Categories for data collection

The five categories have been identified in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and support the monitoring of related human rights law. The user can choose to monitor all areas or skip the categories that are not applicable for their scope or mandate.

The five categories are:

1. General protection, promotion and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms

This domain covers measures which enable or hinder the overall protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is divided into two attributes: (1.1) general measures and the reported cases related to these general measures, and (1.2) human rights education. These attributes cover issues such as: the ratification of relevant treaties; the adoption of national legislation, policies and action plans to further the rights in the UNDHRD; the establishment of independent national human rights institutions; crimes against human rights defenders and efforts to convict the perpetrators; state reporting and implementation of human rights recommendations on these issues; use of legislation to criminalize the legitimate activities of human rights defenders; efforts to mainstream human rights education in relevant policies and curricula; and trainings of public officials in human rights education.

2. Freedom of expression and opinion

This domain covers measures which enable or hinder the exercise of the freedom of opinion and expression. It is divided into two attributes; and (2.1) freedom to hold opinions and to impart information and ideas, (2.2) access to information. These attributes cover issues such as: legal guarantees for the protection of the freedom of opinion and expression, including to communicate with NGOs and IGOs and to access information; intimidations and reprisals for exercising the freedom of opinion and expression; access to digital information technology and interference to its use; media censorships and efforts to remedy it; perception of civil society about being free or not to exercise their human rights-related work; mechanisms to oversee implementation of and to facilitate access to information; and availability of relevant international human rights instruments in the state’s official language.

3. Freedom of association and assembly

This domain covers measures which enable or hinder the exercise of the freedom of association and assembly. It is divided into two attributes: (3.1) freedom to hold peaceful assemblies, and (3.2) freedom to form, join, operate, and participate in associations These attributes cover issues such as: legal guarantees for the protection of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, including the right to access resources for this purpose; framework for law enforcement officials and private sector operating in assemblies; training on policing of assemblies; infringements on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly; interference in associations working on human rights issues; and procedures for the legal registration of associations.

4. Participation in public affairs

This domain covers measures which enable or hinder the exercise of the right to participation in public affairs. It has one attribute: (4.1) participation in the conduct of public affairs, equal and universal suffrage and access to public service. This attribute covers issues such as: legal guarantees for the protection of the right to participate in public affairs, mechanisms to implement it, and restrictions on such right; regulation on meaningful consultation; mandatory due diligence for relevant business operations, including consultation with affected stakeholders; and representation in relevant public positions.

5. Liberty and security of person

This domain covers measures which enable or hinder the exercise of the right to liberty and security of person. It is divided into two attributes: (5.1) security of person from abuse and (5.2) arrest and detention and effective access to court and remedy. These attributes cover issues such as: legal guarantees on the conduct of law enforcement officials and effective investigation of misconducts against human rights defenders; protection mechanisms for human rights defenders; state implementation of precautionary measures by international bodies; legal guarantees on the right to a fair trial and infringement to it; legal guarantees against arbitrary arrest; proportion of unsentenced detainees; training in human rights standards for the administration of justice; availability of legal aid in criminal proceedings.