Posts Tagged ‘news’

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More than 110 Nobel laureates call on Iran to release Narges Mohammadi

May 26, 2026
guardian.org

On Tuesday 12 May 2026 the Guardian reported that more than 110 Nobel laureates have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Iranian human rights activist and Nobel peace prize laureate, after she was transferred to hospital amid concerns over her rapidly deteriorating health

In a statement 112 Nobel laureates urged the Iranian authorities and the international community to act “without delay” to secure Mohammadi’s release and ensure her continued access to medical treatment.

Mohammadi, who was awarded the 2023 Nobel peace prize for decades of campaigning for women’s rights in Iran was transferred by ambulance in a critical medical condition to Tehran’s Pars hospital on 10 May for specialised treatment. [https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2023/10/06/jailed-iranian-human-rights-defender-narges-mohammadi-wins-nobel-peace-prize-2023/]

The human rights activist has experienced severe weight loss, unstable blood pressure and serious cardiac symptoms while in detention, and was found unconscious in her cell after a possible heart attack. Mohammadi’s transfer to hospital is only a temporary respite and her representatives fear she will be returned to prison if her condition improves.

The signatories included 26 Nobel laureates in chemistry, 12 in economics, five in literature, 29 in medicine, 11 peace laureates and 29 in physics, and include the authors Annie Ernaux and JM Coetzee.

Mohammadi has been repeatedly detained by Iranian authorities for her activism since first being arrested in 1998, including her campaigns against the death penalty and Iran’s mandatory hijab laws. She has been sentenced to more than 44 years in prison and 154 lashes over multiple sentences. [https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2026/01/16/many-ngos-raise-alarm-over-situation-of-detained-human-rights-defenders-in-iran-and-urge-un-human-rights-council-to-convene-a-special-session/]

Iranian human rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has returned to her home after being discharged from hospital, her foundation said.

Mohammadi, 54, was released from Pars Hospital in Tehran on Sunday 17 May 2026 the Narges Foundation said on Monday. She was transferred from prison to a hospital in early May after she had two episodes of loss of consciousness and a severe cardiac crisis. [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/18/iranian-nobel-laureate-narges-mohammadi-returns-home-after-hospital-release]

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/12/nobel-laureates-call-iran-release-gravely-ill-activist-human-rights-activist-narges-mohammadi

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Human rights defenders to benefit from new protection hub in Kenya

May 26, 2026
Defenders Coalition executive director Kamau Ngugi during the launch of the organisation’s 2026 Strategic Plan at a Nairobi hotel/HANDOUT

An ambitious initiative aimed at strengthening the protection and capacity of human rights defenders in Kenya has been unveiled amid growing concerns over shrinking civic space and rising threats against activists.

Defenders Coalition, a national organisation that works primarily to protect Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in Kenya, announced plans to establish Haki Village, a resource hub designed to offer safety, training and support to those championing justice and accountability across the country.

Speaking during the launch, Defenders Coalition Executive Director Kamau Ngugi said the initiative would serve as a safe haven for activists and civil society actors operating in increasingly difficult environments. “It will be a safe space for research, wellness, training and protection,” Ngugi said. The launch comes at a time when concerns are growing over the safety of individuals and groups who speak against injustices, corruption and abuse of power, especially as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections begin to intensify.

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) chairperson Claris Ogangah, who was the chief guest at the event, welcomed the initiative, saying it comes at a critical moment when many human rights defenders require protection and institutional support. “Anybody who speaks against injustice needs to be protected,” Ogangah said.

She noted that the establishment of Haki Village complements the work already being undertaken by KNCHR and various civil society organisations seeking to safeguard civic space and uphold democratic freedoms in the country. Ogangah warned that the period leading to the 2027 General Election is likely to witness increased political activity, including campaign rallies and demonstrations that may at times turn violent.

Ngugi said the initiative forms part of the organisation’s broader 2026 Strategic Plan, which will guide interventions over the next five years.

According to him, the civic space in Kenya continues to face increasing pressure and could deteriorate further as the country approaches the next General Election.

“The civic space in Kenya is repressed and may narrow towards closed status as we head to the 2027 General Elections and beyond,” he said.

Ngugi observed that threats against human rights defenders are becoming more complex and sophisticated even as both global and local environments for activism grow increasingly uncertain.

He further argued that many countries, including Kenya, often fail to fully recognise and protect the important role played by human rights defenders, exposing them to intimidation,

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2026-05-21-human-rights-defenders-to-benefit-from-new-protection-hub

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Digital services alternatives on APC’s community network; better not bigger

May 21, 2026

On 20 May 2026 , Maja Romano wrote a long piece “Better not bigger: Digital services alternatives across our network“.

A recent article in The Guardian highlighted the growing public interest in moving away from dominant corporate platforms such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Apple and X to more rights-respecting and sustainable alternatives, mentioning APC member GreenNet as one example of an ethical internet service provider. The article reflects an increasingly common concern: dependence on a concentrated number of big tech companies leaves communities vulnerable to surveillance, control, political interference and environmental harm. Yet much of the debate in the Global North still frames the issue primarily through market competition, for example, how Europe can reduce dependence on American technology giants by supporting European companies instead.

For many members and partners in the APC network, the challenge runs much deeper than replacing one corporate provider with another and is not as simple as assessing whether technology is headquartered in the United States, Europe or elsewhere, nor is it simply a matter of creating alternatives for individual personal choices. It is about who controls digital infrastructure and services, whose interests it serves, and whether communities have meaningful power and agency over the technologies they use. It means fostering an environment that encourages the development of diverse technologies, grounded in lived experiences, which can reinforce rights rather than undermine them.

Across APC’s network, there are member organisations who have spent years building community-centred and rights-respecting alternatives rooted in social and environmental justice alongside collective care. Their work offers a different vision of the digital future, one where infrastructure is seen not as a profit-driven extractivist commodity, but as a commons. Within this article we connect with several members and APC’s own tech team for their reflections on alternatives to big tech services.

read more on: https://www.apc.org/en/news/better-not-bigger-digital-services-alternatives-across-our-network

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Alleged perpetrators arrested in the murder of human rights defender Juan López in Honduras

May 14, 2026

(FILES) Honduran environmentalist Juan Lopez sits on a rock as he watches the Guapinol river on the outskirts of Tocoa, Colon department, Honduras, on September 28, 2021.
The late Honduran environmentalist Juan Lopez sits on a rock on the outskirts of Tocoa, Honduras, on September 28, 2021 [AFP]

On 12 May 2026 Al Jazeera reported that the Honduran authorities have arrested three people, including a powerful politician, accused of plotting the 2024 assassination of an environmental leader, an incident that became a symbol of government corruption. Adan Funez, former mayor of the city of Tocoa, was captured at his home on Tuesday on suspicion of masterminding the killing of Juan Lopez, following years of accusations by religious and environmental leaders.end of list

Lopez was an anti-corruption crusader who led a community effort against an iron oxide mining project in Colon, a rural region of northwestern Honduras, which activists said endangered the area’s dense jungles and crystalline waters, including protected reserve areas.

In September 2024, Lopez called on Funez to step down because of a corruption scandal. Days later, the environmental and human rights defender was shot six times in the chest and once in the head by a masked gunman, fuelling demands for justice. [https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2024/09/26/cafod-calls-for-justice-as-another-environmental-defender-is-killed-in-honduras/]

Accusations also emerged against Funez, a power-broker in the region’s decades-long bloody agrarian conflict. The death brought back stark memories of the global outcry over the 2016 murder of Honduran environmentalist Berta Caceres.

Funez’s arrest on Tuesday comes more than a year after Lopez’s assassination.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/12/honduras-mayor-arrested-for-masterminding-environmentalists-killing

Three alleged perpetrators arrested in the murder of human rights defender Juan López in Honduras

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Application open for the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism

May 14, 2026

The Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism honours high-quality investigative and in-depth journalism that defends and promotes the foundational values of the European Union. It was established to support press freedom and recognize journalists who contribute to democratic accountability and human rights protection. The prize is named after Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was known for her work exposing corruption and abuses of power. It is a European Parliament award.

The award focuses on journalism that:

  • Promotes human dignity and human rights
  • Supports freedom and democracy
  • Defends equality and the rule of law
  • Strengthens transparency and accountability
  • Highlights social justice issues
  • Protects fundamental European Union values

  • Prize amount: €20,000
  • Award frequency: Annual
  • Organizer: European Parliament
  • Award ceremony: European Parliament, Strasbourg
  • Scheduled event: October 2025

  • Deadline: 31-Jul-2026

see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2019/02/26/son-of-maltese-journalist-daphne-caruana-galizia-tells-un-impunity-continues/

https://www2.fundsforngos.org/individuals/apply-now-daphne-caruana-galizia-prize-for-journalism

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Call for Nominations: The Ginetta Sagan Award

May 14, 2026

The Ginetta Sagan Award honors women who are courageously defending the liberty, safety, and human rights of women and children in regions affected by serious abuses. The award provides $20,000 directly to the recipient, with unrestricted use. It recognizes women leaders who have created meaningful impact, often at great personal risk, and helps increase international visibility and protection for their work.

The award celebrates leadership, courage, and effective non-violent activism in difficult or dangerous environments

For more information, visit Amnesty International.

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First European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders 3-4 June 2026

May 12, 2026

The First European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) invites individuals and organizations committed to the promotion, protection, and respect of environmental and human rights across Europe to express their interest in participation. This landmark Forum represents a significant opportunity for Environmental Human Rights Defenders, civil society organizations, institutions, policymakers, and advocates to engage in meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange on pressing environmental and human rights challenges affecting the European region.

The Forum will be held on 3–4 June 2026 at the headquarters of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The event is jointly organized by the Council of Europe, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, and the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention. Additional collaboration is provided by the UNECE Aarhus Convention Secretariat, several Human Rights Council Special Procedure mandate holders, and a range of civil society organizations actively working throughout Europe.

Purpose of the Forum

The Forum aims to strengthen networks among Environmental Human Rights Defenders and supporting organizations while fostering regional cooperation and advocacy. Participants will have the opportunity to:

  • Share experiences and best practices
  • Discuss emerging environmental and human rights issues
  • Explore strategies for protection and advocacy
  • Build partnerships across sectors and countries
  • Contribute to discussions on policy and accountability mechanisms

The gathering is expected to attract a diverse range of participants from across the Council of Europe member states, including grassroots defenders, activists, indigenous representatives, youth leaders, academics, legal experts, international organizations, and civil society actors.

Event Format and Languages

The Forum will be conducted exclusively as an in-person event. Online participation or virtual attendance options will not be available. Participants are therefore encouraged to prepare for travel and related logistical arrangements should their participation be approved.

Registration and Selection Process

Submitting an Expression of Interest does not automatically guarantee participation in the Forum. All applications will undergo a comprehensive review and selection process conducted by the organizers. Applicants whose participation is approved will receive an official registration confirmation letter. The review process will take place on a rolling basis to allow selected participants sufficient time to make necessary arrangements, including:

  • Visa applications
  • Travel planning
  • Accommodation bookings
  • Administrative preparations

Interested individuals are therefore strongly encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.

Funding and Financial Support

Due to limited available resources, the organizers will only be able to provide financial support to a select number of Environmental Human Rights Defenders. Funding decisions will be based on several factors, including:

  • Resource availability
  • Geographic diversity
  • Gender balance
  • Inclusion and representation criteria
  • Nature of environmental and human rights work

Applicants who meet the general participation criteria but are not selected for financial support may still receive an invitation to attend the Forum through self-funded participation.

The organizers anticipate that the majority of participants will need to finance their own attendance. Institutions, donor organizations, and networks that support Environmental Human Rights Defenders are encouraged to assist participants financially where possible.

Expression of Interest: First European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders 2026

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Applications are now open for the 2027 Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders. Deadline 4 MAY!

May 2, 2026
marianne-initiative-2023

Application Deadline: May 4, 2026

Applications are now open for the 2027 Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders. Each year, a group of about fifteen human rights defenders, distinguished by their exemplary work in the fight for fundamental rights in their countries of origin, are welcomed to France. The laureates are selected from among several hundred candidates by a committee of independent experts.

The personalized program includes networking with key actors involved in the field of human rights (State, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, independent judicial and administrative authorities, representatives of international organizations), as well as support for the development of their activist project, aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of their action.

Benefits

  • The program offers a unique platform for international exposure and professional growth.
  • Participants gain access to a broad network of human rights professionals and European institutions, fostering connections that last long after the program ends.
  • The core benefit of the initiative lies in the specialized skill-building workshops provided during the stay in France.
  • This immersive experience aims to expand the operational capacity and strategic networks of frontline defenders.

Eligibility

  • To be eligible, candidates must demonstrate a proven and distinguished commitment to promoting fundamental rights within their local communities.
  • The initiative specifically looks for individuals who have already distinguished themselves through concrete actions on the ground.
  • Prospective applicants should be motivated to expand their professional skills and be willing to collaborate with international peers.
  • The program serves as a vital bridge between local grassroots activism and global human rights standards.

Benefits

The winners follow a comprehensive program consisting of:

  • Training courses to strengthen cross-cutting skills to implement their projects: negotiation, leadership, advocacy, project engineering, association management, etc.;
  • Training to improve working conditions in the country of origin: security, mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders, etc.;
  • Courses to consolidate their theoretical knowledge: transitional justice, international law, etc.;
  • Meetings and networking with individuals and partner organizations committed to human rights and development issues;
  • Conferences and cultural activities;
  • Individual interviews to support the activist project;
  • Visits to international institutions and organizations;
  • Exchanges with the Marianne Alumni network of the program, within the framework of the mentoring program between laureates of the different cohorts.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders

The 2027 Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders (Fully Funded to Paris, France)

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FIFA under fire for Peace Prize for Trump

May 2, 2026

On 19 January 2026 I reported on FIFA’s misguided effort to please President Trump with a suddenly created peace prize. See:

FairSquare and Human Rights Watch have filed complaints re the selection process for FIFA’s peace prize”

Now criticism within European football circles of FIFA has intensified after the president of the Norwegian Football Association, Liz Klavenes, called for the cancellation of the ‘Peace Prize’ arguing that the move constitutes a clear breach of the principle of political neutrality. Klavénes, who also sits on the Executive Committee of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), confirmed that she would raise this issue during the FIFA Congress, stressing the need for world football’s governing body to maintain a “distance” from political leaders.

In a notable escalation, Klavenis announced her support for an ethics complaint filed against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, over his role in awarding the trophy, amid accusations of breaching neutrality rules. According to The Athletic, the complaint — filed by the human rights organisation Fair Square — alleges that Infantino politically promoted a public figure whilst in office, as well as awarding a politically charged prize without a clear institutional process and bypassing official structures within FIFA, including the Congress. These findings suggest a possible breach of FIFA’s Code of Ethics, which requires its officials to maintain complete neutrality regarding political matters.

Klavinis believes that introducing politically charged awards into the global football system threatens the independence of the game, stressing that such initiatives must be carried out within clear institutional frameworks and free from personalisation or political agendas. She also stressed that FIFA’s credibility is linked to the extent of its commitment to the principles of transparency and governance, particularly in light of increasing international scrutiny of its decisions..

This issue is becoming increasingly sensitive as the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico approaches, placing the relationship between politics and football under the microscope.

Australian footballer Jackson Irvine said football’s credibility as a force for good has been undermined by FIFA, accusing it of making a mockery of its own Human Rights Policy. Irvine took aim at FIFA’s decision to give the Peace Prize to US President Trump. “As an organisation, you would have to say decisions like the one that we saw awarding this peace prize make a mockery of what they’re trying to do with the human rights charter and trying to use football as a global driving force for good and positive change in the world,” Irvine told the Reuters news agency.

The White House has pushed back strongly against criticism of Donald Trump receiving FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize, awarded in December for what FIFA described as “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.” Spokesperson Davis Ingle declared that “no one else is more deserving” and dismissed detractors as suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

https://www.thecanary.co/global/2026/04/29/fifa-to-revoke/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/world-cup-trump-fifa-infantino-37086100

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/insight/white-house-doubles-down-on-defence-of-trump-s-fifa-peace-prize/gm-GM2F0C30BA?gemSnapshotKey=GM2F0C30BA-snapshot-5

https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/4/28/before-world-cup-fifa-slammed-for-politicising-sport-with-trump-prize

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UN rapporteurs and NGOs raise concerns over Turkey’s treatment of human rights defenders

April 29, 2026

On April 22, 2026 United Nations special rapporteurs raised serious concerns about Turkey’s use of counterterrorism laws to judicially harass and criminalize human rights defenders and lawyers, including what they described as the misuse of the terrorism financing law, the Stockholm Center for Freedom reported.

In a letter sent to the Turkish government on February 23, 2026, but published only recently, the rapporteurs said authorities were pursuing charges including membership in a terrorist organization and terrorism financing against rights defenders and lawyers, singling out the Human Rights Association (İHD) as a particular target.

The rapporteurs pointed to the case of İHD member Hatice Onaran, who was convicted in 2024 of “violating the law on financing terrorism” after sending small amounts of money to poor and sick prisoners. They also cited the cases of four other members —Osman Süzen, Suna Bilgin, Tuğba Kahraman and Mehmet Acettin — who were charged with membership in a terrorist organization. Süzen was subsequently acquitted at a January 2026 hearing.

A fifth İHD member, İsmail Boyraz, was investigated on accusations of participating in an unlawful assembly after taking part in a teachers’ union protest. The rapporteurs also cited the case of lawyer Sabri Güngen, who was allegedly assaulted by police while meeting with a client.

The rapporteurs expressed concern over what they described as Turkey’s “apparent misuse” of terrorism financing laws in Onaran’s case, noting that providing small sums of money to support the basic needs of ill and financially disadvantaged prisoners, in line with prison regulations and under prison administration supervision does not constitute terrorism financing under international law. Onaran, who is undergoing cancer treatment, was released in February 2025 after his sentence was suspended for six months on health grounds.

They also warned that physical assault and intimidation reportedly faced by lawyers Bilgin, Süzen and Güngen while carrying out their professional duties may have been acts of retaliation for their human rights work.

The rapporteurs raised the same concern in a following statement on March 31, which warned that Turkey’s counterterrorism legislation is being used to criminalize legitimate rights advocacy and restrict fundamental freedoms.

The letter was signed by Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders; Gina Romero, the special rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Tlaleng Mofokeng, the special rapporteur on physical and mental health; Margaret Satterthwaite, the special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; and Ben Saul, the special rapporteur on protection of rights and freedoms while countering terrorism.

https://ankahaber.net/haber/detay/un_warns_turkiye_says_lawyers_and_rights_defenders_systematically_targeted_307921

UN rapporteurs raise concerns over Turkey’s use of terrorism laws against rights defenders

see also:

https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-freedom/article/turkey-ifj-and-partners-condemn-escalating-use-of-disinformation-law-against-journalists-and-call-for-its-repeal

HRW criticizes Turkey over jailing of environmental activist ahead of COP31

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