Whereas the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (referred to in this preamble as the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders )— (1) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1998; and (2) states that, Everyone has the right … to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels ; Whereas the Department of State defines human rights defenders as individuals, working alone or in groups, who non-violently advocate for the promotion and protection of universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms ; Whereas the Senate supports the right of human rights defenders all over the world to promote the fundamental freedoms enshrined in— (1) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted at Paris on December 10, 1948; and (2) human rights treaties; Whereas human rights defenders protect the rights of vulnerable individuals and groups; Whereas, according to Amnesty International, an estimated 3,500 human rights defenders have been murdered since the adoption of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; Whereas, in certain parts of the world, the work of human rights defenders is threatened through— (1) restrictions on— (A) the press; and (B) the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association; (2) smear campaigns; (3) arbitrary detentions; (4) laws restricting the funding and registration of human rights organizations; (5) physical attacks; (6) enforced disappearances; (7) impunity with respect to crimes committed against human rights defenders; and (8) abuses of— (A) antiterrorism legislation; and (B) states of emergency