Press Releases

More than a hundred Human Rights Defenders from around the world attended the formal opening of Front Line's “5th Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders” Dublin Castle from 10- 12 February. The Dublin Platform is one of the biggest international gatherings of human rights defenders and brings together human rights defenders from every region of the world. “Despite their radically different backgrounds and issues the one thing they all have in common is that they are at risk for their legitimate work in defense of the human rights of others” said Mary Lawlor Director of Front Line.

 

Front Line and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) are pleased to inform you of the release of Mr. Jiten Yumnam and seven other persons from custody in Manipur state, India. The administration released the detainees on 7 January. Jiten Yumnam is a human rights defender and freelance journalist working in the Indian state of Manipur. 

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.

 

At an event in Dublin today a coalition of Irish and international NGOs joined forces to launch a campaign for the protection of human rights defenders under threat in Colombia. The members of the coalition, ABColombia, Front Line, Trócaire and Christian Aid highlighted the fact that while the recent establishment of a formal dialogue on human rights with Colombia is a positive initiative more should be done since human rights defenders in Colombia still face a critical situation. 

Front Line calls on President Medvedev to urgently establish an independent investigation, in association with international experts, into the killing of human rights defender Zarema Sadulayeva and her husband Alik Lechayevich Dzhabrailov. 

Dr Yuri Melini was awarded the Front Line Award because of his work to uphold the rights indigenous people of Guatemala against the ruthless interests of the logging and mining companies who put the profits of their companies before the interests of the community. On 4 September Yuri Melini was shot 7 times as he was leaving his home and as a result spent 22 days in intensive care. He was shot because his human rights work challenged the interests of powerful people.

 

To mark International Women's Day 2008 and to Celebrate 30 years of CEDAW, Front Line launches new manual of security strategies for women human rights defenders. The publication is called - Insiste Persiste Resiste Existe and is presented by Front Line, the Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights and Kvinna Till Kvinna.