Short answers, pulled from the story.
At least 331 human rights defenders were murdered in 2020 across 25 countries, according to a report published by Front Line Defenders. In 2019, the figure was 304 defenders killed across 31 countries.
The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, formally adopted on the 9th of December 1998 (A/RES/53/144), is the first UN instrument to define and legitimise the work of human rights defenders. It is not legally binding but articulates existing treaty rights and applies them to defenders, affirming their right to criticise governments, observe trials, access resources, and receive funds from abroad.
Environmental human rights defenders are people who defend environmental, land, and indigenous rights, including those working against extractive industries and large development projects. In 2020-69 percent of all HRDs killed globally were working on these issues. Global Witness documented 1,922 environmental defender deaths in 52 countries between 2002 and 2019, with 80 percent of those deaths occurring in Latin America.
No formal qualification is required. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights states that the minimum standards are acceptance of the universality of human rights and commitment to non-violent action. Defenders may be professionals or volunteers, working alone or within institutions.
Key mechanisms include the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders (established in 2000), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Defenders Unit (2001), the EU Guidelines on human rights defenders (2004), and the EU ProtectDefenders.eu mechanism (2015). In 2016, the International Service for Human Rights published the Model National Law on the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders to guide national legislation.
Major awards include the Martin Ennals Award (which carries a grant of at least 20,000 Swiss Francs), the Sakharov Prize established by the European Parliament in 1988, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (established 1984), and the Front Line Defenders Award established in 2005. Liu Xiaobo received the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.