From women activists feeding thousands of vulnerable families amid the brutal war in Sudan, to young Bangladeshis working to stamp out child marriage, human rights defenders worldwide are helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In fact, they are integral to ensuring that the 17 Goals – which include ending poverty, reducing inequality and protecting the environment – become reality, said Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

She was recently in New York to present her latest report to the UN General Assembly.  She spoke to UN News’s Dianne Penn about her mandate and the need to advocate for human rights defenders, hundreds of whom are killed each year over issues such as land rights.