#Gaza
, Occupied Palestinian Territory:
🚨 We are saddened by the news that disability rights defender Bader Mosleh was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip on 7 December. He leaves a legacy of courage & dedication.
Read more:
#Spain
Since Oct 2017
#HRD
Jordi Cuixart has been in pre-trial detention facing up to 25 years in prison on charges of “rebellion”, regarding a peaceful demonstration in Catalonia and the referendum on the independence of Catalonia on 1 October 2017.
On International Human Rights Defenders Day, join us as we celebrate the 6 winners of the Front Line Defenders Annual Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.
Live now in 7 different languages:
Or join the Facebook watch party:
Far too many HRDs are serving long prison sentences of 10 years + for their peaceful, legitimate work. These 11 HRDs are illustrative of the many HRD cases where repressive governments have consistently used the law to silence HRDs
#GiveVoiceToTheSilenced
Hauwa Haruna works in Northern Nigeria, where Boko Haram has killed more than 20.000 people since 2009. Despite the risks she faces, she promotes education & fights against
#GBV
. Watch this video & share her story:
#25N
#16days
Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the targeting and reprisals of human rights defenders in
#Balochistan
, especially as punishment for their support for, or participation in, the Baloch Long March.
Read more about this case from last year:
Due to my activism in the fight against enforced disappearances and rights abuses in Balochistan, I am continuously being targeted and am at risk. The State of Pakistan, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar Ul Haq Kakar, and government spokesman Jan Achakzai should be held accountable
🚨
#PAKISTAN
: We have received disturbing reports that a peaceful march by Baloch protesters was violently suppressed by police in Islamabad overnight, with arbitrary detention of the protesters.
More soon...
#MarchAgainstBalochGenocide
is under attack by the Islamabad police. Many of our youth have been arrested, & many have been injured by tear gas shelling and violence. Right now, we are being treated worse than animals. Will the world raise its voice for us against this barbarism?
Front Line Defenders is alarmed by reports that several HRDs including Sammi Deen Baloch have been detained in Balochistan and that their locations are presently unknown.We call for their immediate release and guarantee of their safety.
#BalochNationalGathering
Dr Mahrang Baloch, a prominent women human rights defender campaigning against systemic human rights violations in Balochistan including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, sends a message of solidarity to Narges Mohammadi and Iranian women.
دکتر ماهرنگ بلوچ،
#AllEyesOnBangladesh
We strongly condemn the abduction of HRD Arif Sohail, student leader of Jahangirnagar University, who was taken from his family home 3 days ago. His whereabouts were only made known when he appeared in court in Dhaka yesterday, and was remanded for 6 days
🚨
#Pakistan
Front Line Defenders condemns the ongoing violence by Pakistan state forces against human rights defenders and peaceful protestors who gathered for the Baloch National Gathering in Gwadar, Balochistan.
Full statement 🔗
Front Line Defenders is profoundly honored to be named one of the winners of the 2018 United Nations Human Rights Prize - full statement here:
@ettrick49
#Pakistan
:
We condemn the recent reprisals against WHRD
@SammiBaluch
for her vital human rights work.
She must be allowed to engage in international advocacy to call for justice for enforced disappearances and other human rights violations in Balochistan.
Image by
Sarah Hegazy, the courageous LGBT activist imprisoned for raising a rainbow flag at a concert in Cairo in 2017, took her own life yesterday. She suffered from PTSD and depression, but was remarkably resilient and brave throughout her short life.
Front Line Defenders is extremely concerned about the escalating violence by Pakistani security forces against peaceful protesters in Gwadar, Balochistan, injuring protesters and human rights defenders. We call on the government of Pakistan to immediately cease the violent
🚨
#Pakistan
: This morning, Pakistani WHRD and laureate of Front Line Defenders' annual award Sammi Deen Baloch was prevented from traveling & informed that she is on an exit control list.
We condemn this as an act of reprisal against Sammi Deen Baloch's human rights work,
Have you listened to our latest podcast with
@MaryLawlorhrds
?
Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, she shares valuable insights into achievements and challenges for HRDs.
Listen now:
Congratulations to Front Line Defenders founder Mary Lawlor on her appointment today as
#UN
Special Rapporteur on the situation of
#humanrights
defenders!!
Our statement:
The Front Line Defenders Award winners for 2024 were officially announced today!
Congratulations to our amazing winners.
Read our press release here:
and catch up here on the live ceremony:
Today, after a lengthy battle, indigenous rights defenders in Cape Town are in court asking to stop construction of
@amazon
's Africa headquarters on indigenous land of the San & Khoi.
Share and sign this petition in solidarity!
Elena Jimenez-Botías
@Omnium
reads letter written by
@jcuixart
addressed to 120 human rights defenders around the world at
#DublinPlatform
. We demand the immediate release of
#JordiCuixart
and all those imprisoned for their human rights work
#Pakistan
Front Line Defenders welcomes reports that HRDs Sammi Deen Baloch, Dr. Sabiha and Sabghatullah Abdul Haq have been released.
We call on the state to immediately cease any further reprisals or false arrests and to hold accountable those responsible for the violations
🚨
#Pakistan
Front Line Defenders condemns the ongoing violence by Pakistan state forces against human rights defenders and peaceful protestors who gathered for the Baloch National Gathering in Gwadar, Balochistan.
Full statement 🔗
NEW - FLD Investigation finds Pegasus spyware on 6 Palestinian HRD phones - including HRDs from 3 of the
#StandWithThe6
organizations targeted by Israel - read the report to understand the timing and the questions this raises for
#Israel
&
#NSOGroup
Congratulations to the
#Americas
winner of the
#FLDAward23
, Segundo Ordóñez from
#Ecuador
, an Afro-descendant human rights defender from a community of exploited abaca (Manila hemp) workers.
Read more here:
A poignant image of how human rights defenders and their families are impacted by enforced disappearances over the years.
Find out more on the Baloch Long March in Pakistan, highlighting EDs and other ongoing violations:
Thank you
@RohaitBhagwant
for dadicating my long 14 year’s struggle and drawing our tale in Dawn Newspaper.
This image has attempted to portray a pain that no one else but only children and families of missing persons can feel.
A pain stretching decades and decades.
The temporary release of
#HRD
Jordi Cuixart to house arrest amid the
#Covid19
crisis risks being blocked.
The Supreme Court of
#Spain
has threatened sanctions for
#Catalan
regional gov't granting temporary release for
#politicalprisoners
.
Case update:
@FrontLineHRD
board member Roja Fazaeli reads out a moving testimony from Iranian WHRD Atena Daemi at the closing of the
#DublinPlatform
. She called on us to stand by Iranians as they face resistance in the face of fighting for essential change.
#WomanLifeFreedom
! ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽
🔊 Front Line Defenders Global Analysis 2022 on human rights defenders at risk out now!
➡️Detailing killings, risks, threats + attacks faced by HRDs around the world in 2022
➡️Global and regional analysis
➡️Case studies and examples of HRDs at risk
#GA22
Update
#JordiCuixart
: Detained
#Catalan
rights defender subjected to stricter detention regime.
16 October 2020 will mark the third year in detention for the
#HRD
, who is frequently spending up to 23 hours per day alone in his cell.
@OmniumIntl
@jcuixart
Our Executive Director, Alan Glasgow, was delighted to announce the 5 winners of this year's Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.
The laureates for 2024 are Sammi Deen Baloch, Doros Polykarpou, Gamito dos Santos Carlos, Muñecas de Arcoíris and We Are
🚨
#PAKISTAN
:
Police in Islamabad used excessive force as they arrested HRDs & peaceful
#BalochLongMarch
protesters last night.
The women-led march began on 6 Dec to highlight grave human rights violations against the Baloch community.
Read more:
We spoke to 350 sex workers about the targeted attacks on those who bravely protect others.
The first ever global report investigating violent attacks on sex worker rights defenders.
Launching Thursday, 12 August!
10:00 New York, 15:00 UK, 16:00 Johannesburg, 21:00 Bangkok
NEW: INTERVIEW WITH PALESTINIANS REFLECTING ON THE CURRENT REALITIES ON THE GROUND
What's been happening in Palestine? What do Palestinians need from the international community? This and more, feat:
@Monashtayya
,
@FayrouzSharqawi
, Afaf Al-Najjar.
🚨Nominations for the Front Line Defenders 2024 Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk are officially open!
➡️Who can be nominated?
➡️How many winners are there?
➡️What do winners receive?
All info and nomination forms here:
For 12 long years, we've urged Bahrain to free our friend & former colleague Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and other unjustly imprisoned human rights defenders.
In solidarity, our
@OliveMoore
will join
@MARYAMALKHAWAJA
's upcoming trip to Bahrain.
#FreeAlkhawaja
Today marks one month since the beginning of the largest mass
#hungerstrike
by political prisoners in
#Bahrain
, - and I am announcing that I will be traveling there next week to try and save my imprisoned father's life.
#FreeAlKhawaja
#DKPol
#Solidarity
#Indonesian
WHRD
@VeronicaKoman
has been victim to threats and attacks as a result of her work as a human rights lawyer in Indonesia. We condemn these attacks and threats on her life and call for authorities to take action, & drop all charges against her:
#Pakistan
Earlier this month, police raided the residence of woman human rights defender Hooran Baloch and arrested her brother in law. We strongly condemn this latest attack in a pattern of reprisals against Hooran:
Front Line Defenders welcomes over 100 human rights defenders from all over the world to Dublin this week, for the
@FrontLineHRD
2022 Dublin Platform for human rights defenders at risk.
A unique space for HRDs to share, connect, and strategise. Keep an eye on our pages!
Sarah was beaten, sexually assaulted, and kept in solitary confinement during her 3-month imprisonment. Upon release, she had been fired from her job, and ultimately sought asylum in Canada, away from her loved ones.
We are disturbed by the disproportionate use of force and arrest of student leaders and HRDs by Sri Lankan authorities last evening, 18 August. Particular concern re. the arrest of HRD Chinthaka Rajapaksa & the safety of student leader Wasantha Mudalige
#SriLanka
#StopReprisals
More than 300 human rights defenders were murdered in 2017. Yet, in spite of this violence, there are more HRDs, working on more issues, in more countries, than ever before. Download here our new Annual Report:
Today, a long-awaited verdict will be issued in the trial of David Castillo, for the murder of
#BertaC
áceres. We urge authorities to seek a ruling which guarantees non-repetition, and secures truth & justice for Berta ✊🏾
#EndImpunity
Joint Statement:
Today is International
#HumanRights
Defenders Day! As on all days, we honour and stand in solidarity with all
#HRDs
around the world who work tirelessly and peacefully to protect the rights many of us take for granted. We in turn must protect them.
#DefendersNotCriminals
NEW REPORT: UNSAFE ANYWHERE
An investigation led by Front Line Defenders reveals additional victims of hacking using NSO Group’s notorious Pegasus spyware - the victims being two women human rights defenders,
@ealsaegh
from Bahrain, and
@Hala_Deeb
from Jordan.
#Pegasus
#Paris
More than 150 human rights defenders met in Paris this week for the
#HRDWorldSummit
. Today they gathered to raise their voices and deliver a shared message: Change the world. Protect Human Rights Defenders.
#WeAreAllDefenders
Statement:
#Egypt
- Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the ongoing persecution of Nubian human rights defenders who have been leading the community’s peaceful struggle to return to their land.
Human rights defender Azimjan Askarov has died in
#Kyrgyzstan
.
Just days before, his lawyer had reported his health was in critical condition.
Azimjan spent 25 years tirelessly documenting human rights abuses and was tortured and sentenced to life imprisonment as a result.
🇮🇷
#Iran
Joint Statement: we demand an end to the deliberate violence, arrest, threats, and charges against Iranian human rights defenders, journalists, student activists and civil rights actors, especially amongst minority ethnic groups.
#IranRevolution
The Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival, organised by
@FrontLineHRD
and
@Smashing_Times
, launches this Friday. Bringing arts and human rights together through exciting interdisciplinary events, check out the programme and book your spots early!
⏬⏬⏬
The
#StopTheKillings
report is available in ENGLISH, SPANISH and PORTUGUESE. You can find the report as well as press releases in various languages here:
Disturbing news in that
#Palestinian
HRD Salah Hammouri, currently on hunger strike, will be moved to a isolation cell in the dungeon in
#Israeli
prison.
No bed.
No window.
No pics, books or pens.
One bulb.
He is in great pain. We continue to demand his immediate release ‼️
Elena Jimenez-Botías
@Omnium
reads letter written by
@jcuixart
addressed to 120 human rights defenders around the world at
#DublinPlatform
. We demand the immediate release of
#JordiCuixart
and all those imprisoned for their human rights work
The winners of the Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk 2023, receiving their award in Dublin at
@EPICMuseumCHQ
:
Olivier Bahemuke Ndoole (DRC)
@Hala_Deeb
(Jordan)
Digital Security Lab Ukraine
Jeany Rose Hayahay (Philippines)
Segundo Ordóñez (Ecuador)
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore presents the
#FLDAward
to Kurdish human rights journalist
@baysal_nurcan
, Global Laureate for 2018
#Iranian
WHRD Maryam Karimbeigi has started a hunger strike in protest of judicial harassment as new trumped up charges have been brought against her while in detention -
Read more and share:
#ReleaseMaryam
Congratulations to WHRDs from Iran, Turkey and Ukraine on being awarded this year's Olof Palme human rights award in Sweden!!
Awardees:
🇺🇦 Marta Chumalo
🇹🇷 Eren Keskin
🇮🇷 Narges Mohammadi
👏 👏 👏
5. Women and armed conflict
Natasha Rather's organisation,
#Jammu
#Kashmir
Coalition of Civil Society, investigates & raises awareness on
#humanrights
violations in these provinces and campaigns for the rights of citizens to
#selfdetermination
.
#IWD2020
The Public Prosecutor has opposed
#Catalan
#HRD
Jordi Cuixart’s request for release while his appeal is reviewed by the Constitutional Court of
#Spain
.
@jcuixart
is serving a 9 year term on
#sedition
charges for promoting a peaceful protest in
#Catalonia
.
Front Line Defenders staff & fellows around the world are wishing our imprisoned friend & colleague Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja strength & freedom on his birthday.
He should be celebrating at home with his family ... or back with us in
#Dublin
!
(video 1/3)
#FreeAbdulhadi
#HappyBirthday
Too many
#humanrights
defenders languish in prison because of their selfless and legitimate activities.
On
#HumanRightsDay
, we share with you stories of 11
#HRDs
unjustly serving longterm sentences around the world. We
@FrontLineHRD
demand their release.
#SetThemFree
NEW PODCAST: Chatting to
@SophieSeaEye
& HRD journalist
@Sara_Cincurova
about
@SeaEye_It
's most recent rescue mission. Saving over 400 people on the
#MediterraneanSea
fleeing their homes, they talk about the challenges, successes & experiences.
Listen now:
#Greece
Glad to hear that trumped-up charges have been dropped against migrant rights defenders Sean Binder, Sara Mardini, Nassos Karakitsos and others for assisting migrants to safely cross to Lesvos island as part of humanitarian work.
#Spain
#Morocco
We welcome and celebrate the decision of the Tangier Court of Appeals to terminate the criminal case against
#WHRD
@HelenaMaleno
- don't miss her emotive statement (subtitled in English) below. A huge victory in a 6 year struggle
#DefendiendoaMaleno
From Dublin,
@FrontLineHRD
staff send solidarity to our former colleague & friend Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, unjustly imprisoned for 12 years in Bahrain.
#FreeAlkhawaja
& all human rights defenders languishing in prison.
“Bu ödülü, bu isimsiz kahramanlar ve Türkiye’deki ve özellikle Kürdistan’daki tüm insan hakları savunucuları adına kabul ediyorum. Bu ödülü, Türkiye'deki karanlığı aydınlatmak için mücadeleye devam eden insanlar adına kabul ediyorum.”
@baysal_nurcan
2018
#FLDAward
winner
📍Occupied Palestinian Territory:
Amid the communications blackout & relentless bombardment of Gaza, HRDs and human rights organisations like
@alhaq_org
,
@pchrgaza
&
@AlMezanCenter
have been sharing distressing updates on the dire situation for HRDs. 1/2
6 years ago today human rights defender Iham Tothi, who fought tirelessly for the rights of the Uyghur minority in
#China
, was sentenced to life imprisonment. We call on the Chinese government to immediately & unconditionally release him
#SakharovPrize
#FreeTohti
#释放土赫提
#HondurasNoEst
ásSola: We are deeply concerned about the violent repression of civil society and ongoing violations of human rights in
#Honduras
. Everyone has the right to protest peacefully and to demand a transparent electoral process.
Amid continuing reprisals against HRDs in
#SriLanka
,
@FrontLineHRD
expresses concern about HRD journalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan facing intimidation & harassment by police while covering protests against forced land acquisition by the Sri Lankan Navy:
STATEMENT:
#Afghanistan
🇦🇫
Front Line Defenders is appealing for immediate action to protect the lives of human rights defenders including women human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers in Afghanistan:
We're excited to welcome +120 human rights defenders from +90 countries, who are gathering in
#Dublin
this week to share experiences, challenges and strategies in their struggle for
#humanrights
:
📢 BREAKING NEWS 📢
Germain Rukuki has just been released from prison in
#Burundi
. Originally sentenced to 32 years in prison for his legitimate work as a human rights defender, his sentence was reduced on appeal early last week & since then we've anxiously awaited his release.
''At least 331 human rights defenders promoting social, environmental, racial and gender justice in 25 countries were murdered in 2020, with scores more beaten, detained and criminalised because of their work, analysis has found.''
We headed to the
#Bahraini
embassy in London with
@MARYAMALKHAWAJA
today after being denied boarding to Bahrain. Officials at the embassy did not want to engage us.
We will continue to continue to call for the release of Abdulhadi. Here is our feedback on the situation: