Nestor Nibitanga
Nestor Nibitanga is a former regional representative for Association Burundaise pour la Protection des Droits Humains et des Personnes Détenues - APRODH (Burundian Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detainees) in Gitega, a region in central Burundi. The human rights defender served as the principal human rights observer for the organisation until several human rights organisations, including APRODH, were deregistered towards the end of 2016.
The targeting of human rights defenders (HRDs) through the use of violence or the threat of violence has been a worrying trend, in addition to the use of repressive legislation as a means of curtailing their work. Defamation, terrorism and anti-corruption legislation have been used against members of civil society. HRDs denouncing acts of corruption and embezzlement involving public authorities, and those fighting impunity have been subjected to judicial harassment, death threats, defamation and intimidation. HRDs denouncing extrajudicial killings have been charged with support to armed bandits.
