Michel Forst, UN special rapporteur, has published a world report on human rights defenders. In this document, Forst explains that Spain recognizes the declaration of human rights but denounces that “restrictions” are continuously growing. According to Forst, “defenders of the right to self-determination and Catalan rights, defenders dealing with politically sensitive issues, defenders of people on the move, and women human rights defenders are all vulnerable to greater harassment and restrictions on their activities”.

Forst highlights that restrictions on the right to protest intensified before the Catalan self-determination referendum of October 1st, 2017. The rapporteur explains that the president of Òmnium Cultural, Jordi Cuixart, and the president of the ANC, Jordi Sánchez, are accused of rebellion because of the demonstrations they were involved in on September 20th of that same year.

You can read the full report here.