Reports and recommendations from the UN human rights system, in particular the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and the country’s own Universal Periodic Review under the Human Rights Council
• Other countries’ diplomatic missions.
• Reports and recommendations from regional organisations for example the Council of Europe and the OSCE.
• National public institutions (ministries, ombudsmen, commissions, etc.), national research institutions and universities.
• Speeches and addresses by the authorities in national and international forums.
• Reports on human rights in the local media and international press.
• Norwegian and international human rights organisations working in the country in question.
• Freedom House: Freedom in the World Report: Annual report tracking global trends in political rights and civil liberties.
• Freedom House: Freedom on the Net Report: Annual report on internet freedom.
• Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Reports: Produces the largest global dataset on democracy.

5.3 Appendix C: Examples of international protection mechanisms

• The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders: At-risk human rights defenders may contact the mandate directly.
• Dignity for All: LGBTQI+ Assistance Program: Provides emergency assistance, advocacy funding and security support to human rights defenders and civil society organisations under threat or attack due to their work for LGBTQI+ rights.
• Front Line Defenders (the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders): Runs a hotline service for human rights defenders, issues urgent appeals and provides emergency support.
• ICORN international cities of refuge network (Fribynettverket): Offers protection to persecuted speakers/artists, for example writers, poets and journalists, based on applications.
• LIFELINE: embattled CSO assistance fund: Provides financial support to civil society organisations under pressure. Organisations can seek support directly for various purposes, including support in emergencies, to strengthen the ability to resist pressure, or the ability to influence.
• Oslo as a Breathing Space City for human rights defenders.
• The Students at Risk (StAR): Programme gives students, who have experienced persecution, threats or expulsion from their higher education institution because of their peaceful activism for human rights and democratic change, a chance to finish their education abroad.
• Scholars at Risk (SAR): Protects scholars suffering grave threats to their lives, liberty and well-being by arranging temporary research and teaching positions at institutions in their network as well as by providing advisory and referral services.
• Shelter City: A movement of cities, institutions and people that offer human rights defenders temporary relocation
• ProtectDefenders.eu: The EU human rights defenders mechanism includes a helpdesk, emergency grants and relocation support.
• Urgent Action Fund: Supports women human rights defenders.
• The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund’s Window for Women Human Rights Defenders: Includes a safety net stream and an advocacy stream.

5.4 Appendix D: Countries and organisations with guidelines to support human rights defenders

• Canada
• EU
• Finland
• OSCE
• Switzerland
• Ireland
• UK
• USA
• UN

5.5 Appendix E: Other guidelines and policy documents on human rights and gender equality issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Action plan for women’s rights and gender equality.
• Action plan: Women, Peace and Security (2023–2030).
• Strategy for promoting freedom of expression in Norwegian foreign and development policy.
• Guidelines on freedom of religion or belief.
• Guidelines on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Guidelines on promoting indigenous peoples’ rights.
• Guidelines on promoting abolition of the death penalty.
• Guidelines on sexual and reproductive health and rights