Steadfast in Protest OBSERVATORY FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FIDH / OMCT Steadfast in Protest ANNUAL REPORT 2005 Foreword by Louise Arbour F OREWORD In 1948, by adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the member states of the United Nations established the basis for an interna- tional system of human rights, which has become a source of hope for people the world over. Nevertheless, without the men and women, the activists, the journalists, lawyers, doctors, union leaders, intellectuals, most often only simple citizens, who denounce attacks on the dignity of human beings and ensure respect for our rights, this system would be nothing more than an empty promise. Human rights defenders are the instrument of the implementation of the international system for the protection of human rights. They are the guar- Drafting, editing and co-ordination: dians of our fundamental freedoms. Without defenders, human rights would Catherine François, Sylvie Mostaert, Marta Kielczewska, Juliane Falloux and Antoine Bernard (FIDH) not exist. They are the conscience of the international community forbidding Delphine Reculeau, Anne-Laurence Lacroix and Eric Sottas (OMCT) us to avert our eyes. They give us the means and the will to act. The Observatory thanks all partner organisations of FIDH and OMCT, as well as the teams of these organisations. In 1998, the members states of the United Nations, through the Distribution: this report is published in English, Spanish and French. Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, unanimously recognised the fun- The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for damental role played by the men and women engaged in pursuing the Human Rights (FIDH) authorise the free reproduction of extracts of this text on condition that values and basic objectives of the United Nations, at the heart of which we the source is credited and that a copy of the publication containing the text is sent to the res- find human rights as the essential component of development and interna- pective International Secretariats. tional security. Art directors: KYODO PLEISER / CABUS – Cover page: Ingrid Cox-Lockhart – Photographer : Carlo Heathcote, Ref : af-e-00158, ICRC – Paste-up & printing : AXPRO Nevertheless, eight years after the adoption of this Declaration, we must acknowledge that increasingly, far from improving, the situation of human rights defenders has in fact been deteriorating in many countries, especially following the tragic events of 11 September 2001. Evidence from many FIDH – International Federation for Human Rights cases in this report indicates an increasing number of attacks against free- 17, Passage de la Main-d’Or – 75011 Paris – France dom of association, assembly and expression. Day in and day out, human Tel. + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 – Fax. + 33 (0) 1 43 55 18 80 rights organisations are being banned, their meetings and seminars prohi- [email protected] / www.fidh.org bited, their reports seized and their offices ransacked. Many defenders live in an atmosphere of fear and unrelenting insecurity. They are being follo- OMCT – World Organisation Against Torture 8, Rue du Vieux-Billard, Case postale 21 – 1211 Genève 8 – Switzerland wed, watched, threatened, arrested, taken to court and condemned for their Tel. + 41 22 809 49 39 – Fax. + 41 22 809 49 29 activities. Some lose their jobs; others have to flee their homes to avoid [email protected] / www.omct.org torture and death. 5 FOREWORD Today few defenders receive due recognition and appreciation for their work. Most of them continue to suffer from harsh retaliation and persecu- tion for the vital work that they undertake. In 2005, the number of human T ESTIMONIALS rights defenders who were assassinated and violently attacked has once again risen. In most cases, these aggressive acts remain unpunished, opening the way to more violations and increasing the vulnerability of these defenders. “Every day, the Observatory gives Support from programmes such as the Observatory for the Protection of human rights defenders the strength Human Rights Defenders, created by FIDH and OMCT, gives visibility to carry on their action” to actions by men and women who, with meagre means, and often anony- Lida Yusupova mously, stand steadfast by the victims in their battles. The Observatory is an indispensable link in ensuring that the international community never forgets the men and women who are fighting to defend our rights. The strength of human rights defenders stems from their faith in their fight, their perseverance, and their solidarity beyond borders which makes “The action of the Observatory is essential. By presenting them part of a community whose efforts are devoted to ensuring respect for to the entire world the human rights violations committed the rights of us all. International solidarity, through local, regional and against defenders, the Observatory helps to provide us international human rights networks and mechanisms, whether it stems a real protection. Every day, it gives human rights from the civil society or is intergovernmental, constitutes the best protection defenders the strength to carry on their action”. against attacks targeting defenders. Lida Yusupova, coordinator of the Memorial office in Grozny, Chechnya The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations mechanisms for protecting human rights defenders are part of this community. We remain determined to maintain staunch and far-reaching actions for the protection of the men and women who contribute every day to the promotion of human rights, be they economic, civic, social, cultural or “I warmly thank you for agreeing to activate the political. Observatory’s programme in order to get me out of the highly insecure situation and to escape the death threats I have faced in my country. My greatest wish is that you Mrs. Louise Arbour enjoy the required support to pursue your task of promo- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ting a fairer world based on the respect of human dignity. Because at this right moment, thousands of defenders still need your support throughout the world”. Paul Nsapu, chairman of the League of Electors (LE), Democratic Republic of Congo 6 7 T ESTIMONIALS STEADFAST IN P ROTEST “We have always deemed that the Observatory’s activities “I thank you all for your solidarity. I highly appreciate contribute to the fact that people enjoy all their rights your reaction capacity, which testifies to our common fight without fear of assassination, enforced disappearance, for human rights defenders, wherever they live, to be arbitrary detention or torture. Its actions work as a signal respected for their action and to freely operate, without sent to the perpetrators of human rights violations. The fear of being prosecuted and persecuted”. support of the Observatory and the international commu- Myriam Reyes, legal counsel of Mapuche community members in Chile nity was especially valuable to me as it obliged the Salvadorean authorities to acknowledge my situation”. Miguel Rogel Montenegro, director of the Human Rights Commission in El Salvador “I would like to underline the Observatory’s support and solidarity for raising awareness of the fight of human “It is particularly important for us to see our names appear rights defenders in my country.This assistance is crucial to in the Observatory’s report, as it enables both national and us, so that the primacy of international human rights law international communities to be informed and alerted be concretely implemented and that we all, in Tunisia and about the general insecurity context in which human elsewhere, be given the right to hope”. rights defenders daily operate in Côte d’Ivoire. This creates Souhayr Belhassen, deputy chairwoman of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) an undeniable pressure on the authorities so that they respect human rights and fundamental freedoms in the future”. Amourlaye Touré, director of the Ivorian Movement for Human Rights (MIDH) “The situation of Uzbek human rights defenders was par- ticularly critical this year. I am extremely grateful for your support through advocacy, back-up before international “Thank you so much for your long-lasting solidarity. I institutions and assistance to my family. I wish you will be particularly valued it while I was detained last year and able to pursue and enhance your action in favour of all it doubtlessly played a great part in my acquittal in June activists in the world who, like in our country, are 2005. When you live under an authoritarian and obscu- repressed due to their commitment to human rights and rantist regime, in a society paralysed with fear, the sole fundamental freedoms”. though that you are not alone, forgotten in your cell, brings Tolib Yakubov, chairman of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan you a saving light and strength. Thanks to your support (HRSU) and that of others, I was able to carry on my commitment to human rights in Syria, along with all my CDF co- lleagues. Thank you very much to the whole team of the Observatory”. Aktham Naisse, chairman of the Committees for the Defence of Human Rights and Democratic Freedoms in Syria (CDF) 8 9 T ESTIMONIALS “AMDH thanks the Observatory for its ceaseless alert and assistance action in favour of the legal recognition of our association by the authorities, which was granted I NTRODUCTION this year, as well as for its support to human rights defenders in their daily fight for freedom”. Fatimata M’Baye, chairwoman of the Mauritanian Association “In this world of ours, what could for Human Rights (AMDH) answer the terrible obstinacy of crime, if not the obstinacy of testimony?” Albert Camus1 “The Observatory has stood by my side and behind my family ever since we started fighting for justice to be done in the case of my husband’s disappearance and death. You played an essential part in this call for justice and truth.