بيانات صحفية

Veteran film director shows support for Burmese human rights defender

Charm Tong and John BoormanCharm Tong and John Boorman

2 November 2005

The film director John Boorman, attended the opening session of the 3rd Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders from 13 – 15 October, in order to meet Burmese human rights defender Charm Tong.

The 73-year-old director of “Deliverance” and “The General” is the Honorary President of Burma Action Ireland, an association that campaigns to raise awareness of the repressive nature of the ruling military regime in Burma.

Charm Tong, is a founding member if the Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) which works along the Burmese/Thai border. It was formed in 1999 by a group of young women in response to human rights atrocities, such as sexual violence and forced relocation, committed by the Burmese military regime. Their groundbreaking report “License to rape” brought the systematic sexual abuse of Shan women (an ethnic minority in Burma from the Shan province near the Thai border)) to the attention of the world.  Read More

International Human Rights Day in Nepal ends in one hundred arrests

Nepalese police with water canonsNepalese police with water canons

12 December Hundreds of human rights defenders, journalists and members of civil society took to the streets in Kathmandu to promote human rights on Saturday 10 December - International Human Rights Day. The Nepalese police blocked off Ratna Park, the site of the protest and used water cannons against the protesters when they refused to move. By the end of the day, over one hundred human rights defenders had been arrested.

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2007 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk

Akifa Aliyeva, Gégé Katana, Jackeline Rojas, Radhia Nasraoui, Riza FanilagAkifa Aliyeva, Gégé Katana, Jackeline Rojas, Radhia Nasraoui, Riza Fanilag

Front Line is pleased to announce the short list of nominees for the 2007 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. Bono will present the award on 01 May 2007 at a breakfast ceremony in Dublin’s City Hall.  Read More

Front Line announces award short list

Aini Abukar Ga’al, Ahmadjan Madmarov, Mohammed Abbou and Soraya Gutiérrez ArguelloAini Abukar Ga’al, Ahmadjan Madmarov, Mohammed Abbou and Soraya Gutiérrez Arguello

2 May 2006

Front Line is pleased to announce its four nominees on the short list for the 2006 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. Mr Peter Sutherland, United Nations Special Representative for Migration and former EU Commissioner will present the award on Friday 16 June at a breakfast ceremony in Dublin City Hall. The four nominees are:

Soraya Gutierrez Arguello, Colombia  Read More

بيان منظمة الخط الأمامي إلى مجلس حقوق الإنسان التابع للأمم المتحدة

مُعتبر طاجيباييفا في الإطار الداخلي، و فريبا دافودي  مهاجر تتظاهر في طهرانمُعتبر طاجيباييفا في الإطار الداخلي، و فريبا دافودي مهاجر تتظاهر في طهران
بمناسبة انعقاد الدورة الرابعة لمجلس حقوق الإنسان التابع للأمم المتحدة في جنيف من 5 آذار إلى 12 نيسان 2007، أصدرت منظمة الخط الأمامي بياناً خاصاً بالمخاطر التي يتعرَّض إليها المدافعون عن حقوق الإنسان في إيران و أوزبكستان.
المدافعون عن حقوق الإنسان - خطرون للغاية بالنسبة لحقوق الإنسان.. تأسست منظمة الخط الأمامي، المؤسسة الدولية لحماية المدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان، لتوفير الحماية العاجلة للمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان المعرضين للخطر. إن منظمة الخط الأمامي قلقة من أنه بينما يبحث مجلس حقوق الإنسان الوضع في كل من إيران و أوزبكستان خلف الأبواب المغلقة، فإن المدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان يستمرون على الأرض في تعريض أنفسهم لخطر الاعتقال و التعذيب و حتى الموت.
هل سيقوم مجلس حقوق الإنسان ببحث مسألة الأخطار التي يتعرض إليها المدافعون عن حقوق الإنسان في كل من إيران و أوزبكستان على نحو جدي؟
 Read More

The 7th annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards

A jailed blogger from Egypt, a murdered journalist from Lebanon, a documentary maker who recorded Israel's removal of settlers from Gaza, a ‘barefoot lawyer’ from China, and a champion of HIV/AIDS victims in Swaziland have all been honoured with a prestigious Freedom of Expression Award from Index on Censorship.

The 7th annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards were presented at LSO St Luke's, London, on 14 March by Anna Ford, with a keynote speech from Jung Chang, bestselling author of Mao:The Untold Story and Wild Swans.

Index on Censorship/Hugo Young Award for Journalism 2007

This award, given in memory of Guardian columnist Hugo Young, goes to a journalist who has shown an outstanding commitment to journalistic integrity in defence of freedom of expression.

• Winner: Kareem Amer (Egypt): Kareem Amer is the pseudonym of 22-year old blogger Abdul Kareem Suleiman Amer, who was recently sentenced to four years imprisonment for criticising Islam and President Mubarak.  Read More

Shortlist for 2007 Martin Ennals Award announced

After careful consideration, the Martin Ennals Award jury made up of eleven of the world’s leading non-governmental human rights organizations decided on the shortlist for the 2007 Award. The award for Human Rights Defenders is presented annually to individuals who display exceptional courage in combating human rights violations in their countries.

2007 Shortlist

Pierre Claver Mbonimpa (Burundi) Mr. Mbonimpa set up his own human rights organization (APRODH) to address the plight of the 9,000 detainees waiting for trial for years in the country’s overcrowded jails. He is often on the radio, speaking out about violations of the rights of Burundians. The government has threatened him and rumors of his arrest or death often circulate in the capital.  Read More

The 2006-2007 King Baudouin International Development Prize awarded to Front Line

Brussels, 22 January 2007.

The King Baudouin Foundation has awarded the 2006-2007 King Baudouin International Development Prize to Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (Ireland). Front Line is the only international NGO that is exclusively dedicated to the support and protection of human rights defenders, particularly those at risk.

Front Line’s specific aim is to work for the protection of human rights defenders at immediate risk and to provide practical means to improve their security. Since its creation in 2001, Front Line has worked on behalf of more than 600 human rights defenders in over 100 countries. Front Line combines “round-the-clock” practical support with international advocacy, which promotes visibility and the recognition of human rights defenders as a vulnerable group.  Read More

Iraqi and Syrian Human Rights Defenders meet in Jordan

Front Line hosted a workshop in Jordan, from 5 - 8 December with human rights defenders from Syria and Iraq. The participants discussed the very dangerous conditions in which they endeavor to work to improve the human rights situation in their respective countries, as well as measures to enhance the security of their work. Front Line, Deputy Director, Andrew Anderson, paid tribute to the courage of the human rights defenders who continue to work for the rights of others in spite of the extremely hostile conditions they face.

Stories from the Front Line

Front Line marked the 8th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders on Saturday 9 December, by hosting a talk by three leading human rights defenders. Kasinather Sivapalan, a lawyer and human rights defender from Sri Lanka, Abdujalil Boymatov, a human rights defender from Uzbekistan and Claudia Samayao, a human rights defender from Guatemala and author of a new Front Line report on Guatemala gave their personal testimonies of working at risk in hostile environments.

Front Line fact finding mission and training in India

Front Line conducted a mission in India between 22 November and 6 December 2006 to meet human rights defenders working in India. Front Line in association with Save the Children Foundation and a local partner, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, organized a two-day security training workshop for Human Rights Defenders. Over 20 participants from India, Nepal and Bangladesh took part in the training workshop. The fact finding mission was led by Caitriona Rice, Front Line’s, South Asia Researcher and Krishna Pahadi, leader of the Citizen’s Movement for Democracy and Peace in Nepal. The mission also visited Delhi and Tamil Nadu.

OSCE Chairman urges states to protect human rights defenders

The OSCE Chairman, Belgian Foreign Minister, Karel De Gucht, marked Human Rights day by calling for increased awareness of the difficulties many human rights defenders face. "Protecting those who, in civil society or within their governments, promote human rights on a daily basis must be a duty for us all," said Minister De Gucht. "All too often, human rights defenders face harassment, persecution, and even death as a result of making the very same statements that us more fortunate take for granted. This situation is, sadly, deteriorating." Read full press release

Prominent Western Saharan human rights defender in Dublin

Ali-Salem TamekAli-Salem Tamek

Ali-Salem Tamek, a prominent human rights defender and founding member of the Western Sahara branch of the Forum for Truth and Justice, an organization that campaigns for the rights of victims and families of victims of torture, “disappearances” and other human rights violations, is in Dublin until 21 December, to highlight the human rights and political situation in Western Sahara.

Since his arrival he has met with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and is scheduled to meet public representatives, Simon Coveney, TD and MEP, Michael D. Higgins, Labour TD and Proinsias De Rossa, Labour MEP. He will also attend a session of the human rights committee of Joint Oireachats Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Ali-Salem Tamek has been instrumental in collecting and disseminating information about human rights violations committed by Moroccan forces. He has faced routine harassment and persecution in his attempt to monitor and denounce abuses by Moroccan authorities.  Read More

The United Nations grants consultative status to three LGBT NGOs

Front Line welcomes the long awaited decision by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), to grant consultative status to three lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) NGOs addressing human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender.

The three organizations include; the European section of the International Lesbian and Gay Association,the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians and the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany. This consultative status will provide the NGOs with access to UN meetings, delivery of oral and written reports, contact with country representatives, and allows the organization of events to facilitate understanding of the abuse and discrimination that LGBT people face around the world.

The granting of consultative status to these three NGOs is illustrative of the UN’s recognition for LGTB organizations. LGTB defenders are very often subjected to various forms of reprisals because of their work in favour of homosexuals’ and transexuals’ rights and they often face obstacles to their freedoms of association and peaceful assembly in many parts of the world.  Read More