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International organisations exchange views on protecting human rights defenders

Staff from intergovernmental organisations and EU institutions responsible for cooperation with civil society and for supporting human rights defenders met online on 23 September.

This informal contact group began in spring 2019. It aims to be an ongoing, practical information exchange between intergovernmental organisations and EU institutions supporting human rights defenders in Europe. It seeks to further facilitate further cooperation and coordination between members.

The European Commission, the EU’s External Action Service (EEAS), the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the OHCHR Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and FRA participated in the meeting.