Private economic interests—such as transnational corporations or major landowners—have an increasingly recognized impact on the economic and social rights of people from the community in which they are based. In some countries, where human rights defenders have conducted peaceful protests against the negative human rights impact of transnational corporations, the security forces have used violence to repress the protests. In other cases, the authorities have failed to intervene when unidentified individuals, suspected of acting on behalf of private economic interests, have attacked human rights defenders. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders has noted that, in some of these attacks, the complicity and responsibility of private sector entities are clear and must be recognized. In other examples of non-State acts, human rights defenders have been the victims of killings, beatings and intimidation instigated by religious associations, community or tribal elders, and even members of their own family, in direct reaction to their human rights work. 3.
Positive role of State and non-State actors
In many States, the obligation to respect, protect and implement human rights is generally fulfilled effectively; and in almost every State there are, at the very least, individuals within the security and civilian authorities who work very hard to protect human rights and who themselves fulfil the role of human rights defenders. In some cases, police officers, judges, civilian members of the State bureaucracy and politicians have placed themselves at great personal risk so as to protect the human rights of others, to support justice and to end corruption. Similarly, although some private actors are perpetrators of violations against human rights defenders, others provide fundamental support in addressing such acts. Transnational corporations can be a powerful force in assuring that rights are respected, and some corporations have adopted good employment policies and contributed to the economic and social rejuvenation of the communities in which they are established. Religious leaders have often been at the forefront of action to defend human rights and human rights defenders themselves. In some cases, there may be no clear-cut separation between positive and negative non-State actors. Business interests may contribute positively to some human rights but have a negative impact on others. It is essential, 17