Raleva
Raleva, who only goes by his last name, is a human rights defender and member of the regional branch of Observatoire Indépendant des Droits Economiques Sociaux et Culturels à Madagascar – OIDESCM (Independent Observatory for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Madagascar) in Mananjary, Madagascar. OIDESCM was created to respond to the need in communities for information, communication and education on human rights violations associated with foreign investment and mining projects in Madagascar. OIDESCM is coordinated by Centre de Recherche et d’Appui pour les Alternatives de Développement – Océan Indien – CRAAD-OI (Centre for Research and Support for Alternatives to Development – Indian Ocean), an independent Pan-African organisation which promotes alternatives to development based on human rights and the principles of equality and social, economic and ecological justice.
In Madagascar, human rights defenders working on environmental rights including against illegal trafficking of natural resources, such as rosewood, and against extractive activities, are particularly at risk. HRDs are targeted by authorities with judicial prosecution, arrest, and trumped-up charges. Furthermore, human rights defenders are singled out by extractive companies and traffickers for their efforts to hold companies and industries accountable to basic human rights and environmental standards.
