March 3 marks the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Bertha Caceres, a Honduran indigenous and environmentalist activist who was killed by US Special Forces for opposing the commencement of a dam project in her local area. Her murder was one of the many examples of people being persecuted for standing up for human rights.

Why is the resolution needed?

In today’s world, it is clear that people still do not have freedom of speech. The Italian Coalition of Civil rights and Freedoms is part of the national campaign asking for better protection for human rights defenders, together with many other Italian organizations and associations.*

At the urging of civil society groups, who wrote a letter to Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, the Italian House of Representatives held the conference "Difendiamoli" last November. Representatives from many countries around the world attended, and the event served as a reminder for EU member states to adhere to national and international laws protecting human rights defenders and their freedom of speech.

The resolution is only Step 1!

Now that a resolution is in place, the next step will be to broaden the protection of human rights activists both nationally in Italy and internationally through transnational programs.

For example, there are plans to create "city retreats" in local areas to provide temporary protection and accommodation for activists who feel threatened. The resolution will also be extended to grant temporary visas for activists who need to temporarily return to Italy out of fear of persecution.

Most importantly, the resolution calls for reaffirming the EU guidelines on freedom of speech and advocacy, which was one of the conclusions of the "Difendiamoli" conference. This will be achieved via written guidelines for Italian diplomatic staff as well as a transparent system of overseeing of the implementation of such guidelines. There will also be greater access to information for activists who want to learn more about their options for seeking support.

Italy: a role model for the world

Following the success of the resolution in Italy, there is now hope that it will set the benchmark for the protection of human rights activists on a global scale. Italy will chair the OSCE conference next year. According to human rights advocate Franceso Martone, this would present the perfect opportunity for Italy to promote protections for human rights defenders on an international stage.

It is clear that Italy has succeeded in respecting the voice of its people and in helping to protect those who protect us. However, it is now time for the rest of the world to follow Italy's lead!

*Other organizations behind the effort include: AIDOS, Amnesty International, Associazione Antigone, Centro di Ateneo per i Diritti Umani, Università di Padova, AOI, ARCI, ARCS, Associazione Articolo 21, CGIL , Comitato Giustizia per i Nuovi Desaparecidos, COSPE, Fondazione Lelio e Lisli Basso-Issoco, Giuristi Democratici, Greenpeace Italia, Legambiente, Libera. Associazioni Nomi e Numeri contro le mafie, Non c’è Pace senza Giustizia, Operazione Colomba, Radicali Italiani, Rete per la Pace, Terra Nuova, Peace Brigades International – Italia, Progetto Endangered Lawyers/Avvocati Minacciati, Unione Camere Penali Italiane, Un ponte per…