Mary Lawlor

On 7-8 October 2008, in a major inter-institutional initiative, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the United Nations marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by convening a high-level conference in Brussels, entitled "The Defenders take the floor". It was an occasion to review the international and regional support mechanisms that have been developed in favour of human rights defenders. Front Line Director, Mary Lawlor, gave a keynote speech, available here.  

08 May 2007

Mary Lawlor Director, Front Line

Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam Chairperson of SUDO, the Sudan Social Development Organization

Gégé Katana President of SOFAD, the Solidarity Movement of Women Human Rights Activists (Solidarité des Femmes Activistes pour la Défense des Droits Humains)

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Eleanor Roosevelt gave the most powerful rationale for why the work of human rights defenders is so important and why it is so important to protect them.

"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world”