On 15 December 2009 the Front Line photo exhibition “Defending Life with Life” was officially opened in Brussels, in the Halles St-Géry. This exhibition of photographs by Mark Condren is a powerful testimony to the courage and commitment of human rights defenders who every day put their lives on the line in defence of the rights of others. 'Defending Life With Life' consists of a series of stunning photographic portraits which document the experience of human rights defenders in Honduras, Western Sahara, North East India, Serbia and Kenya. The exhibition will run until 27 January 2010 inclusive.

Further Information

The exhibition was officially opened by Ms Riina Kionka, Personal Representative on Human Rights of the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, who stated: “The exhibition shows a crucial aspect of the work of human rights defenders by giving them a face, showing them in their environment. These people have been brave enough to take a break to testify in front of an artist. And art makes their work even more human and brings them even closer to us”. “I'm sure everyone will find their own message from this exhibition. Each testimonry should make us stronger to take action”, she added.

Serbian human rights defender Ms Biljana Kovacevic-Vuco, Director of YUCOM, the Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights, said: “The Serbian Government speaks about human rights, but there is still a long way to go before they become reality. Human rights defenders working on minority issues, LGBT rights and those documenting past crimes are still targeted in Serbia.“ Biljana Kovacevic-Vuco is portrayed in the photo exhibition, she has been threatened on numerous occasions because of her outspoken defence of human rights in Serbia and her repeated calls for the perpetrators of war crimes to be brought to justice.

Irish Permanent Representative to the EU, Mr Rory Montgomery recalled the role of Ireland in the adoption of EU Guidelines on human rights defenders during the 2004 Irish Presidency of the EU, and the commitment of the Irish Government to push for their full implementation. Jim Loughran, Front Line Head of Communications concluded the opening by reminding the case of Aminatou Haidar, a woman human rights defender from Western Sahara, also portrayed in the exhibition. “Aminatou has been on hunger strike for a month now. She is stuck on the Spanish territory since the Moroccan authorities refuse to let her come back after having confiscated her passport. She has been targeted for her work in defence of human rights”, said Jim Loughran, calling for urgent EU action on her behalf.

The exhibition was commissioned by Irish-based international NGO Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, to mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. The exhibition has toured Ireland and Australia, and after Brussels will travel to London.

For further Information please contact: - Jim Loughran, Front Line's Head of Communications: Mobile: +353 87 9377586, Office: +353 1 212 37 50, jimloughran@frontlinedefenders.org - Vincent Forest, Head of Front Line's EU Office: 02/230 93 83, euoffice@frontlinedefenders.org

Join Front Line’s campaign

Please ask the Belgian Government to make the protection of human rights defenders a priority in its programme for the Presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2010.

Sign Front Line’s online petition at http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/petitions/belgianpresidency