 By definition, a human rights defender is a person who individually or in association with others acts peacefully to promote or strives for the realisation and protection of human rights. Human rights defenders have many faces. Some can be environmentalists, scientists or healthcare workers. Others can be lawyers, journalists, politicians or artists. They can also be religious leaders, whistleblowers, women, LGBT activists or students. Human rights defenders are identified by what they do rather than by their profession. Their work can be extremely challenging and risky. Every day, everywhere, some human rights defenders are standing up and speaking up against human rights violations, injustice and discrimination. Human rights defenders also remind states of their responsibility and hold states accountable. It is becoming increasingly difficult for human rights defenders to work online and offline. Because of their work, they face threats, harassment, violent attacks, restrictions and reprisals. Often, they are silenced. Human rights defenders need protection. Making sure human rights defenders are protected everywhere, every time, is one of the main roles we play at the UN Human Rights Office. We advocate for safe and open space for their freedoms and rights to participate. States are duty bound to ensure that human rights defenders can carry out their work unrestricted. States have the obligation to protect civic space and allow all voices to be heard. Protect one voice to hear many. Protect the voices of human rights defenders.