UPDATE: Targeted shooting of HRD in Thailand
UPDATE: Following the targeted shooting of community-based human rights defender Supoj Karasong, on Friday 8th April 2016, the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT) has taken measures to care for Supoj Karasang, as well as to lobby relevant authorities to take action to investigate on the attack and provide protection for Khlong Sai Pattana community and […]
UNHRC RECOGNIZES HRDS OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL & CULTURAL RIGHTS
The UN Human Rights Council has recognized the major role of the defenders of economic, social, and cultural rights. It was acknowledged that defending such things as land rights puts these individuals and communities at high risk. This news comes at a very important time after land and environmental rights activists Berta Cáceres and Nelson García were […]
Berta Cáceres, a human rights and environmental defender, murdered
According to COPINH, Berta did not receive the protection the CIDH had asked for, from the government side. Therefore, Protection International calls on the international community to demand the Honduran government investigate the murder of Berta Cáceres and offer immediate protection to all witnesses of the case. We also released a joint statement at the 31st session […]
Advocating for Burundian human rights defenders at the United Nations Human Rights Council
Protection International alongside representatives from the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP), CIVICUS, and CSOLifeline, met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, on the margins of the 31st session of the Human Rights Council, to discuss the deteriorating human rights situation and the threats faced by […]
Pierre Claver urges the UN Human Rights Council to protect HRDS in Burundi
On Friday 4, 2016 at the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, President of APRODH read a statement urging the Human Rights Council to take measures to protect human rights defenders in Burundi. Joint statement by EHAHRDP, CIVICUS, and Protection International for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights […]
Human Rights Defenders Battle Civil Lawsuit in Thailand for Hanging Banner
In Thailand on 24 February 2016, 70 villagers travelled to the Loei Provincial Courthouse to show their support for the 6 community-based human rights defenders from Khon Rak Ban Kerd (KRBK) involved in a civil lawsuit at the Loei Provincial Court. According to affidavit number PorPan 574/2558 filed by Tungkhum Co. Ltd, the gold-mining company is seeking […]
DRC: New legal framework for the protection of human rights defenders in South Kivu
On 10 February 2016, the Governor of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo promulgated an edict on the protection of human rights defenders and journalists in South Kivu. The vote and adoption of the edict by the Provincial Assembly of South Kivu, as well as the promulgation by the Governor of South Kivu, represent an important step […]
Colombian defender David Ravelo: 5 years in prison
While evidence of his innocence outweighs the allegations against him, Mr. Ravelo remains in detainment. There is little integrity in his conviction, starting with the dependability of the two paramilitary witnesses. Throughout Mr. Ravelo’s trial, these two witnesses contradicted themselves and the more than 30 testimonies from other individuals in the city of Barrancabermeja presented […]
Thailand: End Impunity and Ensure Justice for Community under Attack
Protection International calls for action on the first anniversary of the murder of the human rights defender Chai Bunthonglek, a member of the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand. His fight for communal land titles continues despite impunity and several attacks on other peasants’ rights defenders. Protection International Thailand calls for action to support and protect community-based human rights […]
PI publishes Criminalisation of Human Rights Defenders
All over the world criminal laws and other legal provisions are used to attack human rights defenders (HRDs) to hamper their work in the defense and promotion of human rights. Protection International’s first global report on the criminalization of HRDs: Criminalisation of Human Rights Defenders – Categorisation of the problem and measures in response (available also in French and […]