Human Rights Defenders File Civil Case Against Thai Authorities for Overly Repressive Use of Covid-19 Laws
On the morning of 26 May 2022, a group of Thai human rights defenders held a demonstration in front of the Government House of Thailand in Bangkok in protest against the proposals of additional laws to curb freedom of association and the right to peaceful assembly. They called upon authorities to stop wrongfully using Covid-19 […]
Thai Civil Case on Disinformation and Smear Campaigns Against WHRDs Rescheduled
On 10 and 11 May 2022, the Bangkok Civil Court held the first hearing for the case that human rights defenders Angkhana Neelapaijit and Anchana Heemina filed against Thailand’s Office of the Prime Minister and the Royal Army. During the witness examination, Neelapaijit and several other witnesses gave evidence to prove that government officials have […]
Launch of the Protection Network for Women Human Rights Defenders in DR Congo
[DR Congo] On November 29, the world celebrates Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Day. On this occasion, Protection International (PI) is pleased to explain more about the challenges that WHRDs face on a daily basis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), especially in the eastern provinces— where women and girls have continued […]
Protection International Interviews Burundian Human Rights Defender Germain Rukuki after Judicial Victory
In July 2017, the human rights defender Germain Rukuki was arrested in his home and later charged with “rebellion”, “threatening state security”, “attacking the authority of the State” and “participation in an insurrectionist movement”, although no conclusive evidence was ever presented to back the prosecution’s counts. Four years later, Germain Rukuki has been released from […]
Uprooted Yet Undeterred
Human rights defenders in Colombia continue to stand up for themselves and their communities regardless of forced displacement Dozens of refugees and internally displaced people are human rights defenders (HRDs), but they are not always effectively recognized as such. In this article we tell some stories about these defenders in Colombia, the challenges their communities […]
450K People Forced to Flee Volcanic Eruption in Goma
Human rights defenders and Protection International staff were forced to put their work on hold, while Nyiragongo volcano erupted in their backyard June 2021 – “The volcanic eruption of Nyiragongo came like a thief. The early warning system did not alert us as early as possible; the lava came suddenly and people were in total […]
[Thailand] Protection International Jointly Submitted a Contribution to the UN’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Human Rights in Thailand
On 25 March 2021, Protection International, together with ENLAWTHAI Foundation (EnLAW), Community Resource Centre Foundation (CRC) and Campaign for Public Policy in Mineral Resources (PPM) submitted a contribution to Thailand’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a human rights mechanism through which, the Human Rights Council (HRC) reviews, on a periodic […]
WHRDs’ Important Role Promoted Through a Video Contest and Documentary Films Screening
Commemorating International Women’s Day Towards Justice through Gender Equality and Awareness [Jakarta] 19 March 2021 – International Women’s Day, commemorated internationally every year on 8 March, is a tradition started in 1908 when more than 15.000 women marched to demand shorter working hours, good wages and voting rights in New York.1 On the occasion of […]
Women Human Rights Defenders in DR Congo Create a Protection Network
With Protection International’s support, women human rights defenders unite to form a network and strengthen their protection On 12 March 2021, 44 women human rights defenders (WHRDs) who operate in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), a region was shaken by conflict and violence from armed forces, created a network to join their […]
From Colombia to DR Congo: Comparing Public Policies for the Protection of Defenders
Human rights defenders from Latin America and Africa share experiences related to public policies meant for their protection On 21 January 2021, 44 human rights defenders met – virtually from their homes – to share their experiences in relation to their country’s public protection policies. Participants included defenders from Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Mexico and […]