UK

The UK 2016 Updated NAP refers to Human rights defenders several times:

1. In the introduction the NAP 2016 states that [paragraph 2, page 2]: “The National Action Plan contained a commitment to bring out an updated version. This update allows us to: (…) support the role Government can play in supporting human rights defenders in this field and the provision of remedy which is available to those who feel they are victims of business-related human rights abuses.”
2. In the section Government commitments, NAP 2016 states that [Paragraph 4, p.11]: “The Government will do the following to reinforce its implementation of its commitments under Pillar 1 of the UNGPs: (…) Continue to work through our embassies and high commissions to support human rights defenders working on issues related to business and human rights in line with EU Guidelines on human rights defenders.” It goes on to to state in the Government Commitments section [Paragraph 1, page 17] that “The Government will continue to encourage UK companies in their work to respect human rights. We will: (…) instruct our diplomatic missions to work with host governments, local and UK business, trade unions, NGOs, human rights defenders, academics, lawyers and other local experts so we can help inform companies of the human rights risks they face.”

The UK 2016 Updated NAP provides a case-study on Supporting human rights defenders in Colombia, Mexico and Brazil which states [page 22]:

“The UK supported International Service for Human Rights to deliver an intensive training and advocacy programme for human rights defenders working on issues relating to business and human rights in Colombia, Mexico and Brazil. ISHR also created a toolkit to equip human rights defenders to engage with and influence business and supported an advocacy mission to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for the purpose of briefing diplomats and decision- makers on the situation of human rights defenders working on issues of business and human rights in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico and obtaining recommendations in that regard.”