The Government of Minas Gerais decrees that the Programme for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Minas Gerais – PPDDH-MG – is established within the scope of the State Secretariat for Social Development. The aim of the PPDDH-MG is to adopt measures for the protection of natural or legal persons, groups, institutions, organisations and social movements whose rights have been violated or threatened as a result of their work for the recognition, respect, protection, promotion or exercise of human rights.