defamation

Colombia: Update – Smear campaign and renewed threats against members of MOVICE posted on: 2013/05/15

On 9 May 2013, pamphlets were distributed throughout the 'La Europa' estate in Sucre Colombia claiming that human rights defender Mr Argemiro Lara is the third in command of the guerilla group Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores de Colombia (PRT - Worker's Revolutionary Party of Colombia), and that human rights defender Ms Ingrid Vergara is his right hand commander

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.

Venezuela: Update – Defamation campaign continues against human rights defender Dr Humberto Prado Sifontesposted on: 2013/05/08

On 5 May 2013, the Venezuelan Minister for Justice and the Interior, General Miguel Rodríguez Torres, appeared on the Jose Vicente Hoy show on the private channel Televen, and accused human rights defender Dr Humberto Prado Sifontes of being part of a right-wing movement aiming to destabilise the state. Dr Humberto Prado Sifontes is the Director of the Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones – OVP (Venezuelan Prisons Observatory). The OVP documents cases of violations against, and promotes the rights of, persons in detention in Venezuela.

Palestine: Death threats and defamation campaign against human rights defender Mr Issa Amroposted on: 2013/04/30

On 28 April 2013, a settler in the West Bank area of Tel-Rumeida spat in the face of human rights defender Mr Issa Amro and threatened to kill him. The incident is part of an ongoing defamation and harassment campaign against the human rights defender and his family by a community of Israeli settlers. It happened in the presence of an Israeli soldier who reportedly gave incorrect testimony to the Israeli Police when they arrived on the scene, saying that Issa Amro provoked the settler and that the settler never spat in his face. On 23 April 2013, Issa Amro received an anonymous phone call during which the caller threatened to kill him if he did not halt his work.

Guatemala: Defamation against human rights defender Ms Claudia Virginia Samayoa and break-in at the offices of UDEFEGUA in Nebajposted on: 2013/04/24

On 21 April 2013 human rights defender Ms Claudia Virginia Samayoa was accused, in a document published by the Fundación Contra el Terrorismo(Foundation Against Terrorism), of trying to blame the National Civil Police (PNC) for violent clashes between them and local communities.

Venezuela: Smear campaign against human rights organisation Proveaposted on: 2013/04/23

On 19 April 2013, the Venezuelan Minister for Information and Communication, Mr Ernesto Villegas, initiated a smear campaign, via the social media website Twitter, against the Programa Venezolano de Educación y Acción en Derechos HumanosProvea (Venezuelan Programme for Education and Action on Human Rights).

Venezuela: Public official makes defamatory statements about human rights defender Dr Humberto Prado Sifontesposted on: 2013/04/09

On 8 April 2013, the Minister for the Prison Services, Ms Iris Valera, accused prominent human rights defender, Dr Humberto Prado Sifontes, of instigating violence within the country's prisons ahead of upcoming elections on 14 April.

Gabon : Update - Conviction of prominent human rights defender Mr Marc Ona Essangui posted on: 2013/04/05

On 29 March 2013, a court in Libreville convicted human rights defender and prominent environmental rights defender Mr Marc Ona Essangui of defamation and sentenced him to a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 5 million CFA (approximately € 7,600).

Thailand: Update – Hearing of human rights defender Mr Andy Hall set for 1 April 2013posted on: 2013/03/27

On 1 April 2013, the first hearing will take place in the trial of migrant rights defender Mr Andy Hall, who faces charges of defamation and publishing false information about a Thai fruit company. The hearing is scheduled to place at 1.30pm local time at Bangkok South Criminal Court.

Azerbaijan:Human rights defenders accused of "trying to destabilise the country"posted on: 2013/03/20

On 15 March 2013, the Head of the Office of the President of Azerbaijan Mr Ramiz Mehtiyev publicly censured non-governmental organisations (NGOs) receiving financial support from foreign donors, alleging that this would result in an interference in the domestic affairs of the country.