On the 12th of February 2007, the government of Brasil adopted decree no. 6044, approving the National Policy on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (PNPDDH), defining the deadline for the elaboration of the National Plan for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and proposing other provisions. As stated in the first article of the decree:

“The National Policy for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders – PNPDDH, in the form set forth in the Annex to this Decree, is hereby approved. Its purpose is to establish principles and guidelines for the protection and assistance of individuals or legal entities, groups, institutions, organizations or social movements that promote, protect and defend human rights and, as a result of their activities in these circumstances, are at risk or vulnerable.”

Find the original document here in Portuguese (Presidência da República).