Shocking Decision as Appeal Court Upholds Conviction of Lawyer Tony Germain Nkina
[Burundi] 8 October 2021.- Six international human rights groups – Amnesty International, the Burundi Human Rights Initiative, DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project), Human Rights Watch, Protection International Africa, and TRIAL International – condemned the decision of the Court of Appeal of Ngozi on 29 September to uphold the conviction and […]
Protection International Signs a Joint Open Letter to Address Reprisals Against Paten Clan, Uganda
On September 9, a group of organizations that are members of the Coalition for Human Rights in Development and other allies sent an open letter to the African Development Bank and the Nordic Development Fund, calling on them to take immediate action to address reprisals against a community in Uganda impacted by the Wadelai irrigation […]
Germain Rukuki’s Sentence Reduced, a judicial victory for the Burundian HRD
Germain Rukuki’s Sentence Reduced A judicial victory for the Burundian HRD [Nairobi/Brussels, 22 June 2021] – After a series of drawn-out court proceedings, the Appeal Court has ruled that the sentence for Burundian human rights defender (HRD) Germain Rukuki has been reduced from 32 years to 1 year, with a fine of 50,000Fbu. Germain was […]
The EU should honor its commitments to human rights in Burundi
21 June 2021 Dear EU High Representative / Vice-President, Dear Foreign Ministers of the EU member states, As the Council of the European Union (EU) and its preparatory bodies review the situation in Burundi and related EU policy, the undersigned organizations wish to express their concern that the EU and some of its member states […]
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 the 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 […]
Burundi: Once again, human rights defender Germain Rukuki’s right to a fair trial is violated
Appeal to the Authorities of Burundi May 21, 2021 – We, the undersigned organizations, express our dismay that the Burundian Appeals Court of Ntahangwa has not yet announced a verdict in the case of human rights defender Mr. Germain Rukuki. According to legal statutes, this verdict was due within 30 days of the appeal hearing, […]
DR Congo Should Prioritise Justice for Serious Crimes
(Kinshasa, April 29, 2021) – The Democratic Republic of Congo’s newly appointed government should adopt a clear strategy for holding those suspected of criminal responsibility for grave human rights violations accountable, a coalition of 50 Congolese and international nongovernmental groups said today. President Felix Tshisekedi’s new government, led by Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, has a […]
DR Congo: Women Human Rights Defenders 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 shaken by conflict and violence from armed forces, created a network to join their efforts […]
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 shaken by conflict and violence from armed forces, created a network to join their efforts […]
Germain Rukuki’s Second Appeal Proceedings Begin
Burundian Human Rights Defender given a second chance at receiving a fair trial [Brussels/Nairobi] 24 March 2021 – Eight months after the Burundian Supreme Court rejected the Appeals Court’s decision to uphold his 32-year prison sentence, human rights defender Germain Rukuki today appeared for his second appeal proceedings. The Appeal Court’s ruling is expected to […]