It has been 3 years since Floribert Chebeya and Fidèle Bazana were killed at the hands of the Police of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after been summoned by the Head of the Police, General John 
Numbi. To date, the Congolese Military Justice, who deals with this matter, has refused to prosecute General Numbi and has merely judged his accomplices even though it knows the truth, thereby showing total allegiance to the political and military regime. Specific and detailed revelations of one of the protagonists on this case, Commander Paul Mwilambwe, leaves no doubt about on the subject. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the 'Protection International' Category
Death of Floribert Chebeya and Fidèle Bazana in DRC still unresolved after 3 years
June 10, 2013Honduras in video: “The Law of the Strongest” screening on 6 March in Geneva
March 1, 2013Protection International – based in Brussels – announces the launch of its new documentary, The Law of the Strongest, an in-depth account of the work of Honduran human rights defenders and the many challenges they face. You can watch it now at http://vimeo.com/58640439 (Spanish version with English subtitles). On 6 March 2013, The Law of the Strongest will be screened in Geneva.
“In this country, everything is being sold : water, earth and even oxygen” says Salvador Zúñiga, leader of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) standing on a muddy road. Behind him, a no-trespassing sign bars the way to a dam construction project. “This project will not benefit the local population, but only the private interests”.
Like other members of his organization, Salvador Zuñiga denounces judicial harassment, threats and attempted corruption aimed at putting an end to their peaceful resistance to these mega projects.
Pascale Boosten and Eric Juzen, directors at the PI video team, met with COPINH representatives and other human rights defenders in order to produce the documentary, The Law of the Strongest.
Contact : Pascale Boosten, pboosten@protectioninternational.org
Radio Journalist Hassan Ruvakuki in Burundi gets excessive jail sentence
January 17, 2013Via Brussels-based Protection International we have learned that the appeal court in the central city of Gitega, Burundi, imposed a heavy three-year jail sentence on the journalist Hassan Ruvakuki instead of overturning his conviction. The court changed the charge on which Ruvakuki is convicted to “participation in an association formed with the aim of attacking persons and property.” In June, a lower court sentenced him to life imprisonment on a charge of terrorism. Reporters Without Borders regards today’s decision as a sign that certain Burundian officials were determined to punish Ruvakuki at all costs. Several sources in Gitega reported that the appeal court had been under heavy pressure from the state security apparatus not to acquit him. Ruvakuki was accused of complicity with a rebel group when all he did was his duty as a journalist to anticipate the news. Shortly before his arrest, he went to neighbouring Tanzania to cover a Burundian rebel group that was being formed there.
In response to this incomprehensible verdict, Reporters Without Borders is launching a petition for the release of Ruvakuki, who was working for Bonesha FM, a local radio station, and the Swahili service of Radio France Internationale at the time of his arrest in November 2011. To Sign the petition control/click here.
More information about the Ruvakuki case: http://en.rsf.org/burundi.html
http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130115-burundi-journaliste-hassan-ruvakuki-manifestation-swahili-bonesha
Related articles
Norway’s Efforts to Support Human Rights Defenders in word and image
October 23, 2012In 2010, Norway adopted a new set of guidelines with a view to intensifying its efforts in supporting human rights defenders.
In June 2012, the NGO Protection International met with Ms Claire Hubert, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Norway in Geneva, during the round table on National Policies for the Protection on HRDs.
The event was organized by PI in cooperation with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Margareth Sekaggya.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
In a short video message on VIMEO (http://vimeo.com/51596610) Claire Hubert, explains how protecting human rights defenders is a priority in Norway’s human rights policy.
She encourages defenders to reach out to diplomats, so that the latter know the defenders and adequately assist them whenever they need protection. The English version of Norway policy paper can be found on:
regjeringen.no/upload/UD/Vedlegg/Menneskerettigheter/Menneskerettighetsforkjaempere/VeiledningMRforkjengelskFIN.pdf
The Belgium Parliament adopts a resolution on the place of HRDs in foreign policy
February 20, 2012On 13 February 2012, the Belgium parliamentarians adopted by unanimity a resolution strengthening its earlier resolutions of 2003 et 2005, in which they urge the Belgium Government to be more active with regard to the protection of human rights defenders. This kind of action by parliaments is rare but extremely important as I believe it helps to focus policy within the broad – and often vague – human rights language and gives long-term stability
The parliamentarians ask for example that the Government meets with HRDs during official visits, that diplomats maintain regular contact with HRDs in prior consultation with local and national human rights NGOs. They also want to see stronger support for HRDs in the context of conflict prevention, diplomatic dialogues and development aid. Other recommendations relate to the EU and the UN.
Protection International, the Brussels-based international NGO, has rightly welcomed the resolution which is in line with with the best practices it has collected over the years. It now calls on the Government to put the policy into practice.
The Parliament’s Resolution – in French and Dutch – is available at: http://www.lachambre.be/FLWB/PDF/53/1887/53K1887008.pdf
The comments by Protection International (in French) at: http://protectionline.org/PI-se-rejouit-de-l-adoption-d-une.html
Australian Grant Program to Benefit Human Rights Defenders in Uganda and South Sudan | Press Releases
January 17, 2012One does not hear much about what Australia does for Human Rights Defenders, so it is a pleasure to see the 6 January announcement by Hassan Shire, executive director of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP).
Human rights defenders in Uganda and South Sudan are to benefit from Australia’s Human Rights Grants Scheme. The grant will allow EHAHRDP and its joint project with Protection International, Protection Desk Uganda, to deliver programs to improve security management among human rights defenders, strategies for coping with stress and trauma, and engagement with international and regional human rights mechanisms. “South Sudan is facing complex challenges in these early stages of independence,” Hassan Shire. “A strong human rights movement is needed for the entrenchment of a human rights culture in this new nation,”
In Uganda the grant will allow to share tools on security management with Ugandan human rights defenders and provide technical support that will enable them to assess risks emanating from their human rights work and develop tailor-made response strategies that mitigate risks and allow for a continuation of their work.
For more information, please contact: Hassan Shire, Executive Director, EHAHRDP at hshire@yorku.ca or +256-772753753
Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, does interview with Protection International.
January 13, 2012
Image via Wikipedia
On the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders (HRDs) on December last year Protection International issued a video interview with the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Ms Margaret Sekaggya. In 1998, after 14 years of negotiations with governments and under continuous pressure of human rights NGOs, the international community finally recognized the need of human rights defenders for a better protection. To support the implementation of the Declaration, the UN created a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, at present Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya.
The interview can be seen on: http://www.vimeo.com/27006290, in which Ms Sekaggya explains her motivations for promoting defenders rights, the difficulties defenders are currently facing and how they can rely on her mandate.
For more information on Protection International http://www.protectionline.org/.
Course on Security and Protection for human rights defenders, on the internet
June 16, 2011E-learning course: Security and protection for human rights defenders and social organisations is designed for NGOs, social organisations and individuals. It lasts for 60 hours over 3 months approximately 5 hours per week and is hosted by Protection International training staff protection experts with extensive training experience in many countries. The first course, in Spanish, is to due to start in mid 2011, English and French courses will follow.
Education and training for Human Rights Defenders is a broad subject with different needs. One such crucial need is security. The present course aims for human rights defenders to develop various skills, capacities and strategies to allow them to improve the level of security and protection, both for themselves and also for the people they work with.
Proof of experience working in these fields is required, along with the existence, or possible existence, of a risk to their security, because of their work activities. Armed conflict or political repression, due to their activities as human rights defenders, could be examples of suitability. The admission criteria will give priority to those people having the largest potential impact on human rights defenders’ security. The enrolment fee will depend on various factors – such as country of origin or residence, the institution the participant is involved with, the course duration, etc. For more information visit: http://www.protectionline.org or write to: e-learning@protectioninternational.org
I received this via E-learning course: Security and protection for human rights defenders and social organisations | HURIDOCS.
Correction on previous post re Ernst Manirumva
April 8, 2011The film I mentioned last wednesday – to be shown tonight in Brussels – is not so much on the life of Ernst as on the current work of Human RIghts Defenders in Burundi, in particular one of his colleagues, Pacifique Nininahazwe, one of the nominees of the Martin Ennals Award this year. Of course there is attention paid
to the impunity for Ernest assassination.
Protection International made film on assassinated Human Rights Defender Ernest Manirumva, Burundi
April 6, 2011On the 2nd anniversary of the assassination of the Burundese Human Rights Defender Ernest Manirumva the NGO Protection International launches a film on his work and life. The first screening of the documentary “Justice for Ernest Manirumva” will take place at the Belgian Federal Parliament on Friday 8 April at 11 am. For more information please contact: Pascale Boosten of the Video-advocacy Unit of Protection International.
Tel: 32-2-609 44 07 http://www.protectionline.org
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 