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 […]
Experts: Honduras Must Investigate Illicit Actions Denounced in Berta Cáceres Case
June 1, 2021 A month into the trial of a retired military intelligence officer and president of the DESA hydroelectric company, David Castillo, for the murder of Lenca leader Berta Cáceres in Honduras, the Expert Observation Mission remains concerned about the right to the truth and the clarification of the acts that led to the […]
Guarantees for the Exercise of the Right of Indigenous Peoples to Protest in Colombia
Bogota, May 21, 2021 – Protection International (PI) notes with concern that the Colombian government has failed to ensure the necessary guarantees for the exercise of the right to free association, freedom of expression, and peaceful protest. As it stands, Colombia’s official position does not correspond to the State obligations to respect, guarantee, and protect […]
Important Legal Victory for Land Rights Defenders of Thailand
The Southern Peasants’ Federation finally wins court case after eight years of deliberations and delays [Thailand – 25 March 2021] Thirteen years of struggle and eight years of waiting finally resulted in a positive outcome for the land rights defenders of the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT). On 19 March 2021, the Thai Administrative […]
Human Rights Defenders Coalition “Repression and Silencing of Activists Is Not Just: Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law “
[Jakarta] 22 February, 2021 “If the ITE Law cannot provide a sense of justice, I will ask the DPR to jointly revise this law, this ITE Law” (President Joko Widodo during a TNI-Polri leadership meeting at the State Palace, Monday 15/2/2021) The President’s statement is a reaction to the public unrest towards the many criminalization […]
Investigation Moves Forward Concerning Land Rights Defender Assassination Attempt
Cases of violence against SPFT members keep piling up while Thai authorities fail to end the culture of impunity [Thailand] On 21 January 2021, Mr. Dam Onmuang, a land rights defender from the Santi Pattana Community, attended the first court appointment on the case of his attempted murder last October. The Santi Pattana Community is […]
Security Measures Were Extended Until the End of January for Anti-Gold Mining Movement KRBK but Concerns Over Their Safety Persist
The perpetrator of the firearm attack remains in his governmental job until the investigation committee declares him guilty [Thailand] A sense of insecurity has persisted in Ban Na Nong Bong since 12 January, when Mr Thanakrit Inthara, a local public officer, fired against two anti-gold mining protesters. The victims are members of the community-based group […]
21 Principles for Implementing the Risk Approach
Guidance for States on how to more efficaciously protect human rights defenders [Brussels] 26 January 2021.- Today, we are proud to publish the Risk Analysis and Protection Plan Principles, otherwise known as the “Risk Approach Recommendations”, which were created in collaboration with over 65 human rights defenders and experts from around the world to push […]
Resurgence of Violence Against Environmental W/HRDs
A local security officer fires gunshots to threaten a community of human rights defenders [Bangkok] 19 January 2021 – On 12 January 2021, Khon Rak Ban Kerd’s (KRBK) peaceful protest against gold mining was troubled by a local public officer, who eventually shot at two of the protesters. One of the two was Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, […]
Land Rights Defenders of the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand Face Eviction Over Lawsuits Filed by a Private Company Holding Unlawful Land Title Deeds
Previous investigations revealed this company had illegally occupied the disputed land, but local authorities continue to fail to perform their duties of redistributing it among the landless peasants [Thailand] On 27 November 2020, the Surat Thani Provincial Court conducted a preliminary hearing on the case of 36 land rights defenders from the Santi Pattana Community, […]