A/HRC/43/50 B. Human rights defenders 35. The core of the international framework on human rights defenders is the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the General Assembly. It is available in many languages, and recently marked its twentieth anniversary. 36. The Declaration articulates existing rights in a way that makes it easier to apply them to the practical role and situation of human rights defenders. The rights of defenders that are recognized include the rights to: meet and assemble peacefully; benefit from effective remedies; exercise their occupation as human rights defenders; effective protection under national law in peacefully opposing State human rights violations; conduct human rights work individually and in association with others; seek, receive and hold information relating to human rights; unhindered access to and communication with nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations; and solicit, receive and utilize resources (including funds from abroad) for the purpose of protecting human rights. 37. Under the Declaration, States have duties, including to: protect, promote and implement all human rights; provide an effective remedy for persons who claim to have been victims of violations; conduct prompt and impartial investigations of alleged violations; take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of everyone against violence, threats, retaliation or adverse discrimination as a consequence of legitimate exercise of rights referred to in the Declaration; and promote public understanding of all human rights, including cultural rights. 38. While the Declaration is not itself a legally binding instrument, its adoption as a General Assembly resolution represents a strong commitment by States to its implementation, and it contains legally binding principles and rights derived from treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Moreover, the Council has repeatedly called for the Declaration’s full implementation, reaffirming that everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and strive for the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including cultural rights. 29 The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights noted in its statement on human rights defenders and economic, social and cultural rights that it considered any threats or violence against human rights defenders to constitute violations of the obligations of States towards the realization of the rights contained in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights , since human rights defenders also contributed through their work to the fulfilment of those rights (E/C.12/2016/2, para. 5). 39. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees interprets the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees in light of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. It has recognized human rights defenders as a category of persons in need of international protection (A/73/230, para. 49). 40. Particular categories of human rights defenders that overlap with cultural rights defenders are recognized in and protected by additional standards. In December 2013, the General Assembly adopted resolution 68/181 on protecting women human rights defenders, in which it stressed that respect for the activities of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, was essential to the overall enjoyment of human rights. It expressed particular concern about systemic and structural discrimination and violence faced by women human rights defenders, and called upon States to take all measures necessary to ensure their protection. It also called upon States to exercise due diligence in preventing violations against human rights defenders, including through practical steps to prevent threats, harassment and violence against women human rights defenders, and in combating impunity by ensuring that those responsible for violations and abuses, including gender-based violence and threats against women human rights defenders, committed by State and non-State actors, including online, were promptly brought to justice. It emphasized the need for the participation of women human rights defenders in the development of effective policies and programmes related to their protection and 29 See, e.g., Council resolution 31/32. 9