Home

Human Rights Defenders

Uganda: Proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill at final stages threatens the rights of the LGBTI communityposted on: 2011/05/11

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill would severely curtail the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders in Uganda by imposing severe limitations on the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

UAE: UPDATE - Dissolution of elected board of directors of the Teachers' Associationposted on: 2011/05/05

Front Line is concerned about the continued attack by the UAE authorities on the right to freedom of association in the country and the targeting of professional associations in particular. On 2 May the Minister of Social Affairs Mrs Maryam Al-Roumi issued a ministerial resolution dissolving the elected board of directors of the Teachers' Association. The resolution stipulated the appointment of an interim board of directors for a period of six months under the directorship of Mr Hussein Musbeh Al-Ka'abi, the current Director of Education for Al-Shariqa area.

Dublin: 2011 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk goes to the Joint Mobile Group of the Russian Federation for their outstanding work in Chechnyaposted on: 2011/05/05

Today in Dublin Mary Robinson, president of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, presented the annual Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to the Joint Mobile Group of the Russian Federation for their outstanding work investigating torture and disappearances in Chechnya despite the serious risks.

Dublin: 2011 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk goes to the Joint Mobile Group of the Russian Federation for their outstanding work in Chechnya posted on: 2011/05/05

Today in Dublin Mary Robinson, president of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, presented the annual Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to the Joint Mobile Group of the Russian Federation for their outstanding work investigating torture and disappearances in Chechnya despite the serious risks.

The Award was presented to Mr Igor Kalyapin founder and President of the Joint Mobile Group at the Award ceremony in Dublin's City Hall. Presenting the Award Mrs Robinson said '''“The work of the Joint Mobile Group is an inspirational example of how committed individuals, despite all the pressures that are brought to bear on them, can hold the line in defence of justice, truth and the rule of law. It is the denial of access to justice that enables tyrants to prevail.

Bahraini Authorities promise access for lawyers and family to Abdulhadi Alkhawajaposted on: 2011/05/04

At the request of Front Line Mr Kamran Choudhry QC travelled to Bahrain on the 29th of April to 2nd May in order to meet with the authorities with regard to the detained former Front Line Protection Coordinator Mr Abdulhadi Alkhawaja. Front Line welcomes the assurances made to Mr Choudhry that the right of Mr Abdulhadi Alkhawaja to legal representation of his choice in conformity with international human rights standards and domestic law will be respected.

UAE: UPDATE - Arrest and detention of Human Rights Defendersposted on: 2011/04/28

Front Line expresses concern at the arrest of four more bloggers in the UAE following the arrest earlier this month of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor who was featured in a previous Front Line appeal of 12th April.

Further Information

Between 22 and 25 April bloggers Messers Fahd Salim Dalk, Hasan Ali Al-Khmis, and Ahmad Abd Al-Khaliq were arrested. Mr Nasser bin Ghaith was arrested on 10 April. Ahmed Mansour and the other bloggers are being held according to a statement made on 25 April by the UAE Attorney General in connection with “investigation of committing crimes of instigation, breaking laws and perpetrating acts that pose threats to state security, undermining the public order, opposing the government system, and insulting the President, the Vice President and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi”.

Mexico:Statement by coalition of Mexican and international NGOs to mark anniversary of killing of of “Bety” Cariño Trujillo and Jyri Antero Jaakkolaposted on: 2011/04/27

Wednesday 27 April 2011 was the first anniversary of the killing of human rights defenders “Bety” Cariño Trujillo and Jyri Antero Jaakkolain in Oaxaca Mexico. In a joint statement issued today (Wednesday) a coalition of Mexican and international human rights NGOs have reiterated their demands for action on this case.

Further Information

The joint statement included demands for : a full and independent investigation into the killings, for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and for the Government of Mexico to take action to ensure that human rights defenders are able to go about their work freely and without the risk of attack.

“Bety” Cariño Trujillo and Jyri Antero Jaakkolain were shot dead in a violent attack on a peaceful solidarity caravan of human rights defenders on 27 April 2010, as it tried to enter the autonomous indigenous municipality of San Juan Copala, Oaxaca. To date the Mexican authorities have failed to identify either the intellectual authors or the actual perpetrators of the crime.

Vietnam: UPDATE - Appeals court reduces jail sentence of human rights defender Mr Vi Duc Hoiposted on: 2011/04/26

On 26 April 2011 human rights defender Mr Vi Duc Hoi had his jail sentence reduced from eight years to five years by an appeals court in northern Lang Son province. This sentence will be followed by three years house arrest.

Further Information

Front Line renews calls that Vi Duc Hoi be released immediately as the charges are a direct result of his legitimate and peaceful work as a democracy activist and in the defence of human rights, and sees it as forming part of an ongoing pattern of harassment against human rights defenders in Vietnam.

See here the original case

UAE: Dissolution of the board of directors of the Jurists Associationposted on: 2011/04/26

On 22 April 2011 Front Line received information reporting that the board of directors of the Jurists Association of the United Arab Emirates is to be dissolved.

Bahrain: Front Line Defenders refused access to Military Court hearing of Abdulhadi Al- Khawaja posted on: 2011/04/22

Front Line Deputy Director Andrew Anderson who is currently on mission in Bahrain was this morning (21st April) refused access to the hearing of imprisoned human rights defender, and former Front Line Regional Protection Coordinator, Abdulhadi Al-khawaja at the Military Court in Rifaa.

Further Information

On 9 April 2011, human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja was arrested and beaten unconscious by police in Al-Manama, Bahrain. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a former Protection Co-ordinator for Front Line and former President of the Bahrain

Centre for Human Rights (BCHR). The arrest of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is an indication of the increasingly hardline being taken by the Bahraini authorities which has resulted in a recent spate of arrests.

At approximately 03.00 am on 9 April 2011, masked police forced entry to the home of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja's daughter, where he was present at the time.