Guatemala: Break-in at the home of human rights defender Ms Erenia Vanegas and threats against Ms Claudia Samayoa and members of SEDEM

Posted on 2010/03/10

The home of human rights defender Ms Erenia Vanegas was broken into on 5 March 2010 and the car of Ms Claudia Samayoa was tampered with in an attempt to cause an accident on 2 February 2010. Read More

The Gambia: Detention and trial of human rights defender Mr Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaeme

Posted on 2010/03/10

Human rights defender Mr Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaeme, in detention since his arrest on 1 March, was denied bail today 10 March. Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaeme is the founder and program director of Africa in Democracy and Good Governance (ADG), an organisation which works to promote human rights, democracy and good governance in Africa. Read More

Saudi Arabia - Arrest of human rights defender Mr Thamer Abdulkareem Al-Khather and harassment of his father, Dr Abdulkareem Youssef Al-Khather

Posted on 2010/03/10

Human rights defender Mr Thamer Abdulkareem Al-Khather was arrested on 3 March 2010. Thamer Abdulkareem Al-Khather is an advocate of prisoners' rights and a member of a youth movement that calls for constitutional reform. Read More

Sri Lanka: Fear of arrest of human rights defender Mr J.C. Weliamuna and Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu

Posted on 2010/03/10

Human rights defender Mr J.C. Weliamuna, the chairperson of Transparency International in Sri Lanka (TISL), faces arrest on fabricated charges in the near future. Read More

Morocco: Appeal hearing of human rights defender Mr El Mustapha Addari adjourned until 16 March 2010

Posted on 2010/03/08

On 2 March 2010, the Appeal Court in Casablanca adjourned the hearing in the trial of Mr El Mustapha Addari until 16 March 2010. El Mustapha Addari is the head of the Khenifra branch of the Association Marocaine des Droits Humains - AMDH (Moroccan Association for Human Rights). Read More

Malawi: Denial of bail for detained human rights defenders Mr Edward Chileka, Mr Howard Jimu and Mr Awonenji Chimera

Posted on 2010/03/08

Human rights defenders Mr Edward Chileka, Mr Howard Jimu and Mr Awonenji Chimera were on 4 March 2010 denied bail by a court in Lilongwe. They had been arrested on 24 February 2010 but only appeared for the first time in court on 2 March. Read More

Mexico: Assassination of human rights defender Mr Ernesto R ábago Martínez

Posted on 2010/03/05

Human rights defender and lawyer Mr Ernesto Rábago Martínez was assassinated in his office in the state of Chihuahua on 2 March 2010. Ernesto Rábago Martínez was a member of Bowerasa (Haciendo Camino) , a not-for-profit civil association working to support the indigenous communities of the Tarahumara sierra, in the municipal of Carichí, Chihuahua, in the defence of their land, culture and health rights. Read More

Geneva: Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs emphasises need for protection of human rights defenders

Posted on 2010/03/04

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council High Level Segment, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheal Martin TD emphasised the central importance of "equal and inalienable rights" and paid special tribute to the legitimacy and importance of the work being done by human rights defenders. Read More

Washington: Secretary of State Clinton announces recipients of the 2010 Women of Courage Award

Posted on 2010/03/04

Secretary Clinton has announced the 10 winners of this year’s International Women of Courage (IWOC) award. The awardees are: Shukria Asil (Afghanistan), Col. Shafiqa Quraishi (Afghanistan), Androula Henriques (Cyprus), Sonia Pierre (Dominican Republic), Shadi Sadr (Iran), Ann Njogu (Kenya), Dr. Lee Ae-ran (Republic of Korea), Jansila Majeed (Sri Lanka), Sister Marie Claude Naddaf (Syria), and Jestina Mukoko (Zimbabwe). Read More

Honduras: Murder of Claudia Larissa Brizuela, daughter of human rights defender Mr Pedro Brizuela

Posted on 2010/03/04

The daughter of human rights defender Mr Pedro Brizuela , Ms Claudia Larissa Brizuela , was murdered on 24 February 2010. Pedro Brizuela is a member of the Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular - FNRP (National Popular Resistance Front). Claudia Larissa Brizuela was also a FNRP supporter. Read More