Dublin: Front Line Launches Annual Report on global situation for Human RIghts Defenders
Ms Margaret Sekkagya, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders launches (11 February) Front Line’s Annual Report on the dangers faced by human rights defenders around the world.
Further Information
Dublin Castle Conference Centre – Media Room Thursday 11 February 2010, 13.30
The report which is being launched by Front Line to coincide with the 5th Dublin Platform highlights the fact that to be a human rights defender remains a high risk occupation in many countries.
“Despite the high level of commitment given to the protection of human rights defenders, in theory, the sad reality is that the effective space for human rights defenders to work is steadily shrinking” said Front Line Director Mary Lawlor.
“2009 began in the wake of worldwide celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. However, beyond the celebratory words that sprang from all corners, those who fight every day for the full respect of human rights continue to be oppressed” said Ms. Sekkagya.
Whether or not freedom of association and assembly are restricted, the authorities increasingly used other pieces of legislation to harass Human Rights Defenders. This has resulted in the use of trumped up charges ranging from terrorism, subversion and hooliganism to fraud, defamation, and tax evasion.
Outright violent targeting and killing of Human Rights Defenders was on the increase. Front Line reported on at least 24 cases of Human Rights Defenders murdered in 2009. Killings and attempted killings have been documented in Afghanistan, Burundi, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, and Sri Lanka. In many cases the authorities were directly implicated. In most cases they failed to carry out effective investigations and the murders remained unpunished.
This was the case of the Russian Federation, where 2009 witnessed an unprecedented series of killings of HRDs: human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasya Baburova were murdered in Moscow in January; in July, Natalya Estemirova was abducted and found shot dead, followed a month later by the arrest and killing of Zarema Sadulayeva and her husband Alik Dzhabrailov; in October, human rights defender Maksharip Aushev was shot dead while travelling in Kabardino-Balkaria. The Russian authorities seemed more annoyed by the internationaloutrage the killings caused, than committed to conducting serious investigations.
Over the course of 2009, Front line issued 249 urgent appeals on human rights defenders at risk, covering 396 individuals in 56 countries, and provided 154 security grants. Overall, more than 500 Human Rights Defenders benefited from Front Line’s protection support. This report highlights developments in the situation of Human Rights Defenders in 2009.
Front Line, based in Dublin, is the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.
[ENDS]
The full text of the report is attached.
For further information please contact:
Jim Loughran, Head of Communications, Front Line MOBILE + 353 (0)87 9377586
Or
Conor McGuinness MOBILE + 353 (0)87 934 5603
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| Annual Report ENGLISH.pdf | 192.28 KB |
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