| Human Rights First | (7988 words) |
 | Many human rights defenders regularly face harassment by their governments when conducting their work on a regional or international levelpassports are confiscated to prevent international travel or reprisals follow upon return home from a human rights meeting abroad or the release of a report outside their country. |
 | The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders reaffirms that everyone has the right to effective access to participation in the government of his or her country and in the conduct of public affairs, "on a non-discriminatory basis." This reflects similar provisions in international law. |
 | Human rights defenders should be free to determine the focus and scope of any human rights activity, and be subject only to the limitations referred to in article 17 of the Declaration. |