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Front Line Country & Regional Reports

Brazil (1) Democratic Republic of Congo (1) Europe and Central Asia (1) Guatemala (1) Indonesia (1) Iraq (1) Palestine (1) Rwanda (1) USA (1)

Front Line Iraq: Testimonies of Human Rights Defenders

The largely untold story of Iraq has been the struggle of Iraqis to make things better. It’s the story of those who sought to work non-violently for peace and justice and human rights. The story of human rights defenders who sought to document and publish the truth, to help and support the families of victims, to bring help to the most vulnerable. This collection of personal testimonies from Iraqi human rights defenders seeks to make amends for that neglect. Their experiences bring home the terrible cost paid by those who have tried to stand up for human rights and the rule of law. Their courage is inspirational and their dedication has laid the seeds of hope for the future of Iraq. Read More

Front Line Central Asia: Threats, Attacks, Arrests and Harassment of Human Rights Defenders

In Central Asia 2006 was marked by a strong trend towards limiting the rights to freedom of expression and association and making life as difficult as possible for human rights defenders. Human rights defenders are particularly vulnerable to attack when they highlight the absence of democracy, the abuse of power, corruption or the use of torture.

Front Line Guatemala: Attacks Against Human Rights Defenders 2000-2005

This report details the surge in attacks against human rights defenders in Guatemala over the past six years. It illustrates how the phenomenon and its consequences have developed into a resurgence of the terror experienced during the internal armed conflict (1960-1996). This analysis clearly reveals a symptom of a broader deterioration of Guatemalan democracy, the human rights situation and the stagnation of the peace process. The report also provides a more in-depth analysis of the differences in the patterns of attacks based on the type of defender attacked.

Front Line USA :Threats Attacks Arrests and Harassment of Human Rights Defenders

This report examines the situation for human rights defenders in the USA in the aftermath of 9/11 and the way the “war on terror” was being used to repress the work of human rights defenders internationally.The report details the challenges facing those working for human rights, which include discrimination, harassment, intimidation, death threats, ill treatment, arrest and detention, spurious legal actions and loss of earnings. The report highlights the fact that over the past two years, human rights defenders in the USA have become increasingly vulnerable to repressive consequences as a result of their human rights activities. Read More

Front Line Brazil: Murder Death Threats and other Intimidations of Human Rights Defenders 1997-2001

This report analyzes fifty-six separate incidents of violence and harrassment of human rights defenders over the past five years in Brazil. These were not the only such cases during this period, but rather represent a frightening national tendency. Still, the numbers are impressive: twenty-three deaths, thirty-two death threats, four instances of attempted murder, four unjustified prosecutions, four beatings, one kidnapping, one disappearance and one unjustified detention. The report sheds light on a series of aspects of the defence of human rights in Brazil that merit attention.

Towards Full and Effective Implementation of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders in Democratic Republic of Congo

After years of conflict, the DRC has since 2002 been going through a process of transition. This process – supervised by the United Nations (MONUC) – involves reunification of the country, disarmament and integration of armed groups, and elections. While some progress has been made, corruption, armed violence and lawlessness are still the order of the day in many parts of the country. In November 2005, Front Line carried out a mission in the DRC in order to research the extent to which the EU guidelines for the protection of human rights defenders are being implemented in the country, especially with respect to Eastern DRC, one-and-a-half years after their adoption. The mission was also undertaken in order to formulate recommendations to the EU to improve support and protection for HRD's. This report is a result of this mission. Read More

Front Line Palestine: Killings Harassment and Intimidation of Human Rights Defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Terrritory

Defending human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is a complex and dangerous task. The historical, political and legal framework of operation is disputed, although certain key understandings and conclusions can be drawn. Human rights defenders face the challenging situation of operating to defend human rights violations resulting from the Israeli occupation as well as those committed by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). This report observes a number of emerging threats against defenders - in particular in relation to the construction of the Wall inside the territory of the West Bank and the unilateral Gaza ‘disengagement’ plan which will place severe limits on the abilities of individuals and organisations to carry out their work inside the OPT.

Front Line Indonesia: Murders Death Threats and Other Forms of Intimidation of Human Rights Defenders, 1998-2002

The primary focus of this report rests on the cases of abuse, arbitrary arrest, torture, disappearance, murder and other forms of intimidation perpetrated against human rights defenders in Indonesia. The report is not exhaustive but gives a picture of a pattern of intimidation of human rights defenders. Three regions have been singled out for special consideration: the capital, Jakarta, in the lead up to and following the 21 May 1998 resignation of president Soeharto as well as Aceh and West Papua, which are home to Indonesia's longest and bloodiest separatist movements. Just as human rights violations have escalated in these regions, so too have crimes against human rights defenders.

Front Line Rwanda: Disappearances Arrests Threats Intimidation and Co-option of Human Rights Defenders 2001 - 2004

Over the past three years, Rwanda’s increasingly authoritarian government has arrested political opponents, stifled independent journalists, targeted human rights defenders, failed to thoroughly investigate disappearances, and narrowed the space for independent civil society. It has justified those actions as necessary to prevent ‘ethnic divisionism’ and a possible resurgence of genocide. Two months after the tenth commemoration of the genocide in April 2004, a Parliamentary Commission made accusations of genocidal ideology – a highly charged allegation in a country still recovering from the 1994 genocide that killed at least 800,000 people – against several civil society NGOs involved in promoting human rights in the judicial and rural sectors. While the main targets were LIPRODHOR (Rwandan League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights or Ligue rwandaise pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l’Homme) and FOR (Forum of Rural Organisations or Forum des organisations rurales), the Commission also went after the only remaining independent newspaper, churches, schools, and even international development NGOs such as CARE and Trócaire. Read More