A number of testimonies described physical repression of peaceful protests, in Andijan (Uzbekistan) and elsewhere, and the targeted killings of HRDs. In many other cases, HRDs reported being beaten up or assaulted, or threatened with serious violence. Their sense of acute insecurity was often supplemented by threats against HRDs’ relatives or family, including children.

Justine Masika “We fight against impunity – and those who are responsible are usually in power. A group of us NGOs have taken an independent stance on this and as a result some of us have been assassinated. Those who work on monitoring the mining sector are also subject to attack and violence as well. The mines have polluted most of the water sources. HRD, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Leandro Scalabrín “The Movement for Autonomous People against Dams is a popular movement of landless farmers, peasants, communities of African origin, small prospectors and some urban communities. As human rights defenders we have faced attempted assassinations, death threats (even against bishops!), physical assaults using tear gas and rubber bullets. People have been hospitalised, many have been jailed for protesting. Lawyers too have been taken to court for representing the communities. Telephone and communications are monitored. Property has been damaged. Sympathisers are criticised in the media…” HRD, Brazil

Andres Tamayo Cortes "I belong to an environmental group that blocks the movement of machines for logging. We have resisted the repression of three governments, and we are still there fighting, though many of our people have been frightened by what happened to us. Two have been killed, many of us have been arrested; I am out on bail. A price of 40 thousand dollars was put on my head, but I escaped. I still have to consider my position. If I take no security precautions I will be killed. If I accept security, I will be controlled. I must make a choice, and this is a dilemma.” HRD, Honduras

Several HRDs drew attention to the prevalence of rape and sexual violence and described how they or members of their family had been raped and molested with the aim of intimidating them. In some cases, sexual violence was followed by assassination.

“We have assisted 5800 women. We work with 45 social workers, half of whom have been raped, attacked or killed. I don’t live with my children [since] I was attacked myself. Six soldiers came to my house and bound me and wanted to rape my children because I denounced a case of sexual abuse by an official.”

HRD, Democratic Republic of the Congo

"My organisation works with families in distress. We combat impunity and work for victims of violence. I have paid the price for this difficult work. My husband was gunned down in front of our children and I was tied up and raped in front of the children and grandchildren. The children themselves were abused sexually. When faced by violence of this kind you have to act and I will go on to the bitter end. This is true and I am not afraid. You have to break the silence that surrounds sexual aggression.”

HRD, Central African Republic

“After 50 years in the Dominican Republic my mother has no ID papers. Being a HRD – being a woman, being a mother - has many implications. When the government threatened my children I could no longer concentrate on my work. I was phoned and told ‘We have your daughter, we are raping her right now’. There are thousands of children in need. As a woman and a mother, that is what keeps me going. We cannot keep silent about their fate.”

HRD, Dominican Republic

In a number of cases, individuals under threat of violence were also disappeared – in some cases killed, but in others held out of sight for a period, for interrogation, causing distress to their families who did not know where they were.

“I have suffered harassment, my eyes were covered, I was disappeared and my mother thought I was dead. My papers were taken, which meant I could not travel. I was beaten up for calling for the release of Sahraoui detainees. Then my salary was frozen when I determined to celebrate International Women’s Day.”

HRD, Western Sahara