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Across the globe human rights defenders face various forms of persecution in their everyday struggle for human rights

In Honduras an anonymous tip off alerts members of Cofadeh that their Director Bertha Oliva, and other prominent human rights defenders, are on a death list.

In Armenia Mr Arshaluys Hakobyan of the Helsinki Association is taken into custody and beaten.

In Thailand Ms Angkhana Neelaphaijit who is the chairperson of the Working Group on Justice and Peace (WGJP) and wife of the missing human rights lawyer, Somchai Neelaphaijit, who disappeared on 12 March 2004 in Bangkok, is subjected to an ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation.

These few cases are typical of the thousands of human rights defenders who dedicate their lives and risk their personal security in defence of the rights of others.

Your support will help them to create more just and equal societies for all. These are the people with the power to change the world.

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- Thompson Ade Bayor, lawyer and human rights defender, Liberia

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Urgent Cases

Sierra Leone: LGBTI rights defender Mr George Reginald Freeman attacked and subjected to threatsposted on: 2013/05/24

On 22 May 2013, at approximately 11:30pm, human rights defender Mr George Reginald Freeman was driving to a guest house when he was intercepted by two unknown assailants on motorbikes. One of the men threw a stone through his car window which was aimed at his head. The human rights defender was then badly beaten as he attempted to escape. The assailants also robbed valuables from his car after he escaped.

Russian Federation: Voronezh Human Rights House at Risk of Closureposted on: 2013/05/24

On 22 May 2013, the charitable foundation "International Project - Youth Human Rights Movement" (YHRM), whose office is located in Voronezh Human Rights House, received a letter from the Department of Property and Estate Relations of Voronezh City Administration that breaks their lease and enjoins YHRM to leave the premises. A similar letter was received on 17 May 2013 by the Confederation of Free Labour, an interregional trade union, whose offices are also located in Voronezh Human Rights House.

Kazakhstan: Decision to block website of 'Youth Newspaper' upheld by appeals courtposted on: 2013/05/24

On 17 May 2013, the Karaganda Regional Court heard the appeal of Mr Berik Zhagiparov, editor of Youth Newspaper, regarding the blocking of the newspaper's website. The Court upheld the decision of the city court of Zhezkazgan, which ruled on 26 March 2013 to block the website for a period of three months.

Russian Federation: Intimidation and judicial harassment of Komi Human Rights Commission Memorial posted on: 2013/05/21

On 18 May 2013, a meeting of the Komi Human Rights Commission Memorial (KHRC Memorial) was aggressively interrupted by members of the radical nationalist group Rubezh Severa (Northern Border).

India: Arrest of human rights defender Ms Madhuri Ramakrishnasway on fabricated chargesposted on: 2013/05/21

On 16 May 2013, human rights defender and maternal health activist Ms Madhuri Ramakrishnasway was arrested outside the court in Barwani in Madhya Pradesh, in a case brought against her after a protest.

Cambodia: Arbitrary arrest of human rights defender Mr Kuch Vengposted on: 2013/05/21

On 19 May 2013, human rights defender Mr Kuch Veng was arrested by four police officers at Kbal Trach commune, Krako district, Pursat village. Kuch Veng is a land rights activist and is a member of the Community Peace Network.

Pakistan: Killing of human rights defender Mr Abdul Waheed posted on: 2013/05/20

On 13 May 2013, human rights defender, philanthropist and social activist Mr Abdul Waheed was shot dead in front of his infant daughter and elder brother. The attack was carried out by three unknown assailants at his medical store in the Qasba Colony, Manghopir, Karachi. The human rights defender's daughter, Pareesha, and brother, Naseeb Taj, were also injured in the attack.

Colombia - Continued threats against human rights defender Ms Martha Díaz Ospina as death threat left at her homeposted on: 2013/05/17

On 16 May 2013, human rights defender Ms Martha Díaz Ospina was targeted once again at her home. Martha Díaz Ospina is Director and legal representative of the Asociación de Madres Unidas por un Solo Dolor – AFUSODO (Association of Mothers united by a Single Sorrow), an organisation of relatives of victims of extrajudicial executions and a member organisation of MOVICE.

Russian Federation: Public Verdict Foundation deemed to be non-compliant with 'Foreign Agents' Lawposted on: 2013/05/16

On 14 May 2013, the Russian human rights NGO, Public Verdict Foundation, received a letter from the Prosecutor's Office stating that an inspection had found that the organisation had received foreign funding and that most of its programmes were political; two findings which mean the organisation should have registered as a foreign agent under the controversial 'Foreign Agents' Law.

Kenya: Charges still pending against human rights defenders Messrs Francis Sakwa, John Abok and Patrick Kamotho.posted on: 2013/05/16

On 15 May 2013, human rights defenders Messrs Francis Sakwa, John Abok and Patrick Kamotho, along with thirteen other protesters, were released from Nairobi parliament police station on free bond pending their reporting back to the station on 17 May 2013 at 8am. The group had been held on charges of cruelty to animals after participating in a protest in which a pig and a dozen piglets were released outside the Kenyan parliament to voice concern over MPs demanding higher salaries.

Vietnam: Upcoming appeal trial of eight human rights defendersposted on: 2013/05/16

On 23 May 2013, the appeal trial of Messrs Ho Duc Hoa, Thai Van Dung, Paulus Le Son, Nguyen Xuan Anh, Tran Minh Nhat, Nguyen Dinh Cuong, Ho Van Oanh and Nguyen Van Duyet is due to take place. The eight human rights defenders were arrested between August and December 2011, and were in pre-trial detention until their conviction in January 2013.

Kyrgyzstan: Physical assault of human rights defender Mr Ulugbek Azimov and his familyposted on: 2013/05/15

On 9 May 2013, human rights defender Mr Ulugbek Azimov and his family were violently attacked in Bishkek on their way to a family gathering.

Turkey: Trial against VAKAD and other civil society organisations in Van continuesposted on: 2013/05/14

On 17 May 2013, the second hearing in the case against the Van Women's Association (VAKAD) and nine other civil society organisations is due to take place at the Van 3rd Court of First Instance. The Van chief prosecutor initiated court proceedings for the closure of the ten groups on charges of links with the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). Amongst the nine other associations facing closure are bereaved families support groups, prisoner solidarity groups, and Kurdish language culture centres.

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.

Thailand: Ongoing detention of human rights defender Mr Somyot Prueksakasemsukposted on: 2013/05/14

On 8 May 2013, the lawyer of human rights defender and magazine editor Mr Somyot Prueksakasemsuk submitted an application to the Supreme Court in Bangkok to refute the ruling by the Appeal Court rejecting his previous application. On 3 April 2013, the Appeal Court had rejected the lawyer's application for Somyot Prueksakasemsuk to exercise his right to bail. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk was sentenced to 10 years in jail by the Court of First Instance on 23 January 2013 on charges of publishing two articles with negative references to the Thai monarchy under the lèse majesté law.

 DRC - Human rights defenders Joseph Saidi and Jérémie Safari subjected to sexual assault and ill treatment whilst arbitrarily detainedposted on: 2013/05/10

On 9 May 2013, human rights defender Mr Jérémie Safari was released from police custody where he had spent more than 24 hours being subjected to physical and sexual assault. The human rights defender's ordeal came just two days after his colleague, Mr Joseph Saidi, had spent three days at another detention center where he reports being subjected to similar ill treatment.

China: Human rights defender and anti-corruption activist Ms Liu Ping  “criminally detained” posted on: 2013/05/09

On 7 May 2013 human rights defender Ms Liu Ping was  “criminally detained” for 'inciting subversion of state power' in Xinyu, Jiangxi province.

India: Judicial harassment of human rights defenders Mr Amitabh Patra and Mr Lenin Kumar Ray posted on: 2013/05/09

On 2 May 2013, at approximately 5pm, human rights defenders and journalists Mr Amitabh Patra and Mr Lenin Kumar Ray were released on bail from Balangir Jail pending trial. They had been arrested on 29 April 2013 along with fourteen protesters in the state of Odisha in eastern India.

Zimbabwe: Human rights defenders and journalists Dumisani Muleya and Owen Gagare arrested and charged for publishing an articleposted on: 2013/05/08

On 7 May 2013, journalists and human rights defenders Mr Dumisani Muleya and Mr Owen Gagare, respectively editor and chief reporter of the weekly newspaper Zimbabwe Independent, were arrested in Harare for publishing an article two weeks ago alleging meetings took place between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and top military officials. They were released on the same day and charged with contravening the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Chad: Arrest and arbitrary detention of human rights defender Mr Eric Topona posted on: 2013/05/08

On 6 May 2013, radio journalist and human rights defender Mr Eric Topona was arrested and taken to prison after appearing before an investigating magistrate in N'Djamena and then charged with “threatening the constitutional order”.

 Bahrain: Arrest and incommunicado detention of human rights defender Mr Naji Fateelposted on: 2013/05/02

On 2 May 2013 at dawn, police arrested human rights defender Mr Naji Fateel at his home in the village of Bani Jamra in north-west Bahrain. He is being held without formal charges at a location which is still unknown.

Guatemala: Killing of environmental rights defenders in Peténposted on: 2013/05/01

On 22 April 2013 three human rights defenders, as well as a temporary labourer and a family member, were violently assassinated in the recently created municipality of Las Cruces in El Petén, northern Guatemala. The human rights defenders were all affiliated with Cooperativa Centro Campesino Yaxchilán (Central Campesino Co-operative, Yaxchilán) which works on developing organic farming practices in Las Cruces, whilst simultaneously preserving the surrounding jungle by not felling trees or hunting wild animals. It has previously denounced the activities of illegal loggers and mining groups that are operating in the area. Mr Mateo García Pérez was the acting secretary of the organisation when he was killed; Mr Eliseo Ramos Martínez was a former board member; Mr Don Medelso Martínez Interiano was a former member of the Supervisory Committee; Mr Jesús Aldana Choc was a temporary worker and Mr Eduber García was the son of Mateo García Pérez.

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.

Russian Federation: Committee Against Torture warned under "Foreign Agents" Lawposted on: 2013/04/30

On 22 April 2013 the inter-regional non-governmental organisation, the Committee Against Torture (CAT), which has its headquarters in Nizhny Novgorod, received a letter of warning from the local Prosecutor's Office. The letter warns CAT from violating the controversial new 'Foreign Agents' law which states that any Russian NGO involved in political activity and receiving foreign funding must register as a foreign agent.

India: Attempted killing of human rights defender Dr Lenin Raghuvanshiposted on: 2013/04/29

On 24 April 2013, at approximately 8pm, three unidentified assailants made an attempt on the life of human rights defender Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi. The attack took place at the human rights defender's home in the city of Lucknow, the capital of the Uttar Pradesh province in northern India.

Russian Federation: Human rights organisation 'Man and the Law' warned under 'Foreign Agents' Lawposted on: 2013/04/26

On 24 April 2013, Ms Irina Protasova, head of the regional human rights organisation Man and the Law, which is based in the Mari-El Republic in Russia, received a warning from the local Prosecutor's Office. The warning concerns the 'political activity' of Man and the Law, evidence for which has allegedly been found in their Charter and on their website. The controversial new 'Foreign Agents' Law states that any Russian NGO involved in political activity and receiving foreign funding must register as a foreign agent.

South Korea: Imminent deportation of human rights defender Ms Wang Yu Hsuanposted on: 2013/04/25

At around 5pm on 24 April 2013, human rights defender Ms Wang Yu Hsuan arrived at Incheon International Airport in Seoul on Air Asia flight D7-504 from Malaysia. Upon her arrival, she was stopped at Immigration and told that she would not be allowed to enter the country despite her having a religious visa.

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).