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Across the globe human rights defenders face various forms of persecution in their everyday struggle for human rights

In Honduras an anonymous tip off alerts members of Cofadeh that their Director Bertha Oliva, and other prominent human rights defenders, are on a death list.

In Armenia Mr Arshaluys Hakobyan of the Helsinki Association is taken into custody and beaten.

In Thailand Ms Angkhana Neelaphaijit who is the chairperson of the Working Group on Justice and Peace (WGJP) and wife of the missing human rights lawyer, Somchai Neelaphaijit, who disappeared on 12 March 2004 in Bangkok, is subjected to an ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation.

These few cases are typical of the thousands of human rights defenders who dedicate their lives and risk their personal security in defence of the rights of others.

Your support will help them to create more just and equal societies for all. These are the people with the power to change the world.

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Urgent Cases

 India: Arbitrary arrest of twelve women human rights defendersposted on: 2013/06/19

On 13 June 2013, at approximately 7:30am, twelve women human rights defenders were assembled peacefully outside the residence of the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms  Mamata Bannerjee, when they were arrested on charges of intention to commit an offence. They were released the same day at 4:30pm upon payment of a bond, but were denied access to their lawyers.

Saudi Arabia: Women human rights defenders sentenced to imprisonment and receive travel bansposted on: 2013/06/17

On 15 June 2013, human rights defenders Ms Wajeha Al-Huwaider and Ms Fawzia Al-Oyouni were sentenced to ten months imprisonment to be followed by a two year travel ban by the District Court in Al-Khobar. The human rights defenders were arrested on 7 June 2011 and briefly held on charges of trying to sabotage the marital relationship between a Canadian woman and her Saudi husband.

Zimbabwe: Raid on the offices of LGBTI rights organisation GALZposted on: 2013/06/07

On 6 June 2013, at approximately 11am, five unknown assailants wielding hammers forced entry into the Harare offices of human rights organisation Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ).

Cambodia: Appeal trial of human rights defender Ms Yorm Bopha postponedposted on: 2013/06/06

On 5 June 2013, the appeal trial in Phnom Penh of human rights defender Ms Yorm Bopha was suspended until 14 June. The housing rights activist was charged on 4 September 2012 with 'intentional violence with aggravating circumstances' in relation to a skirmish that had broken out near her house on 7 August 2012. She was sentenced to three years imprisonment on 27 December 2012.

Colombia: Human rights defender Juan David Díaz Chamorro informed of plan to kill him and his wifeposted on: 2013/06/06

On 3 June 2013, at 8:48pm, an email was sent to Colonel Julián González, Chief of Police for Sucre, Colombia, informing him of a plan to kill human rights defender Mr Juan David Díaz Chamorro, his wife Ms Malena Martínez, and one other person closely linked to the family. Several other human rights defenders were copied in the email.

Russian Federation - Human rights defenders' apartment doors marked with “here lives a foreign agent”posted on: 2013/06/05

On 4 June 2013, Mr Igor Sazhin, a member of Komi Human Rights Commission Memorial (KHRC Memorial), reported that cartoons of “Uncle Sam” along with the inscription 'here lives a foreign agent' appeared on the apartment doors of several of his colleagues in Syktyvkar in the Komi Republic, Russian Federation.

Kenya: Abduction and physical assault of human rights defender Ms Lydia Mukamiposted on: 2013/06/04

At the dawn of 1 June 2013, human rights defender Ms Lydia Mukami was abandoned in the bush after being abducted by unidentified men who had spent several hours subjecting her to physical assault.

China: Human rights defender Ms Ye Haiyan detained following assaultposted on: 2013/05/31

On 30 May 2013, human rights defender Ms Ye Haiyan was detained by police after being assaulted at her home in Guangxi province.

Georgia: Threats against members of LGBTI rights organisation Identobaposted on: 2013/05/31

On 27 May 2013 the non-governmental organisation Identoba submitted a complaint to the Georgian Ombudsman Mr Ucha Nanuashvili and the Georgian Lawyers Association.

Kazakhstan: Prison sentence of human rights defender Ms Roza Tuletaeva upheldposted on: 2013/05/30

On 28 May 2013, the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan upheld the five-year prison sentence of human rights defender Ms Roza Tuletaeva, in relation to a demonstration that took place on 16 December 2011 in the town of Zhanaozen. During the demonstration police opened fire and killed at least sixteen people.

Colombia: Human rights organisation GIDHD closes offices because of continued threats and Government inactionposted on: 2013/05/30

The Grupo Interdisciplinario por los Derechos HumanosGIDHD (Interdisciplinary Group for Human Rights), based in Medellín, has announced that it has been forced to close its offices based on information that threats received by the organisation in the last months would be realised within the next hours. GIDHD is a not-for-profit organisation working with victims of state violence.

Angola: Arrests and violence at a vigil to mark one year since the disappearance of two human rights defendersposted on: 2013/05/29

On 27 May 2013, at least nine human rights defenders were arrested, including Messrs Manuel Nito Alves, Albano Bingo, Nicola, Domingos Cipriano “Aristocrata”, Adolfo Miguel Campos André, Graciano, Ferbern, Emiliano Catumbela “Ticreme”, and Raul Lino “Mandela” while they were taking part in a vigil at Largo da Independência in Luanda to mark one year since the disappearance of human rights defenders Messrs António Alves Kamulingue and Isaías Cassule.

Uganda: Human rights defender Mr Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala arrested during peaceful demonstration and later releasedposted on: 2013/05/28

On 28 May 2013, Ugandan police arrested human rights defender Mr Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala as he participated in a peaceful demonstration which demanded the re-opening of  four media houses unlawfully closed down and kept under siege by police since 20 May 2013. The human rights defender was released a few hours later but two journalists are still in detention.

Honduras: Arbitrary detention, and subsequent release, of Ms Berta Cáceres and Mr Tomás Gómez Membreñoposted on: 2013/05/27

On 25 May 2013, just after 1pm, Ms Berta Cáceres, general co-ordinator of Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Indígenas PopularesCOPINH (Civic Council of Popular Indigenous Organisations) was conditionally released from her detention by Judge José Francisco Pineda Ayala del Juzgado in Santa Barbara, Western Honduras.

Kenya: Death threats and intimidatory acts against leaders of Mwea Foundationposted on: 2013/05/27

On 25 May 2013, a meeting of the Mwea Foundation, a grassroots organisation of rice farmers in the Mwea constituency, was interrupted by the deputy governor for Kirinyaga county, who called people out of the meeting, reportedly to ask how the organisation was funding itself.

Sierra Leone: LGBTI rights defender Mr George Reginald Freeman attacked and subjected to threatsposted on: 2013/05/24

On 22 May 2013, at approximately 11:30pm, human rights defender Mr George Reginald Freeman was driving to a guest house when he was intercepted by two unknown assailants on motorbikes. One of the men threw a stone through his car window which was aimed at his head. The human rights defender was then badly beaten as he attempted to escape. The assailants also robbed valuables from his car after he escaped.

Russian Federation: Voronezh Human Rights House at Risk of Closureposted on: 2013/05/24

On 22 May 2013, the charitable foundation "International Project - Youth Human Rights Movement" (YHRM), whose office is located in Voronezh Human Rights House, received a letter from the Department of Property and Estate Relations of Voronezh City Administration that breaks their lease and enjoins YHRM to leave the premises. A similar letter was received on 17 May 2013 by the Confederation of Free Labour, an interregional trade union, whose offices are also located in Voronezh Human Rights House.

Kazakhstan: Decision to block website of 'Youth Newspaper' upheld by appeals courtposted on: 2013/05/24

On 17 May 2013, the Karaganda Regional Court heard the appeal of Mr Berik Zhagiparov, editor of Youth Newspaper, regarding the blocking of the newspaper's website. The Court upheld the decision of the city court of Zhezkazgan, which ruled on 26 March 2013 to block the website for a period of three months.

Russian Federation: Intimidation and judicial harassment of Komi Human Rights Commission Memorial posted on: 2013/05/21

On 18 May 2013, a meeting of the Komi Human Rights Commission Memorial (KHRC Memorial) was aggressively interrupted by members of the radical nationalist group Rubezh Severa (Northern Border).

India: Arrest of human rights defender Ms Madhuri Ramakrishnasway on fabricated chargesposted on: 2013/05/21

On 16 May 2013, human rights defender and maternal health activist Ms Madhuri Ramakrishnasway was arrested outside the court in Barwani in Madhya Pradesh, in a case brought against her after a protest.

Cambodia: Arbitrary arrest of human rights defender Mr Kuch Vengposted on: 2013/05/21

On 19 May 2013, human rights defender Mr Kuch Veng was arrested by four police officers at Kbal Trach commune, Krako district, Pursat village. Kuch Veng is a land rights activist and is a member of the Community Peace Network.

Pakistan: Killing of human rights defender Mr Abdul Waheed posted on: 2013/05/20

On 13 May 2013, human rights defender, philanthropist and social activist Mr Abdul Waheed was shot dead in front of his infant daughter and elder brother. The attack was carried out by three unknown assailants at his medical store in the Qasba Colony, Manghopir, Karachi. The human rights defender's daughter, Pareesha, and brother, Naseeb Taj, were also injured in the attack.

Colombia - Continued threats against human rights defender Ms Martha Díaz Ospina as death threat left at her homeposted on: 2013/05/17

On 16 May 2013, human rights defender Ms Martha Díaz Ospina was targeted once again at her home. Martha Díaz Ospina is Director and legal representative of the Asociación de Madres Unidas por un Solo Dolor – AFUSODO (Association of Mothers united by a Single Sorrow), an organisation of relatives of victims of extrajudicial executions and a member organisation of MOVICE.

Russian Federation: Public Verdict Foundation deemed to be non-compliant with 'Foreign Agents' Lawposted on: 2013/05/16

On 14 May 2013, the Russian human rights NGO, Public Verdict Foundation, received a letter from the Prosecutor's Office stating that an inspection had found that the organisation had received foreign funding and that most of its programmes were political; two findings which mean the organisation should have registered as a foreign agent under the controversial 'Foreign Agents' Law.

Kenya: Charges still pending against human rights defenders Messrs Francis Sakwa, John Abok and Patrick Kamotho.posted on: 2013/05/16

On 15 May 2013, human rights defenders Messrs Francis Sakwa, John Abok and Patrick Kamotho, along with thirteen other protesters, were released from Nairobi parliament police station on free bond pending their reporting back to the station on 17 May 2013 at 8am. The group had been held on charges of cruelty to animals after participating in a protest in which a pig and a dozen piglets were released outside the Kenyan parliament to voice concern over MPs demanding higher salaries.

Vietnam: Upcoming appeal trial of eight human rights defendersposted on: 2013/05/16

On 23 May 2013, the appeal trial of Messrs Ho Duc Hoa, Thai Van Dung, Paulus Le Son, Nguyen Xuan Anh, Tran Minh Nhat, Nguyen Dinh Cuong, Ho Van Oanh and Nguyen Van Duyet is due to take place. The eight human rights defenders were arrested between August and December 2011, and were in pre-trial detention until their conviction in January 2013.

Kyrgyzstan: Physical assault of human rights defender Mr Ulugbek Azimov and his familyposted on: 2013/05/15

On 9 May 2013, human rights defender Mr Ulugbek Azimov and his family were violently attacked in Bishkek on their way to a family gathering.

Turkey: Trial against VAKAD and other civil society organisations in Van continuesposted on: 2013/05/14

On 17 May 2013, the second hearing in the case against the Van Women's Association (VAKAD) and nine other civil society organisations is due to take place at the Van 3rd Court of First Instance. The Van chief prosecutor initiated court proceedings for the closure of the ten groups on charges of links with the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). Amongst the nine other associations facing closure are bereaved families support groups, prisoner solidarity groups, and Kurdish language culture centres.

Cameroon: Judicial harassment against human rights defender Mr Musa Usman Ndamba and other members of MBOSCUDAposted on: 2013/05/14

On 10 May 2013, human rights defender Mr Musa Usman Ndamba appeared before the Court of First Instance in Bamenda, on charges related to unsubstantiated allegations of misinformation.