Press Releases

Dublin: Call for release of imprisoned human rights defenders in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan

On Monday 1 September Front Line joined human rights organisations across Europe taking part in an International Day of Action in support of the 15 human rights defenders currently in prison in Uzbekistan because of their legitimate human rights work.

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New York: Martin Sheen and Bertie Ahern pay tribute to Syrian human rights defender Anwar al-Bunni

News about Front Line

Today, Front Line the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders will be joined by actor and campaigner Mr Martin Sheen and former Taoiseach ( Prime Minister) of Ireland, Mr Bertie Ahern TD, at a special lunch held at the United Nations in New York. The event is to celebrate the awarding of the 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to Anwar al-Bunni of Syria.

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Dublin: 2008 Front Line Award goes to imprisoned Syrian human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni,

News about Front Line

Today the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, presented the 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to Anwar al-Bunni of Syria. The Award was collected on his behalf by his wife Ragheda Issa Refki.

Dublin: Irish Parliamentarians Announce Nominations for Front Line Award 2008

News about Front Line

Today in Dublin, Front Line was joined in the Royal College of Physicians by Irish parliamentarians, Simon Coveney TD, Mary O'Rourke TD, Ciaran Cuffe Td, Roisin Shortall TD and Noeline Blackwell, Director of FLAC (Free Legal Aid Centre) to announce the nominations for the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders Ar Risk 2008.

Colombia: New Front Line report documents ongoing killing of human rights defenders

Colombia

In the week in which a cashiered army lieutenant colonel and 14 soldiers were convicted of murdering 10 elite counter narcotics police agents in an ambush, a new Front Line report documenting attacks on human rights defenders, trade unionists journalists and judges further illustrates the extent of links between the security services, paramilitary groups and drug traffickers. “Although they are supposed to have demobilised, paramilitary groups continue to engage in killings and disappearances of human rights defenders” said Mary Lawlor Director of Front Line, who led the mission. “Many paramilitary groups with links to the security forces remain in operation” said Lawlor

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Dublin: Human rights defenders declare their support for Special Representative Hina Jilani

News about Front Line

UN Special Representative on the situation of Human Rights Defenders under threat of arrest in Pakistan appeals for support to Front Line, Dublin Platform for human rights defenders Dublin 22-24 November 2007. The Pakistani authorities previously issued a warrant for her arrest and until recently the police were surrounding her house.

Dublin: Front Line and The Body Shop launch national campaign for protection of human rights defenders

News about Front Line

Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, together with The Body Shop Ireland, launches action campaign “ Protect One, Empower a Thousand” to end the harassment of human rights defenders. On Monday 19 November at 1 pm at The Body Shop on Grafton Street, Front Line and The Body Shop launch their joint national campaign to secure the protection of human rights defenders. Senator David Norris will speak at the launch highlighting how human rights defenders, including gay rights activists, put their lives on the line on a daily basis in defence of the rights of others.

Bogota: “Colombian Human Rights Defenders Living in Fear” says Mary Lawlor Director of Front Line

Colombia

Front Line Director Mary Lawlor is currently leading a research mission to Colombia to investigate the high level of danger faced by human rights defenders. “Death squads continue to threaten the life of human rights defenders in Colombia” said Lawlor today during a week long mission to the country. On 15 October, a woman defender from the Yira Castro lawyers collective received a note saying “You are going to die on December 24th”. This was the latest in a series of threatening phone calls, emails and a raid on the office to seize computers. The death squads are a continuation of the paramilitary groups which officially have been demobilised.

Brussels: “Restrictions on human rights defenders only create further space for militarism and extremism in OPT”

“Restrictions on the work of Palestinian human rights defenders and civil society are leading to a position which creates further space for militarism and extremism” says Front Line, the International Foundation for the protection of human rights defenders, as the EU and Israel meet to discuss political dialogue and cooperation.

Brussels: International conference says "No effective development aid without empowerment of human rights defenders"

News about Front Line

Participants in Front Line
Seminar in Brussels

“How can development agencies protect human rights defenders?”, was the key question on the menu of an international conference organised on 15-16 October 2007 in Brussels. The conference brought together key development agencies, human rights defenders and representatives of the European Union.

Tunisia: Record on human rights defenders remains “very poor”, reveals a Front Line and Human Rights First mission report

Tunisia

While Tunisia is commemorating this year the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the republican system and the 20th anniversary of the accession of President Ben Ali to power, its record with respect to the treatment of human rights activists remains “very poor”, reveals a mission report, released on 27 September in Brussels by Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, on the occasion of the visit of Ms Sihem Bensedrine, Tunisian human rights defender and journalist, who is an emblematic figure of the fight for freedom and human rights in Tunisia. She is also a founding member and the spokeswoman of the National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (Conseil National pour les Libertés en Tunisie, CNLT).

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Brussels: Front Line Receives major international award.

News about Front Line

Media Alert

Embargoed 8 May 2007

On Tuesday 8 May 2007 the Chairman of the Board of the King Baudouin Foundation in Brussels will present the 2007 King Baudouin International Development Prize to Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human rights Defenders which is based in Dublin. The Prize will be awarded in the presence of Their Majesties H.M. King Albert, H.M. Queen Paola and H.M. Queen Fabiola

The prize, worth €150,000, will be awarded at a ceremony in the Royal Palace in Brussels. This is the first time that this Prize has ever been awarded to an organisation working on behalf of human rights defenders, and it is the first time that an Irish NGO has even made it onto the short list.

395 organisations were nominated . After a rigorous scrutiny this was narrowed down to a short list of five and finally awarded to Front Line. The Prize is awarded on the basis of the impact and effectiveness of the work of Front Line .

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Dublin : Bono Present s 2007 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to Gégé Katana of DRC

News about Front Line

This morning Bono presented the 3rd Front Line Award to Gégé Katana a human rights defender for over 25 years in the Democratic Republic of Congo at a ceremony in Dublin’s City Hall.

Front Line statement to UN Human Rights Council

Mutabar Tadjibaeva, inset and Fariba Davoodi
Mohajer protesting in Tehran

On the occasion of the fourth session of the UN Human Rights Council,held in Geneva from 12 March-5 April 2007, Front Line has issued a statement on on the dangers to human rights defenders in Iran and Uzbekistan Iran and Uzbekistan

Human Rights Defenders - Too Dangerous For Human Rights

Front Line the International Foundation For the Protection of Human Rights Defenders was established to provide urgent protection to human rights defenders at risk. Front Line is concerned that while the the Human Rights Council debates the situation in Iran and Uzbekistan behind closed doors – on the ground, human rights defenders risk imprisonment, torture and even their lives.

Will the HRC seriously address the issue of the dangers to HRD in Iran and Uzbekistan?

2007 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk

News about Front Line

Akifa Aliyeva, Gégé Katana, Jackeline Rojas, Radhia Nasraoui, Riza Fanilag

Front Line is pleased to announce the short list of nominees for the 2007 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. Bono will present the award on 01 May 2007 at a breakfast ceremony in Dublin’s City Hall.

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