Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Global CITIZENS FESTIVAL 2024

New York

Friends, New Yorkers, global citizens.

Human rights defenders are champions for our future – shining a light on repression, on injustice and on solutions to humanity’s greatest challenges.

In return, they are often smeared, intimidated, imprisoned, and worse.

According to data gathered by my Office, last year, 320 human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 40 countries were killed. Many of them while protecting nature and the environment.

Across the globe, environmental human rights defenders are leading efforts to tackle a climate crisis that is growing ever more ferocious, more terrifying, and more present.

They are standing up for the marginalized, for the natural world, and for the planet.

For the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

They deserve our gratitude and our protection.

My office is proud to support the Leaders Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders (LEAD), a new initiative focused on meaningful and safe participation of defenders in climate and environmental discussions.

But they need your support too. So I urge you to join my office.

Take action to protect civic space and help us to build a more sustainable and more equal future. 

https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2024/09/environmental-human-rights-defenders-are-champions-our-future-turk