#StandAsMyWitness

  • Activism works: on Mandela Day, let's boost efforts to free human rights defenders around the world
    • #StandAsMyWitness campaign launched two years ago on Nelson Mandela Day
    • Campaign has been part of successful global calls to release incarcerated human rights defenders 
    • 21 human rights defenders currently featured in the campaign have spent 50 years collectively in prison

    In honour of Nelson Mandela Day 18 July, global civil society alliance CIVICUS calls for renewed efforts to help free 21 human rights defenders featured in its #StandAsMyWitness global campaign. Altogether, they have been imprisoned for half a century - and some face many more years behind bars. Activism makes a difference - #StandAsMyWitness has already been part of successful global calls leading to the release of 20 activists across the world.

    Launched two years ago on Mandela Day,  #StandAsMyWitness urges governments to free activists in prison or facing pre-trial detention after protecting and promoting human rights. 

    “Over 30 years since Nelson Mandela was released from prison and still human rights defenders are wrongfully incarcerated in both authoritarian regimes and democratic states. Their crime? Standing up for the rights of women, children and Indigenous people; fighting for climate justice; advocating for free and fair elections; and promoting democratic freedoms,” said David Kode, Advocacy and Campaigns Lead at CIVICUS.

    Human rights defenders in the #StandAsMyWitness campaign include Iranian lawyer Nasrin al-Sotoudeh, sentenced to 38 years on charges that include insulting Iran’s supreme leader; Mexican Kenia Hernandez, facing a decade in prison in retaliation for her work defending Indigenous communities; and Buzurgmehr Yorov, a 50-year old lawyer from Tajikistan, sentenced to 22 years behind bars after defending government opponents.

    Mr Mandela, perhaps the most iconic and respected human rights defender, was released after 27 years following global opposition to his incarceration. Similar efforts by civil society and sustained public pressure are needed to secure the freedom of rights defenders currently facing long sentences.

    “We urge people across the world to demand the release of brave activists in the #StandAsMyWitness campaign: sign a petition, use our hashtag on social media, or lobby your government. It is scandalous that those fighting for justice and equality have spent even one day in prison, never mind many years,” said Kode. 

    Sustained action from different sources can make a difference; since its launch two years ago, #StandAsMyWitness has worked with human rights organisations and civil society to guarantee the release of 20 human rights defenders. 

    They include activist Teresita Naul from the Philippines, released in October after many awareness-raising efforts by civil society; Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, freed in June last year after nearly five years of civil society campaigning and diplomatic pressure from democratic governments; and women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul from Saudi Arabia, released after 1000 days in 2021 following a prominent global campaign demanding her release.  

    South Africa’s iconic former president spent 27 years behind bars before his release. Let’s work together to make sure human rights defenders currently languishing in prison are not forgotten - let’s fight for their freedom together. They are urging you to: Stand As My Witness.

    Facebook SAMW Images 1

    Below is a list of the human rights defenders featured in the #StandAsMyWitness campaign. To find out how to get involved, check out CIVICUS’s campaign webpage: Stand As My Witness.

    AFRICA:

    • Eswatini: Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube - MPs who campaigned for democratic reform

    ASIA:

    • Hong Kong: Chow Hang-Tung - pro-democracy activist, sentenced for organising unauthorised Tiananmen Square Massacre commemoration vigil
    • India: Khurram Parvez - Kashmiri rights activist; listed in Time magazine’s 100 ‘Most Influential People 2022’ 

    CENTRAL ASIA:

    • Belarus: Viasna Human Rights Defenders - members of Viasna human rights centre; jailed for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression
    • Tajikistan: Buzurgmehr Yorov - human rights lawyer representing members of the opposition; recipient of Homo Homini human rights prize

    LATIN AMERICA:

    • Mexico: Kenia Hernandez - Indigenous and women’s rights activist; arrested after protest
    • Nicaragua: Maria Esperanza Sanchez Garcia - targeted for her civic activism
    • Nicaragua: Medardo Mairena and Pedro Mena - opposition activists initially sentenced to more than 200 years in prison after taking part in anti-government protests

    MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA:

    • Algeria: Kamira Nait Sid - Indigenous and women’s rights activist campaigning for the rights of the Amazigh people in Algeria
    • Bahrain: Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja - detained after democracy protests in 2011; recipient of the prestigious Martin Ennals Award 2022 for human rights defenders
    • Egypt: Hoda Abdel Moneim - human rights lawyer and former member of Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights
    • Iran: Nasrin Sotoudeh - human rights lawyer specialising in the rights of women, children and human rights defenders
    • United Arab Emirates: Ahmed Mansoor - on the advisory boards for Human Rights Watch and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights; imprisoned for publishing information on social media
  • Belarus: CIVICUS condemns harsh verdict on human rights defenders

    Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, expresses serious concerns over the sentencing of Viasna human rights defenders, Maria Rabkova and Andrey Chapiuk by the Minsk City Court this afternoon. Maria and Andrey were both sentenced to 15 years and 6 years respectively following a trial marked by irregularities.  
  • Bilan d'une année de transformations et priorités pour l'avenir

    Message de Lysa John, secrétaire générale de CIVICUS

    Chers membres et alliés de CIVICUS,

    Nous terminons une année extraordinaire en réfléchissant à la croissance de l'Alliance CIVICUS. Je voudrais prendre un moment pour souligner ce que nous avons réalisé et appris ensemble, ainsi que nos priorités pour l'année à venir.

    Larévision du plan stratégique 2017-2022 au début de l'année a montré que CIVICUS a non seulement adopté les leçons apprises, mais s'est continuellement efforcé d'avoir un plus grand impact à l'échelle mondiale. Avec la mise en œuvre de notre Plan stratégique 2017-2022, nous avons produit des rapports et des analyses mondiaux actualisés. En passant d'une recherche rétrospective à une analyse de données plus récentes sur les évolutions dans le monde, nous nous sommes imposés comme un leader et un partenaire de confiance dans le secteur.

    Le nouveauPlanstratégique 2022-27 nous a amenés à revoir et à optimiser notre coordination interne et notre impact externe, notamment en révisant les principaux axes de travail dirigés par l'Équipe de direction senior (SLT).  Le SLT nouvellement restructuré, composé de cinq membres, dirigera les priorités définies dans notre Plan stratégique 2022-27.

    New SLT FR

    Nous sommes heureux d'annoncer que notre rapport annuel 2023 montre clairement les progrès de CIVICUS par rapport à la nouvelle stratégie. Les principaux points du rapport comprennent l'utilisation croissante des recherches générées par CIVICUS Monitor et CIVICUS Lens pour influencer le discours public.  Nos efforts de plaidoyer ont évolué vers des stratégies permanentes en réseau et, par exemple, la campagne#StandAsMyWitness a contribué à la libération de 15 défenseurs des droits humains emprisonnés. Nous sommes également heureux de partager que CIVICUS a été reconnue comme l'organisation la mieux classée dans lemoniteur annuel FAIR SHARE for Women Leaders.

    Fidèles à notre mission, nous avons lancé cette année plusieurs initiatives visant à renforcer la participation de la société civile et les libertés civiques. Il s'agit notamment de lacampagne WeRise, qui se concentre sur la liberté de réunion pacifique, duprojet Local Leadership Labs, qui renforce l'écosystème de la société civile locale, et de l'Initiative pour la démocratie numérique, qui promeut un espace démocratique local inclusif à l'ère numérique. En outre, notre bureau des Nations unies à New York travaille sur la campagneUnMute Civil Society, qui plaide en faveur d'une meilleure participation de la société civile aux Nations unies.

    Pour l'avenir, nous avons le plaisir d'annoncer que nous présenterons les prix de l'innovation Graça Machel-Nelson Mandela en 2024 et la Semaine internationale de la société civile (ICSW) en 2025. Restez à l'écoute de nos plateformes pour plus d'informations sur ces événements. 

    Alors que nous naviguons dans les complexités de ce monde en constante évolution, l'Alliance CIVICUS reste engagée dans sa mission de renforcement de l'action citoyenne à travers le monde. Nos réalisations de cette année reflètent notre résilience collective et notre engagement inébranlable en faveur du progrès. 

    Nous vous remercions pour votre soutien continu et nous vous souhaitons une fin d'année joyeuse et un début d'année 2024 rafraîchissant !

    En toute solidarité,

    Lysa John (LinkedIn)
  • Burundi : quatre journalistes toujours en prison un an après leur arrestation
    • Les autorités burundaises devraient libérer quatre journalistes et abandonner les poursuites engagées contre eux
    • Les journalistes ajoutés à la campagne #StandAsMyWitnessappelant à la libération de tous les défenseurs des droits humains
    • La liberté des médias et les droits civiques en déclin au Burundi
  • Burundi: four journalists still in jail one year after they were arrested
    • Burundian authorities should release four journalists and drop charges against them
    • Journalists added to #StandAsMyWitnesscampaign calling for release of all human rights defenders
    • Media freedoms and civic rights declining in Burundi
  • CIVICUS calls for the release of Eswatini MPs before the anniversary of their detention
    • Calls for the release of Eswatini MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube
    • 25 July marks their one-year anniversary in detention 
    • MPs feature in  #StandAsMyWitness global human rights campaign
    • Regional SADC conference to address political unrest postponed

    Global civil society alliance CIVICUS calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Eswatini members of parliament Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube ahead of their one-year anniversary in detention.

    Bacede and Mthandeni were detained on 25 July 2021 following protests demanding political reforms and charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act and for flouting Covid-19 regulations. They feature in CIVICUS’s global #StandAsMyWitness campaign, calling for the release of activists in prison or facing pre-trial detention after protecting and promoting human rights. 

    “CIVICUS calls for the immediate release of Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, and all charges against them dropped. As MPs, it is their duty to peacefully demand democratic reform and speak out against repression - freedom of speech is not a crime. Their detention has been politically motivated, fuelled by a crisis sweeping Eswatini - they should not spend another night behind bars,” said David Kode, CIVICUS Advocacy and Campaigns Lead.

    Pro-democracy and anti-police protests swept Eswatini in June 2021 after the unexplained death of 25-year-old law student, Thabani Nkomonye, allegedly at the hands of the police. Over 1,000 people were arrested and the security forces called in to stamp out dissent. Political unrest followed and in recent months the landlocked Southern African country has experienced a so-called ‘winter revolution’ - journalists have been targeted and there have been clashes between the authorities and protesters calling for government and monarchical reforms.                                                                      

    A Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit to discuss political unrest sweeping the country was due to take place on 21 July but cancelled when Eswatini’s King Mswati III failed to appear in person. Campaigners believe King Mswati, Africa’s last absolute monarch, has thwarted calls for reform and suppressed political activism for years. His failure to attend the recent SADC conference was seen as a further blow to democracy.

    “We urge King Mswati to come to the table and start a national political dialogue with members of the opposition and civil society leaders as soon as possible; we call on Eswatini to stop suppressing dissent and silencing protesters and urge the government to overhaul rights and democracy in the country, starting with the release of all activists and human rights defenders currently behind bars,” said Kode.

    Human rights defenders across the world are risking their lives for social, political, economic, gender and environmental justice. There are currently 21 human rights defenders in CIVICUS’s #StandAsMyWitnesscampaign - collectively, they have been in prison for half a century. 

    Aswell as Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, they include Bahrainian political activist Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja, sentenced after pro-democracy protests in 2011; Mexican Kenia Hernandez, an Indigenous land rights campaigner sentenced to a decade of imprisonment in 2022; and human rights lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov from Tajikistan, sentenced to 28 years in 2015.

    “CIVICUS renews our calls to governments to release activists and human rights defenders. We urge people around the world to join the #StandAsMyWitness campaign and fight for their freedom - sign a petition, post on social media or lobby your government. Activists behind bars are asking you to #StandAsMyWitness.” 

    So far, #StandAsMyWitness has teamed up with activists and civil society organisations across the world and successfully seen the release of 20 human rights defenders.

    Those released include Loujain al-Hathloul from Saudi Arabia, a women’s rights activist convicted for driving a car; celebrated Indian human rights lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj; and Kazakhstan’s Asya Tulesova, arrested for knocking off a police officer's hat.

    To find out more about the #StandAsMyWitness campaign, visit CIVICUS’s campaign webpage: Stand As My Witness.
  • CIVICUS' New Strategic Period: A Time to Actively Engage Members and Allies

    A message from Lysa John, Secretary-General of CIVICUS

    Dear CIVICUS members and allies,

    On July 1st, we marked the beginning of a new strategy period for the CIVICUS alliance. In this update, I’m excited to share headlines from the efforts that we have been making to align our work and interrogate the outcomes we need in relation to our strategic priorities for 2022 to 2027.

    The 11th edition of our State of Civil Society report was published on 27 June and has received an encouraging response. In addition to a consistent social media push, we have been able to use the analyses to generate op-eds on key issues, and offer presentations to a wide range of activist, academic, and donor networks. Since its release, we have received much appreciation for the report’s assessment of meta-trends in civic space and democracy and for showcasing examples of where and how civil society has been successful in influencing change. Media coverage of the findings from the report include an op-ed by our editor-in-chief, Andrew Firmin and an overview by Mandeep Tiwana. The CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist was also updated during this period and includes Chad, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico and Sri Lanka.

    On Mandela Day (18 July) this year, we marked two years of the ‘Stand As My Witness’ campaign. The initiative aims to mobilise the public and policymakers to act for the release of prisoners of conscience. The campaign has profiled over 20 detained activists and has allowed us to contribute to global efforts resulting in the release of nine defenders. A dialogue with activists and networks linked to the campaign was organised on the second anniversary of the campaign and provided important insights on how our collective efforts could better assist the struggles of human rights defenders. Our teams have also been actively engaged in the 50th session of the Human Rights Council in this period. In addition to contributing to and presenting key statements, we were actively involved in amplifying demands from civil society on the process to elect the next UN Human Rights Commissioner, calling for the UN to renew its expert mandate on sexual orientation and gender identity and contributing to processes that have led to the adoption of a new resolution on the right to peaceful protest.

    Yet another initiative, namely the ‘Grassroots Solidarity Revolution’ campaign, has received considerable support and attention in this period. Updates from local dialogues and jam sessions held in five countries were shared online by a range of participants, including young leaders, grassroots networks and donors. Reflections on the lessons learned from the initiative by participants and co-travelers such as Dumiso Gatsha, Otto Saki and Yessenia Soto have provided an important opportunity to reflect on the questions and challenges being brought to light by this initiative, and its potential to catalyse the deeper and more difficult introspection on individual and institutional values that is essential to the discourse on localisation and decolonisation. In this context, we are pleased to report that a formal response to the joint letter to USAID Administrator Samantha Power from 1289 southern organisations has been received. The response, signed by the Administrator Power, acknowledges the priorities raised in the joint letter and outlined initiatives being taken to strengthen USAID’s direct engagement with and support to local civil society actors. These shifts were also reiterated as a priority in the dialogue on democracy organised between the USAID Administrator and civil society leaders organised on 16 June.

    Network-led developments include the launch of CIVICUS’ Youth Action Team’s report on youth trends in activism and civic space and the VUKA! Coalition’s consultation with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) to contribute to their next thematic report on HRDs working on issues related to migration, refugees, and asylum. A joint gathering of regional networks working together on the freedom of peaceful assembly (FoPA) was also held in July 2022. The meeting included a review of collaborative efforts that have been organised since 2021 as part of a co-creation process with six regional platforms to identify context-specific needs and priorities and to produce resources that would support them as key interlocutors on the right to peaceful protest.

    Our newest offering, theCIVICUS Lens has helped us draw on the voices and experiences of diverse civil society groups to provide real-time analyses and perspectives on geo-political trends and developments. Articles published through CIVICUS Lens have – along with other aspects of our work - helped us forge partnerships with wider platforms for dissemination. Across June and July, we have published multiple op-eds and recorded over 84 media citations across global, regional, and local platforms including Reuters, IPS, Open Democracy, The Diplomat, Afrika NewsRoom, and El Pais.

    Finally, we are proud to have recently completed the Accountability Now reporting cycle for 2021-22. The review report includes commendations about the transparent and inclusive process undertaken to refresh our strategic plan and an acknowledgment of CIVICUS as a trusted and valued partner whose work has remained relevant to members in a time of rapid context changes. Efforts being made to provide a safe and equitable working environment have also been acknowledged in the report. Three key areas for improvement have also been identified in the review process and include: (i) Improving the indicators we use to measure strategic progress (ii) Improving our risk mitigation processes, and (iii) Increasing staff awareness and use of internal complaints mechanisms. Actions to address these areas of improvement have been identified and included in this summary of the process that has been published on the CIVICUS website.

    None of this would be possible without the active engagement of our members and allies. We are grateful for your support and look forward to your continued engagement in the work and outcomes of the alliance!

    In solidarity,

    Lysa John

    Secretary-General, CIVICUS.
    @LysaJohnSA
  • Civil society demands Bahrain free Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja ahead of Dec 16 national day

    Arabic

    For interviews, please contact: or 

    JOHANNESBURG/LONDON - Global civil society alliance CIVICUS and Bahraini organisation Salam for Democracy & Human Rights (Salam DHR) call on Bahrain’s government to immediately release 62-year-old jailed human rights activist Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja as a goodwill gesture ahead of the country’s 16 December National Day.

    al-Khawaja, who is also a Danish citizen, has unjustly spent more than twelve years behind bars, part of a life sentence for a baseless conviction. He now suffers from ill health.

    “Abdul-Hadi al-Khawaja’s lengthy, wrongful imprisonment is a stain on Bahrain’s reputation,” said Salam DHR chairman Jawad Fairooz. “If the Bahraini authorities want to improve their international image, they should free him before Bahrain’s National Day. The Danish government must also do much more to free their imprisoned citizen.” 

    al-Khawaja has peacefully resisted authoritarianism for decades. He co-founded the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, and his writings and poetry have inspired a generation of activists.

    AbdulhadiAlkhawaja

    In 2011, Bahraini security forces arrested al-Khawaja as one of the “Bahrain 13” during Arab Spring protests. Prison guards tortured him, and prosecutors accused him without evidence of managing a terrorist organisation and attempting to overthrow the government by force. During his trial, held in a military court, the judges repeatedly silenced him when he spoke about torture. The rest of his co-defendants received sentences of between one year and life in prison, all for convictions on fabricated charges. 

    al-Khawaja has undertaken hunger strikes to protest ill treatment of prisoners. Authorities have force-fed him which amounts to torture, prevented family calls and denied medical care. During an August 2023 hunger strike, guards admitted him to a military hospital’s intensive care unit due to heart irregularities. Following treatment and the reported stabilising of his condition, the authorities returned him to Jau Prison where he resumed his strike. 

    “The treatment of al-Khawaja and the Bahrain 13 does not serve justice, fairness or human rights. We know this, and the world knows this.” said CIVICUS campaigns officer and MENA Advocacy Lead Asma Darwish. “As we demand al-Khawaja’s release, we also demand the release of all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain to end this dark chapter in the country’s history.”

    In 2022, al-Khawaja received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. CIVICUS features him in its #StandAsMyWitness Campaign to release jailed activists around the world. 

    CIVICUS and Salam DHR further call on the Danish government to work with Bahrain’s authorities to release al-Khawaja. Denmark must demand his freedom and conduct consular visits to ensure his health and safety. Denmark should also raise the issue with top European Union officials and bodies. 

    “The Danish government has given some attention to al-Khawaja’s case, but clearly it is not enough,” said Fairooz. “Denmark and the European Union have a responsibility to protect their citizens from torture. They must use every diplomatic and legal tool available to end al-Khawaja’s imprisonment.” 

    For interviews, please contact: or 

    CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. A worldwide community of informed, inspired, committed citizens engaged in confronting the challenges facing humanity. We were established in 1993 and since 2002 have been proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with additional hubs across the globe. We are a membership alliance with more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries.

    Founded in 2012,Salam for Democracy & Human Rights (Salam DHR) is a human rights NGO. It is registered in France, the United Kingdom (UK) & Switzerland. We undertake research & advocacy, mainly in relation to Bahrain, but also the Gulf, the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region & in relation to thematic issues, notably statelessness. We engage with other NGOs, notably partners and frequently act in coalition with others to achieve specific targets or outcomes. We engage with intergovernmental organisations and states in order to bring about socio-political reform and ever-improving adherence by states to international human rights standards & practices. The organisation is not, in effect, allowed to register in Bahrain. Salam DHR is mainly crowd funded, notably by philanthropically-minded people & firms in Bahrain & the Gulf. At the time of writing, it has a small portfolio of project-related funding. Salam DHR is independent of all governments.
  • Civil society demands Tajikistan release jailed human rights defender

    Russian

    With Tajikistan marking its Independence Day on 9 September 2023, global civil society alliance CIVICUS and the Brussels-based International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) call on Tajikistani authorities to immediately release imprisoned human rights defender Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov, and other activists and journalists detained for their human rights activities.

    “Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov is a peaceful human rights lawyer and activist who has sat in jail for far too long on trumped-up charges,” said Mandeep Tiwana, CIVICUS Chief Programmes Officer. “As Tajikistan celebrates its national day, the authorities must free him and others unjustly imprisoned without hesitation.”

    Authorities arrested Manuchehr on 28 May 2022 while he was a member of “Commission 44,” an official body investigating a November 2021 extrajudicial killing which sparked mass protests in Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). Prosecutors falsely charged Manuchehr with participating in a criminal association and publicly calling for violent change of the constitutional order. After a closed trial which failed to meet international fairness standards, Tajikistan’s Supreme Court sentenced him to 16 years’ imprisonment in December 2022.

    Manuchehr EN

    “It is completely absurd that the government appointed someone to a commission to investigate and report on human rights violations and then charged that same person for doing the work they were commissioned to do,” said IPHR director Brigitte Dufour. “Manuchehr should be released immediately.”

    Manuchehr’s continued detention is symptomatic of the ongoing civic space restrictions in Tajikistan, which is one of the world’s most repressed countries. Tajikistan authorities have repeatedly levelled trumped-up charges of “extremism” and “terrorism” against journalists, bloggers and activists who criticise the government. CIVICUS Monitor, which assesses civic space worldwide, rates Tajikistan as “closed,” its worst possible ranking.

    CIVICUS and IPHR recognise Manuchehr as part of the Stand As My Witness campaign, which advocates for the release of jailed activists and human rights defenders worldwide.

    “Manucher Kholiqnazarov has spent 15 months in detention,” said Brigitte Dufour, Director of IPHR. “It is clear he is being persecuted for his commitment to fight human rights violations and injustice in Tajikistan, and he is not the only one. Tajikistan should free Manuchehr immediately, and with him all the other human rights defenders who sit behind bars just for standing up for human rights!”

    For interviews, contact: or

    CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. A worldwide community of informed, inspired, committed citizens engaged in confronting the challenges facing humanity. We were established in 1993 and since 2002 have been proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with additional hubs across the globe. We are a membership alliance with more than 9,000 members in more than 175 countries.

    International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) is an independent, non-governmental organisation founded in 2008. Based in Brussels, IPHR works closely together with civil society groups from different countries to raise human rights concerns at the international level and promote respect for the rights of vulnerable communities. IPHR is committed to promoting human rights worldwide. It acts to empower local civil society groups who are working to advance the protection of human rights in their respective countries and assists them with raising human rights concerns at the international level. In cooperation with partner organisations, IPHR advocates on behalf of individuals and communities who are among those most vulnerable to discrimination, injustice and human rights violations.
  • Danmark må styrke indsatsen for at befri Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja på årsdagen for de pro-demokratiske demonstrationer i Bahrain

    Fås også på engelsk

    Danmark må styrke indsatsen for at befri Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja på årsdagen for de pro-demokratiske demonstrationer i Bahrain

    KØBENHAVN/LONDON/JOHANNESBURG - #FreeAl-Khawaja-kampagnen, SALAM DHR og den globale civilsamfundsalliance CIVICUS opfordrer Danmark til at gøre mere for at sikre løsladelsen af den fængslede dansk-bahrainske menneskerettighedsforkæmper Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja forud for årsdagen for de pro-demokratiske demonstrationer i Bahrain i 2011.

    "Efter næsten 13 år er Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja desværre ikke blevet løsladt," udtaler Asma Darwish, CIVICUS Campaigns Officer og MENA Advocacy Lead. "Det er på tide, at den danske regering gennemgår og fornyer sin strategi for at sikre hans løsladelse."

     Abdul Hadi al Khawaja Bahrain

    Al-Khawaja er Bahrains førende menneskerettighedsforkæmper og vinder af Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. Hans årtier lange menneskerettighedsarbejde har inspireret en generation af aktivister, der kæmper for civile og politiske frihedsrettigheder. I 2020 føjede CIVICUS Al-Khawaja til deres “Stand As My Witness-kampagne”, der opfordrer til løsladelse af fængslede menneskerettighedsforkæmpere, aktivister, journalister og dissidenter over hele verden.

    Efter massive pro-demokratiske demonstrationer mod Bahrains regime startede den 14. februar 2011 arresterede sikkerhedsstyrker Al-Khawaja for at opfordre til civile og politiske rettigheder. Bahrain dømte senere Al-Khawaja til livstid på falske anklager. Bahrains myndigheder har gentagne gange tortureret Al-Khawaja i det berygtede Jau-fængsel, og han har været på sultestrejke adskillige gange for at kræve retfærdighed.

    På trods af Al-Khawajas internationale anerkendelse og den vilkårlige og uretfærdige fængsling, som han har været udsat for, har Bahrain nægtet at løslade Al-Khawaja og har flere gange forhindret familiemedlemmer i at besøge ham. I lyset af de alvorlige omstændigheder mener #FreeAl-Khawaja-kampagnen, Salam DHR og CIVICUS, at Danmark bør og må gøre mere for at sikre hans løsladelse.

    "Vores anmodninger er enkle: Danmark bør arbejde tæt sammen med Al-Khawajas familie om at udvikle en ny strategi, afholde private besøg hos Al-Khawaja i fængslet og presse EU til at beskytte hans rettigheder som EU-borger," siger Salam DHR's formand Jawad Fairooz. "I betragtning af den danske regerings menneskerettighedsengagement bør den hurtigt følge op på dette."

    Danmarks regering bør især gøre mere for at presse på for Al-Khawajas øjeblikkelige og betingelsesløse løsladelse, siger de tre organisationer. Desuden bør Danmark direkte opfordre Bahrains regering til at tage konkrete skridt til at beskytte hans menneskerettigheder, som ultimativt kan føre til hans løsladelse, tilføjede de tre organisationer.

    Derudover opfordres Danmarks regering til at engagere EU i at presse Bahrains regering til at løslade Al-Khawaja, især EU's højtstående repræsentant for udenrigsanliggender og sikkerhedspolitik Josep Borrell, de relevante teams i EU’s udenrigstjeneste (EEAS) og kontoret for formanden for Det Europæiske Råd Charles Michel. Al-Khawajas juridiske og helbredsmæssige status bør være genstand for bilaterale udvekslinger mellem EEAS og Bahrains regering med henblik på at sikre hans øjeblikkelige og betingelsesløse løsladelse.

    Den 14. februar 2024 forventes EEAS at give feedback på sin seneste runde af drøftelser med Bahrains regering.

    Siden 2011 har den danske regering brugt sin platform i EU til at støtte resolutioner, der fordømmer Bahrains menneskerettighedskrænkelser i 2014 og 2017. I 2022 intervenerede Danmark i FN's Menneskerettighedsråd for at opfordre til Al-Khawajas løsladelse.

    "Vi anerkender den danske regerings arbejde for løsladelsen af Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, men vi er kede af at sige, at det ikke har været godt nok, og der skal gøres mere," siger Oskar Stevens, Advocacy Lead for #FreeAl-Khawaja-kampagnen. "Nu hvor Al-Khawaja nærmer sig 13 år bag tremmer, er det tid til fornyet, kreativ handling og engagement for at sikre hans løsladelse."

    Hvis du vil vide mere om Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, kan du finde en interaktiv kronologi over hans liv her.

    For interviews:, ,

    The#FreeAlKhawaja Campaign is an international campaign advocating for the release of prominent human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. Al-Khawaja, a dual Danish-Bahraini citizen, was arbitrarily detained and tortured in 2011 in Bahrain for his role in the peaceful Bahraini uprising calling for fundamental freedoms in the country. Al-Khawaja remains wrongfully in prison until this day. 

    CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action throughout the world. Established in 1993 and since 2002 proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa with additional hubs across the globe, CIVICUS has more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries.

    Founded in 2012,Salam for Democracy & Human Rights (Salam DHR) is a human rights NGO registered in France, the United Kingdom (UK) & Switzerland. We undertake research & advocacy, mainly in relation to Bahrain, but also the Gulf, the Middle East & North Africa region & in relation to thematic issues, notably statelessness. We engage with other NGOs, notably partners and frequently act in coalition with others to achieve specific targets or outcomes. We engage with intergovernmental organisations and states in order to bring about socio-political reform and ever-improving adherence by states to international human rights standards & practices. The organisation is not, in effect, allowed to register in Bahrain. Salam DHR is mainly crowd funded, notably by philanthropically-minded people & firms in Bahrain & the Gulf. At the time of writing, it has a small portfolio of project-related funding. Salam DHR is independent of all governments.
  • Demands to release Mexican land rights campaigner on Indigenous Peoples’ Day

    On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, 9 August, global civil society alliance CIVICUS urges the Mexican authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Indigenous land rights campaigner Kenia Hernandez, and to free all Indigenous activists behind bars for their work protecting and promoting human rights.
  • Denmark must do more to free Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja on Bahrain uprising anniversary

    Also available in Danish

    COPENHAGEN/LONDON/JOHANNESBURG – The #FreeAl-Khawaja Campaign, SALAM DHR and the global civil society alliance CIVICUS call on Denmark to do more to secure the release of jailed Danish-Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja ahead of the anniversary of Bahrain’s Arab Spring uprising.

    “Nearly thirteen years of collective efforts have failed to free Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja,” said Asma Darwish, CIVICUS Campaigns Officer and MENA Advocacy Lead. “It is time for the Danish government to review and revamp its approach to securing his release.”

     Abdul Hadi al Khawaja Bahrain

    Al-Khawaja is Bahrain’s leading human rights defender and a winner of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. His decades of work have inspired a generation of activists calling for civil and political freedoms. In 2020, CIVICUS added him to its Stand As My Witness campaign calling for the release of jailed human rights defenders, activists, journalists and dissidents around the world.

    Following the outbreak of mass gatherings against the regime on February 14, 2011, Bahrain’s security forces arrested Al-Khawaja for calling for civil and political rights. They later convicted him on trumped-up charges in a flawed trial. Bahraini authorities have repeatedly tortured him in the notorious Jau prison, and he has staged numerous hunger strikes.

    Despite his international recognition and the arbitrary and unjust nature of his imprisonment, Bahrain has refused to release Al-Khawaja and has prevented family members from visiting him. Given the dire situation, #FreeAl-Khawaja Campaign, Salam DHR and CIVICUS believe Denmark must take more action to secure his release.

    “Our requests are simple: Denmark should work closely with Al-Khawaja’s family to develop a new strategy, hold private visits with him in prison and push the European Union to take action to protect his rights as an EU citizen,” said Salam DHR chairman Jawad Fairooz. “Given the Denmark government's commitments to human rights, we believe it can quickly follow through.”

    Denmark’s government can particularly do more to press for Al-Khawaja's immediate and unconditional release, the three organisations said. Denmark should directly call for Bahrain’s government to take tangible action to protect his human rights leading to his release, they added.

    In addition, the groups call on Denmark’s government to engage the European Union to press Bahrain’s government to free Al-Khawaja, in particular the office of the EU’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, the relevant teams in the EEAS and the office of the President of the European Council Charles Michel. Al-Khawaja’s legal and health status must be the subject of EEAS-Government of Bahrain bilateral exchanges with a view to securing his immediate and unconditional release.

    On 14 February 2024, the EEAS is expected to provide feedback on its latest round of discussions with the Government of Bahrain.

    Since 2011, Denmark’s government has used its platform in the European Union to support resolutions denouncing Bahrain’s human rights abuses in 2014 and 2017. In 2022, Denmark intervened in the UN Human Rights Council to call for al-Khawaja’s release. 

    “We acknowledge the Government of Denmark’s advocacy on behalf of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, but we are sorry to say that it has not been enough and more must be done,” said Oskar Stevens, Advocacy Lead of the #FreeAl-Khawaja Campaign. “With Al-Khawaja nearing thirteen years behind bars, now is the time for renewed, creative action and engagement to secure his release.”

    For more on Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, an interactive chronology of his life can be found here. 

    For interviews:, ,

    The#FreeAlKhawaja Campaign is an international campaign advocating for the release of prominent human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. Al-Khawaja, a dual Danish-Bahraini citizen, was arbitrarily detained and tortured in 2011 in Bahrain for his role in the peaceful Bahraini uprising calling for fundamental freedoms in the country. Al-Khawaja remains wrongfully in prison until this day. 

    CIVICUS is the global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action throughout the world. Established in 1993 and since 2002 proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa with additional hubs across the globe, CIVICUS has more than 15,000 members in more than 175 countries.

    Founded in 2012,Salam for Democracy & Human Rights (Salam DHR) is a human rights NGO registered in France, the United Kingdom (UK) & Switzerland. We undertake research & advocacy, mainly in relation to Bahrain, but also the Gulf, the Middle East & North Africa region & in relation to thematic issues, notably statelessness. We engage with other NGOs, notably partners and frequently act in coalition with others to achieve specific targets or outcomes. We engage with intergovernmental organisations and states in order to bring about socio-political reform and ever-improving adherence by states to international human rights standards & practices. The organisation is not, in effect, allowed to register in Bahrain. Salam DHR is mainly crowd funded, notably by philanthropically-minded people & firms in Bahrain & the Gulf. At the time of writing, it has a small portfolio of project-related funding. Salam DHR is independent of all governments.
  • En el día de los pueblos indígenas exigimos la liberación de una activista mexicana por el derecho a la tierra

    En el Día de los Pueblos Indígenas, que se celebra este 9 de agosto, la alianza mundial de la sociedad civil CIVICUS insta a las autoridades mexicanas a liberar de forma inmediata e incondicional a la activista indígena por el derecho a la tierra Kenia Hernández, y a liberar a todos los activistas indígenas que se encuentran encarcelados por su labor de protección y defensa de los derechos humanos.
  • En el Día de Nelson Mandela, alrededor de 200 organizaciones de DDHH piden la liberación de activistas como parte de la campaña “Conviértete en mi testigo” #StandAsMyWitness
    • 197 organizaciones de derechos humanos firman una carta para exigir a los Estados que pongan fin al encarcelamiento y al acoso que sufren las personas que defienden los  derechos humanos. 
    • Instamos a los Estados a que pongan fin a los nuevos arrestos y detenciones de defensores que se están produciendo durante la pandemia del COVID-19, con el aumento de riesgo que ello supone
    • Lanzamiento de la campaña "Conviértete en mi testigo" el 18 de julio, Día de Nelson Mandela, con la participación de defensores de los derechos humanos de todo el mundo.
  • Enseignements tirés de nos travaux entre 2017 et 2022 et implications pour notre action stratégique actuelle

    Après la fin de la période de notreplan stratégique 2017-2022, nous avons décidé d'examiner les résultats les plus pertinents que nous avions obtenus et les leçons que nous avions tirées de la mise en œuvre de ce plan. Notre travail au cours de cette période s'est articulé autour de trois objectifs stratégiques : Défendre les libertés civiques et les valeurs démocratiques ; Renforcer le pouvoir d'organisation, de mobilisation et d'action des populations ; et Donner les moyens d'agir à une société civile plus responsable, plus efficace et plus innovante. L'évaluation a été réalisée en deux étapes : un examen externe approfondi des documents stratégiques clés et cinquante entretiens avec des membres du personnel de CIVICUS, des membres de l'alliance et des partenaires externes, afin de corroborer les informations recueillies et d'évaluer les histoires qui ont eu le plus d'impact.

    Dans le monde entier, cette période a été caractérisée par des attaques croissantes contre la démocratie, des inégalités grandissantes, des crises économiques et sociales d'une ampleur sans précédent ces dernières années, y compris les effets tangibles des crises climatiques et l'impact stupéfiant de la pandémie de Covid-19. Cette période a également été marquée par une organisation infatigable en faveur du changement, comme en témoigne le nombre impressionnant de luttes locales et mondiales pour la justice, l'égalité et la durabilité dans le monde entier. D'une part, de nombreux gouvernements ont pris des mesures d'urgence pour supprimer les droits civiques fondamentaux et les libertés démocratiques, et d'autre part, des communautés du monde entier ont uni leurs forces pour démontrer la persistance et l'agilité du pouvoir populaire. En interne, le secrétariat de CIVICUS s'est également adapté à une croissance rapide du nombre de membres, à des transitions au sein du conseil d'administration et des postes de direction, ainsi qu'à une série d'examens internes accompagnés d'actions de suivi visant à ajuster l'orientation stratégique et à mettre en œuvre les principales recommandations.

    Les principales conclusions de l'examen de la stratégie de CIVICUS 

    Le rapport complet est disponibleici, mais je profite de cette mise à jour pour réfléchir à cinq observations qui concernent directement les domaines dans lesquels nous avons eu un impact et ceux dans lesquels nous pouvons prendre des mesures d'amélioration : 

    1. CIVICUS a produitdes rapports et des analyses très pertinents et d'actualité, passant d'une recherche rétrospective à des données et des analyses régulièrement mises à jour sur les développements mondiaux et l'état de la société civile et de la liberté civique dans le monde. Nos initiatives de recherche principales, telles que le CIVICUS Monitor et le rapport sur l'état de la société civile, nous ont permis de nous positionner en tant que leaders dans le domaine et partenaires de confiance dans l'espace civique, référencés par les médias, les universitaires, les activistes et les décideurs du monde entier.
    2. Nous avons faitdes progrès significatifs dans le plaidoyer pour un espace civique ouvert et un changement systémique, en remportant des victoires clés au niveau mondial avec l'adoption del'Observation générale 37 et des campagnes essentielles telles que#StandAsMyWitness pour défendre les défenseurs des droits humains dans le monde entier. Alors que les attaques contre l'espace civique augmentent, les militants et les groupes de la société civile auront besoin de plus d'efforts de la part de CIVICUS pour soutenir et pérenniser leur travail. Des améliorations sont également possibles en termes d'engagement des membres dans ces efforts et d'adaptation des campagnes aux besoins locaux. 
    3. Nous avons réussi àconstruire une solidarité, à favoriser un sens de la communauté et de la collaboration face à des défis tels que la pandémie de COVID-19 et les crises dans des endroits comme l'Afghanistan ou l'Ukraine. Bien qu'il y ait beaucoup de place pour une meilleure utilisation de la plateforme communautaire en ligne comme outil de partage des bonnes pratiques et de connexion des groupes, CIVICUS a été apprécié par les partenaires pour son rôle defacilitateur de réseaux qui crée des connexions et un sentiment d'appartenance à une communauté pour une action commune et un plaidoyer en faveur de l'espace civique.
    4. Nous avons menéla promotion des mécanismes de solidarité au sein du partenariat et recadré la programmation et les initiatives de subvention pour mieux atteindre les personnes les plus vulnérables en première ligne. Bien que CIVICUS ait fait des efforts visibles pour changer le paradigme des relations entre donateurs et bénéficiaires en faveur de partenariats plus égalitaires, il a un rôle plus important à jouer dans la canalisation des ressources vers les acteurs de la société civile et les militants de base qui font face à des restrictions plus importantes des libertés civiques et démocratiques. 
    5. CIVICUS a eu unimpact significatif grâce à ses efforts pour connecter la société civile, en offrant des opportunités de mise en réseau et d'apprentissage par le biais d'initiatives en ligne et en face-à-face qui ont rassemblé les partenaires, établissant des connexions à travers la société civile qui transcendent les questions, les géographies et les types d'organisation. Nous avons également joué un rôle de premier plan dans la promotion et la diffusion des bonnes pratiques dans le secteur. Nous sommes maintenant positionnés comme desleaders progressistes et innovants dans le Sud global en matière de co-création, de co-conception et de protection de l'espace civique et des libertés démocratiques.

     

    Recommandations pour notre plan stratégique 2022-27  

    Cette analyse, qui contient un certain nombre d'exemples concrets d'impact, fournit également des suggestions spécifiques sur la manière d'intégrer les enseignements tirés dans la mise en œuvre de notre plan stratégique actuel (le document complet sur les résultats est disponibleici). À cet égard, trois recommandations importantes sont énumérées ci-dessous.

    BRISER LES SILOS.L'un des principaux changements dans le plan stratégique 2022-2027 de CIVICUS est la création d'un objectif global pour l'ensemble du travail de l'alliance, au lieu des trois objectifs distincts de la stratégie précédente. Cet objectif global, à savoir "renforcer la société civile et l'action civique pour élargir l'espace civique et démocratique", reflète le souhait de CIVICUS de se concentrer sur des actions qui non seulement défendent, mais aussi améliorent les libertés civiques et démocratiques à travers une combinaison d'interventions d'influence, d'organisation et de solidarité. En conséquence, notre plan stratégique vise à mieux saisir la contribution de CIVICUS au changement systémique à long terme par le biais de quatre déclarations de résultats qui relient et consolident l'impact du travail à tous les niveaux. Avec le lancement de notre nouveau cadre de résultats, nous avons la possibilité de suivre et d'évaluer les progrès réalisés par rapport à cet objectif global, tout en évaluant et en ajustant la direction de notre mise en œuvre et l'orientation de notre travail, si nécessaire.

    INTENSIFIER LES PARTENARIATS.La dernière période stratégique a montré à quel point il était efficace de se concentrer sur un groupe clé dans le cadre du plan stratégique de l'organisation. En 2016, la jeunesse est devenue une priorité stratégique pour CIVICUS et, à la fin de la période stratégique 2017-2022, CIVICUS avait obtenu 3 millions de dollars pour des programmes ciblant les moins de 30 ans, et 43% des nouveaux membres individuels de CIVICUS en 2021-2022 avaient moins de 30 ans. Conformément à notre approche visant à engager les groupes les plus touchés par le double défi des contraintes de l'espace civique et de la discrimination systémique tout au long de la période 2022-27, il est important de réfléchir aux principales leçons que nous avons tirées de l'engagement avec les jeunes, les communautés de base et les acteurs de la société civile locale. Le partenariat a également un rôle à jouer pour influencer l'écosystème de la société civile vers des partenariats plus équitables et plus significatifs. En plus des efforts pour influencer les changements dans les politiques et les pratiques des donateurs, il est recommandé que CIVICUS continue d'améliorer ses propres processus d'octroi de subventions, en créant des mécanismes de financement rationalisés, en évitant les processus contractuels lourds et en garantissant la durabilité des partenaires.

    CÉLÉBRER LES RÉSEAUX.Au cours de la dernière période stratégique, les réseaux et les coalitions initiés ou promus par CIVICUS ont joué un rôle clé en rassemblant les forces de la société civile, en mettant en commun les expériences et en unifiant les positions des différents types de groupes affectés par la fermeture de l'espace civique et la persécution. Les coalitions permettent de réaliser des économies d'échelle en partageant des ressources telles que l'expertise ou des stratégies communes, ou bien elles peuvent aider à coordonner les réponses, en donnant une voix unifiée à de multiples groupes. La dernière période stratégique (2017-2022) a toutefois révélé des tensions et un manque de clarté concernant le but et les objectifs généraux de CIVICUS avec certains des réseaux et coalitions qu'elle a lancés ces dernières années. Alors que certains réseaux se préparent à devenir indépendants, d'autres ont clairement souligné le rôle clé que CIVICUS joue dans le lancement de ces initiatives et il serait important que CIVICUS nourrisse ces initiatives à plus long terme pour une action plus coordonnée dans l'espace civique. 

    Nous remercions Marie L'Hostis pour son travail sur cette révision. Si vous souhaitez nous faire part de vos réflexions et poser d'autres questions sur cet exercice, n'hésitez pas à nous contacter à l'adresse.  

    En toute solidarité,  

    Lysa John

    (Lysa John est secrétaire générale de CIVICUS. Elle est basée en Afrique du Sud et peut être contactée via son compte Twitter : @LysaJohnSA). 
  • Honduras: After two years in pre-trial detention, release arbitrarily detained Guapinol human rights defenders
    • Today marks exactly two years since Guapinol human rights defenders were jailed
    • Human rights defenders featured in CIVICUS’s Stand As My Witness Campaign
    • United Nations declared their detention is arbitrary and calls for their release
    • Detention unlawfully extended for further six months in August
    • Honduras one of the most dangerous places for environmental rights defenders

    For two years, eight members of the Committee for the Defence of Common and Public Assets (CMDBCP) have been held in pre-trial detention in Honduras for defending protected water sources and natural resources of communities in danger of mining related contamination. The Guapinol human rights defenders have been advocating against the Guapinol mining project in Tocoa, in the department of Colón in Honduras. They were initially detained on 1 September 2019, and are being kept arbitrarily in pre-trial detention without any legal basis.

    The eight defenders are Ewer Alexander Cedillo Cruz, José Abelino Cedillo Cantarero, José Daniel Márquez Márquez, Kelvin Alejandro Romero Martínez, Porfirio Sorto Cedillo, Orbin Nahuan Hernández, Arnol Javier Alemán and Jeremías Martínez. They were initially arrested on 26 August 2019, while protesting against the mining activities of the Honduras company Inversiones Los Pinares (ILP), which threatens the safety and livelihood of thousands of people in communities in the department of Colón. ILP was granted mining concessions by the state of Honduras in 2014 and its ongoing mining projects have contaminated water sources. Projects are being implemented without adequate consultations with communities affected.

    “There is absolutely no basis for Honduras to detain the eight human rights defenders and to continue to keep them in pre-trial detention. Despite numerous calls from the international community, including from United Nations bodies for their release, the Honduran authorities continue to disregard the rule of law and have held them for two years now,” said David Kode, Advocacy and Campaigns Lead, CIVICUS.

    The CMDBCP was set up primarily to raise awareness about the impact of the Guapinol project mining activities and to advocate against the actions of mining communities on behalf of the people affected. More than 32 members of CMDBCP have been subjected to judicial persecution and arbitrary detention, 6 have been killed and many more face threats and intimidation. These restrictions are symptomatic of the violence and human rights violations which target environmental and land rights activists, which makes Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for activists working on climate justice and environmental rights in the world.

    On 9 February 2021, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions established that the deprivation of the liberty of the Guapinol human rights defenders is arbitrary and called on Honduras to release them immediately.

    “The continuous detention of the Guapinol human rights defenders violates Honduras’ regional and international human rights violations and exposes the defenders to severe health risks in the context of a global pandemic,” David continued.

    The Guapinol human rights defenders are part of the CIVICUS #StandAsMyWitness campaign - a global campaign that advocates for the rights of human rights defenders and calls for their release.

    CIVICUS calls on the Honduras government to respect the rule of law and immediately release the Guapinol human rights defenders and hold those responsible for human rights violations accountable.

    For more information on civic space violations, visit the Honduras country page on the CIVICUS Monitor
  • Honduras: Comienza el juicio a los defensores de Guapinol mientras el Estado sigue ignorando las peticiones de liberación
    • El juicio de los defensores de los derechos humanos de Guapinol comienza hoy, 1 de diciembre, tras dos años de detención ilegal.
    • Forman parte de la campaña Stand As My Witness (Conviértete en mi testigo) de CIVICUS.
    • La Organización de Naciones Unidas ha declarado que su detención es arbitraria y exige su liberación.
    • Honduras ha sido nombrada recientemente por primera vez miembro del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU.
    • Honduras es uno de los lugares más peligrosos para las personas que defienden los derechos medioambientales.

    Tras más de dos años en prisión preventiva, ocho miembros del Comité Municipal de Defensa de los Bienes Comunes y Públicos (CMDBCP) van a ser juzgados este 1 de diciembre de 2021 en Honduras por defender las fuentes de agua protegidas y los recursos naturales de las comunidades en peligro de contaminación relacionada con la minería. Los defensores de los derechos humanos de Guapinol han estado luchando contra el proyecto minero de Guapinol en Tocoa, en el departamento de Colón, Honduras. Fueron detenidos el 1 de septiembre de 2019 y se les mantiene arbitrariamente en prisión preventiva sin ninguna base legal.

    Los ocho defensores son Ewer Alexander Cedillo Cruz, José Abelino Cedillo Cantarero, José Daniel Márquez Márquez, Kelvin Alejandro Romero Martínez, Porfirio Sorto Cedillo, Orbin Nahuan Hernández, Arnol Javier Alemán y Jeremías Martínez. Fueron detenidos inicialmente el 26 de agosto de 2019, mientras protestaban contra las actividades mineras de la empresa hondureña Inversiones Los Pinares (ILP), que amenazan la seguridad y el sustento de miles de personas en comunidades del departamento de Colón. El Estado de Honduras otorgó a ILP concesiones mineras en 2014 y sus proyectos mineros en curso han contaminado las fuentes de agua. Los proyectos se están llevando a cabo sin consultar adecuadamente a las comunidades afectadas.

    " Las autoridades hondureñas siguen adelante con el juicio, a pesar de que grupos de la sociedad civil de Honduras y miembros de la comunidad internacional han expresado en repetidas ocasiones su preocupación por la prolongada detención y la persecución judicial de los ocho defensores de los derechos humanos. El proceso judicial ha sido irregular hasta ahora, y los defensores de los derechos humanos deben ser puestos en libertad inmediatamente", ha declarado David Kode, director de Trabajo de Incidencia y Campañas de CIVICUS.

    El CMDBCP se creó principalmente para concienciar sobre el impacto de las actividades mineras del proyecto Guapinol y para defender las acciones de las comunidades mineras en nombre de las personas afectadas. Más de 32 miembros del CMDBCP han sido objeto de persecución judicial y detención arbitraria, 6 han sido asesinados y muchos más se enfrentan a amenazas e intimidaciones. Estas restricciones son sintomáticas de la violencia y las violaciones de los derechos humanos que tienen como objetivo a las y los activistas medioambientales y del derecho a la tierra, lo que convierte a Honduras en uno de los países más peligrosos del mundo para quienes trabajan por la justicia climática y los derechos medioambientales.

    El 9 de febrero de 2021, el Grupo de Trabajo de las Naciones Unidas sobre Detenciones Arbitrarias estableció que la privación de libertad de los defensores de los derechos humanos de Guapinol es arbitraria y pidió a Honduras que los liberara inmediatamente. En octubre de 2021, Honduras fue nombrada por primera vez miembro del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU.

    " Honduras sigue ignorando las conclusiones del Grupo de Trabajo sobre Detenciones Arbitrarias de la ONU y transmite un mensaje contradictorio sobre sus compromisos en materia de derechos humanos como miembro del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU", continuó David.

    Los defensores de los derechos humanos de Guapinol forman parte de la campaña #StandAsMyWitness (Conviértete en mi testigo) de CIVICUS, una campaña mundial que reivindica los derechos de las personas que defienden los derechos humanos y lucha por su liberación.

    CIVICUS hace un llamamiento al nuevo gobierno de Honduras para que respete el Estado de derecho, libere inmediatamente a los defensores de Guapinol y haga rendir cuentas a los responsables de las violaciones de derechos humanos.

    Para obtener más información sobre las vulneraciones del espacio cívico, consulta la página del país de Honduras en el CIVICUS Monitor.
  • Honduras: Int. Law Experts file an amicus curiae brief requesting the cessation of criminal proceedings against the defenders of the Guapinol River

    On November 17, 2021, eleven international human rights organizations[1] filed an amicus curiae brief before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Honduras, arguing against the unjust, extensive pretrial detention of the human rights activists known as the Guapinol Environmental Defenders. The Defenders have spent over two years in pretrial detention for events related to a peaceful protest to protect water sources in the Carlos Escaleras National Park. The brief argues that the extensive detention prior to their trial has violated the Defenders’ fundamental constitutional and international human rights. Honduran courts repeatedly reject attempts to release the Defenders, most recently from the Sentencing Court in Trujillo on October 27, 2021. The case is set to be heard before the Sentencing Court in La Ceiba starting on December 1, 2021.
  • Hong Kong: Free human rights defender Chow Hang-Tung, end use of solitary confinement

    ChowHangTung

    CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, calls on Hong Kong authorities to immediately end the repeated use of solitary confinement and free lawyer and activist Chow Hang-Tung. Chow has faced solitary confinement six times in the last four months and has been unjustly targeted for exercising her freedom of expression.
  • India: Chronology of harassment against human rights defender Sudha Bharadwaj

    SudhaSudha Bharadwaj, aged 60, is a human rights lawyer and activist who has spent her life defending Indigenous people in India and protecting workers’ rights. She was detained in August 2018, arrested under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on trumped up accusations of having links with Maoist terrorist organisations, based on evidence believed to befabricated. It is alleged that she and 15 other human rights defenders conspired to incite Dalits at a public meeting which led to violence in Bhima Koregaon village in the Pune district of Maharashtra in January 2018. The treatment of Sudha highlights the increasingly repressive measures used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to clamp down on dissent and silence human rights defenders.

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Nueva York
NY 10017
Estados Unidos