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Human Rights Defenders

Honduras: Protect Defenders of Gay Rights in Hondurasposted on: 2011/06/20

Across the country, human rights defenders from various organisations working on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) rights have been targeted by threats, surveillance, kidnappings, intimidation and killings. Despite these threats the defenders of the LGBTI community continue to work for progress in this extremely dangerous environment. LGBTI defenders in Honduras are doubly discriminated against. They are discriminated firstly because they are human rights defenders and secondly because they defend LGBTI rights.

So far in 2010 30 members of the LGBTI community have reportedly been killed in Honduras and there are several documented cases of LGBTI defenders fleeing the country to seek asylum because of very real threat to their lives. The campaign against the LGBTI community is becoming increasingly violent for both individuals and organisations.

These individuals and organisations put their lives at risk every day in order to promote and progress the rights of others.

A violent and aggressive culture has developed against these defenders in Honduras making it very difficult for them to carry out their work. Human rights defender working on LGBTI rights, Walter Trochez was murdered on December 13th 2009.

Join the campaign and help put an end to this.

DRC: Demand Justice for Floribert Chebeya Bahizireposted on: 2011/06/20

Floribert Chebeya Bahizire was a leading Congolese human rights defender. He was the Director of Voix des Sans Voix (Voice of the Voiceless), a prominent human rights organisation in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Floribert's work led to him being issued with numerous and repetitive threats from police. Finally on the 3rd June Floribert was found dead.

Floribert had been called to central Police headquarters requiring him to attend a meeting with the Inspector General of the Congolese National Police. No reason was given for the meeting. For reasons unknown to Floribert's family Floribert was not able to meet the inspector, and just before 8pm he informed his family by SMS that he was returning to the city.

His body was found the following morning, Wednesday 2 June, in his abandoned car in the outskirts of Kinshasa.

According to police sources, Floribert's body showed no signs of violence. However, the deputy executive director of VSV was not allowed to view the body on 2 June. Fidèle Bazana Edadi, who was Floribert's friend and driver also disappeared on 1 June. The body of Mr Edadi was reportedly found on Thursday 3 June, which would confirm that both human rights defenders were assassinated.

Front Line believes that the presumed assassination of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire is a direct result of his legitimate work in defence of human rights in DRC. Front Line is also gravely concerned for the security of the family of Floribert, Fidele and other members of the VSV. The climate in which human rights defenders work within DRC is becoming increasingly dangerous in an attempt to curtail this type of work.

On 23 June a military court in DRC announced the verdict in the trial of the alleged killers of human rights defender and founder of Voix Des Sans Voix, Floribert Chebeya Bahizire. Four of the accused were sentenced to death, one was sentenced to life imprisonment and three were acquitted.

While Front Line welcomes the conviction of those involved in the killing of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, the organisation urges the DRC Minister for Justice to commute the death sentences.

One of those sentenced to death is Colonel Daniel Mukalay who was Chief of Police Intelligence at the time of the killing of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire and his driver Fidèle Bazana and whom the judge identified as the intellectual author of the crime. At the time of his killing Floribert Chebeya Bahizire was on his way to a meeting with Police General John Numbi who remains suspended from his post "pending investigation". To date there has been no outcome from this investigation and his role in the killing remains unclear.

An additional concern is that three of the policemen sentenced to death were convicted in absentia as they are on the run while no verdict has been issued relative to the killing of Floribert's driver Fidèle Bazana whose body has still not been recovered.

Honduras: Help Protect the Environmental Movement of Olancho (MAO)posted on: 2011/06/20

The Environmental Movement of Olancho (MAO) campaigns to stop the illegal and unrestricted logging that has led to soil erosion, the drying up of rivers and the further impoverishment of the people. Destructive and irresponsible logging practices have led to an environmental crisis which caused widespread contamination and led to the spread of disease in the affected region. Because their activities threaten the economic interests of the major logging companies they have been harrassed, intimidated, attacked and killed.

MAO faces major repression from the government and the military as well as the logging companies. Members, including Carlos Flores, Mauricio Hernandez, Arturo Reyes, Heraldo Zuniga and Roger Ivan Cartagena have been killed. These cases have not been investigated and the perpetrators have still to be identified. Local coordinator Rene Gradis and Padre Andres Tamayo have both survived repeated assasination attempts.

Russian Federation: Demand justice for Natalya Estemirova and help protect human rights defenders at riskposted on: 2011/06/20

Natalya Estemirova was a human rights defender and journalist in the troubled Russian republic of Chechnya. Natalya was abducted from her home in Grozny on the 15th July 2009. A few hours later her body was found in neighbouring Ingushetia. Her hands were bound, two bullets in her chest and one in her head. Her crime: researching and reporting on kidnappings, torture and murders, the 'disappeared' in Chechnya, and about the young men who had been abducted by death squads connected to the security forces. Sometimes I just can't even come to feeling that, because I have such strong other feelings. I try to be very exact about how I go about things and I do have worries about my family and people close to me but I still have to do my work. Of course there are many moments when I feel scared. Natalya Estemirova

Geneva: Human Rights Council Passes First-Ever Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identityposted on: 2011/06/17

(Geneva, June 17, 2011) In a groundbreaking achievement for upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a resolution on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity (L9/rev1).

Full Text of Press Release Issued by International Coalition LGBTI Organisations

Historic Decision at the United Nations: Human Rights Council Passes First-Ever Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

(Geneva, June 17, 2011) In a groundbreaking achievement for upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a resolution on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity (L9/rev1).

The resolution, presented by South Africa along with Brasil and 39 additional co-sponsors from all regions of the world, was passed by a vote of 23 in favour, 19 against, and 3 abstentions. A list of how States voted is attached.

Russian Federation: Message from Oleg Orlov: "This is a Victory for All of Us”posted on: 2011/06/17

Dear Friends, Colleagues!

This last Tuesday the court acquitted me on charges of slandering Ramzan Kadyrov. I express my sincere gratitude to all those who supported me throughout these difficult nine months while the trial was in progress – to all those who were concerned about me, phoned, wrote letters, signed statements of support, came to the sessions of the court, wrote and spoke about the trial in the press, on the radio and television.

This is a victory for justice. This is a victory for all of us! Thank you.

Belarus: Fear of closure of Belarusian Helsinki Committee on the basis of false allegations of tax evasionposted on: 2011/06/16

On 31 May 2011 human rights organisation, Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) received a second written warning this year from the authorities, accusing BHC of tax evasion. It is feared that these warnings are an attempt to close down the organisation and stop its human rights work. Article 128 of the Law on NGOs provides that the activities of an organisation who receives such a warning can be suspended for up to six months. If an organisation is found guilty of violation of laws within one year of the warning it can be officially closed down. BHC is the oldest human rights group in Belarus.

Philippines: Three human rights defenders shot and others beaten as private guards violently disperse peaceful protest posted on: 2011/06/15

On 14 June 2011 private guards employed by Central Mindanao University (CMU) opened fire and beat protestors who had set up camp outside the university in Dologan, Maramag, Bukidnon in the southern Philippines. Human rights defenders Messrs Billy Jardin, Gregorio Santillan and Larry de Vera received gunshot wounds and Messrs Wenni Loable, José Benemerito and Ms Marilou Portin were seriously injured. The protestors were members of Buffalo-Tamaraw-Limus– (BTL) Farmer's Association and BTL Women's Association. BTL is an umbrella organisation of the three local peasant groups Buffalo,Tamarawa and Limus. They have tilled the lands inside CMU for over thirty years and have been protesting against the forcible eviction from these lands.

Colombia: UPDATE - Further death threats received by human rights defenders and members of Movimiento de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado – MOVICE (Movement of Victims of State Crimes)posted on: 2011/06/14

Human rights defenders Juan David Díaz Chamorro, Ingrid Vergara Chavéz, Franklin Torres, Candelaria Barrios Acosta and Pedro Geney Arrieta received death threats in recent days as a result of their work in defence of human rights. All five human rights defenders are members of MOVICE in the Department of Sucre. Juan David Díaz Chamorro, Ingrid Vergara Chavéz and Franklin Torres are currently receiving protective measures from the Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos -CIDH (Inter- American Commission on Human Rights).

Further Information

On 10 June 2011 Ingrid Vergara, Franklin Torres, Candelaria Barrios Acosta and Pedro Geney Arrieta received an email containing death threats from " aguilas volando" (flying eagles). It warned the latter three human rights defenders: "Hacemos un ultimo llamado de advertencia: tienen un ultimo plazo para salir de la zona...desde este preciso momento hasta el dia martes deberan abandonar la zona o seran ejecutados' ( We are giving you a final warning: You have a last chance to get out of the area...From this moment until Tuesday you must leave the area or you will be executed).

Philippines: Ongoing campaign of intimidation against human rights defenders Ms Emerita Lor, Ms Gloria Jandayan and Ms Julieta Casinilloposted on: 2011/06/10

Following an ongoing campaign of intimidation against members of its staff Ms Emerita Lor, Ms Gloria Jandayan and Ms Julieta Casinillo. Community-Based Health Services-Northern Mindanao Region (CBHS-NMR) in the Philippines has been forced to close its offices temporarily since 2 June 2011.