The undersigning civil society organizations express our concern over the global trend of persecuting digital rights defenders, including security researchers and trainers who act to protect and promote human rights. We demand the strong protection of their work and their recognition as human rights defenders. Either through laws that criminalize their activity or through judicial persecution meant to silence and punish them, their work and lives are being jeopardized. This trend has a detrimental effect on human rights, both online and off... The work digital rights defenders do in defense of privacy is fundamental for the protection  of human rights... The work of digital rights defenders is a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression and, as such, it must be protected... We reject all persecution of digital rights defenders. We demand the recognition of their work at the legal, social, and political levels. Digital rights defenders should also be recognized as human rights defenders when they work for the defense of fundamental human rights or in any way for public interest... They should be allowed to do their work without fear of judicial harassment or any form of harm coming from the state.