Promoting nonviolence and protecting human rights since 1981 Dear friends

014 was another dynamic year for representatives from across PBI came Sadly, we know that the right to defend PBI, in which we expanded our together to advance our global strategy human rights will continue to face threats 2 toolbox of methods for supporting and debate central issues including how in 2015, and our work will remain vital. human rights defenders while celebrating to expand our reach and respond more This would not be possible without the significant milestones in our history. efficiently to emergency situations. We also solidarity of volunteers, activists and PBI Guatemala marked 30 years since welcomed a new country group, PBI Ireland, supporters across the world. So, on behalf first arriving in the country, whilst PBI to the global organisation. of all the courageous women and men we commemorated 20 years of We worked with more than 290 work with, thank you. continued presence. Both anniversaries inspirational women and men risking In peace, were full of happy memories and success their lives to defend the rights of others stories, but they also remind us that in Colombia, Guatemala, , PBI remains necessary for human rights , , and . These defenders around the world. brave individuals are always at the core of Dana Brown At our triennial General Assembly, sixty what we do. PBI President

Peace Brigades International (PBI) envisions a world in which people address conflicts nonviolently, where human rights are universally upheld and social justice and intercultural respect have become a reality. We believe that enduring peace and lasting solutions to conflicts cannot be achieved by violent means. PBI works in countries where communities experience violent conflict, intimidation and repression. We work at the request of human rights defenders and in response to their needs. We believe that lasting transformation of conflicts cannot come from outside, but must be based on the capacities and desires of local people. We avoid imposing, interfering or getting directly involved with the work of the organisations we accompany. We don’t provide financial support or development aid to the organisations we work with. Our work is effective because we take an integrated approach, combining presence on the ground alongside human rights defenders with an extensive network of international support. Celebrating 20 years of PBI’s presence in Colombia at the Centre for Historical Memory in Bogotá

Cover photo The following people served Contents on PBI’s International Council in 2014: What we do 3

Dana Brown (President), John Carlarne 2014 in numbers 4 (Vice-President), Ellen Kaas (Treasurer), Michael Bluett, Denise Cauchi, George Where we work 6 Chandler, Kelleen Corrigan, Stephen Advocacy highlights 8 PBI volunteer observes the ‘Flowers Darvill, Isabella Flisi, Jonathan Glennie, of Resistance’ march of the twelve Shane Guthrie, Diane Hendrick, Sonia di Focus on field projects 10 Kaqchikeles Communities of San Juan Mezza, Guro Nilsen, Sophie Parron, and Sacatepéquez, Guatemala Erika Zarate. Our volunteers and supporters 14

2 PBI Annual Review 2014 What we do

uman rights defenders – courageous recognition to human rights defenders who soldier at a local check point to national people who stand up for the rights work in areas of conflict and repression, at governments and international bodies H and dignity of others because they their request. We help them make links with such as the UN – for human rights believe in peace and justice for all – are at others and raise awareness of the issues accountability. Our volunteers send the heart of what we do. they face. a powerful message that the world is We provide protection, support and We advocate at all levels – from the watching and prepared to act.

s and action take renes n to pr awa on based on otec sed rotecti our exp t hu rea hts p erie ma inc rig nce n e: an of rig ur um wo ht ss l h Advocacy with the EU, UN, rk s d re na ing e l p io a fe a at Organisation of American lo nd b rn n e lo e States, parliamentarians and gs rs G nt i i civil servants to improve global de d h ve u o protection of defenders m r a p Sharing info n m r r i and ig o h f t coordinating s g in Work with Physical accompaniment actions with d t e f a the legal in offices, through phone calls, INGOs e c n o v community at home, on field trips to collect d e d r A to support testimonies and at key events s threatened such as meetings and trials Emergency alerts defenders as a preventative measure or when Increasing rs by p defenders experience ende rov defenders’ self ef tial pe idi extreme risk d oten rpe ng protection ng p tra a ti to ern for th to v Activations of through training c r c ei r i e e on r s s t d c w o i support network n s e b o i ’ f l Coordinating r lf t e d a h (members P m l with UN agencies, e r r e r o e of public, Publications . informing of based on our w human rights protection needs politicians, experience and acting members of Engaging with defenders in governments, in the field the field together to prevent and access to diplomats and respond to churches, defenders encouraging abuses academics) to L supportive action put pressure e

y g such as field on responsible i ll t a i missions authorities m Observation and n

o a monitoring of i c t y demonstrations a

a n r n and community e d t p action n i r Advocating with military and civilian o d f n i authorities at all levels expressing the l a e s - international community’s concern r ie a r is for human rights defenders and t i n n Speaker tours encouraging states to fulfil their u g o : Awareness- c L in Europe & protection obligations i ir n raising in e k North America h in schools t g in d h L e t o f i c en International and w a d ns rk l i e r o m rs national conferences ce w p w n ir ac it and other public co e t: h ir th in th events he e cr e i t nu ea nt ise ti se ern ra on d at s to o c pro iona itie t tec l com ortun hem tion munity by ening opp ing t for h op nabl uman rights defenders e

PBI Annual Review 2014 3 2014 in numbers

n 2014, PBI provided direct protection and support to 124 PHYSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT PBI Volunteer I women and 167 men human Puente Nayero Humanitarian Gabriela Vargas Space, Colombia with children rights defenders from 57 organisations. from La Playita Between them, these organisations helped thousands of women, men and children PBI Colombia carried out 1,326 individual who have been denied their basic rights – accompaniments in 2014. We spent 428 days from being forcibly evicted from their land, alongside the Inter-Church Justice and Peace to seeing family members ‘disappeared’, to Commission (CIJP), who assist communities suffering torture and rape at the hands of peacefully affirming their rights and seeking armed forces. truth, justice and reparations for abuses We provided 1,738 days of physical committed against them. accompaniment to human rights defenders. With support from CIJP and PBI, residents We visited and met with accompanied of Puente Nayero Street in La Playita reconstruction of the social fabric” we organisations and individuals 407 times, neighbourhood in Buenaventura have have accompanied various members of maintained, since April 2014, Colombia’s first the community, whom we assist in dealing urban ‘humanitarian space’. Free of all illegal with the stress and trauma of sustaining a armed actors, ‘Puente Nayero’ is a civilian- ‘tense calm’ in extreme conditions. As PBI “[T]he decision to seek dialogue only space in which people can live and work volunteer Gabriela Vargas states: “[p]hysical with the Attorney General… was in peace and relative security in one of the and psychosocial accompaniment should be based on what we did with PBI in country’s poorest and most dangerous cities. inseparable; it’s holistic work... so we need to an advocacy workshop. It went very Through our focus on “Supporting the accompany people in all possible ways.” well, since the young people [who had been arrested and tortured by providing moral support and practical advice training and helping defenders to cope with police] were freed. We designed ranging from checking on defenders’ wellbeing constant stress and psychological pressure. our strategy around what we did in to helping with responses to specific security We expressed our concern for human the workshop, and when we think incidents. We made hundreds of phone rights defenders in 343 meetings with about advocacy we always go back calls to check on defenders’ whereabouts and government, local and regional to the tools transferred by PBI.” safety. authorities, urging officials to uphold their We ran or hosted 45 workshops attended human rights obligations in Colombia, Diana Moralez, Paso del Norte Human by 370 women and 379 men human rights Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya and Mexico. Rights Centre, Mexico defenders, providing security and advocacy Country groups also championed defenders

WORKSHOPS Northern team volunteer during Multiplying our impact security workshop with members of Saltillo Migrant House PBI Mexico conducted 10 security and advocacy workshops reaching 135 participants from 42 human rights organisations in 2014. At least five organisations we worked with reported improvements in their internal security management during the year. As part of our efforts to create a ‘multiplier effect’ through our work, we collaborated with five other organisations who share security and protection tools with human rights defenders to deliver a ‘training for trainers’ workshop in May. Representatives from 12 organisations shared experiences and best practice, as well as training several new facilitators. In December PBI Mexico also published a facilitators’ guidebook for delivering security and protection workshops to human rights defenders, which includes insights from the ‘training for trainers’ workshop.

4 PBI Annual Review 2014 EMERGENCY ACTIVATION whilst the EU Filter Group on Human PBI Guatemala visa cancellations Rights met representatives of the 12 Kaqchiqueles communities from San Following PBI’s observation of the violent Juan Sacatepéquez, another area eviction of La Puya, a community made up of affected by the State of Emergency residents of 12 villages in the municipalities declared in September. We mobilised of San José del Golfo and San Pedro the diplomatic corps, the UN Office Ayampuc, engaged in peaceful resistance of the High Commissioner for Human to gold mining operations, the Guatemalan Rights, the EU Working Party on Human government revoked the temporary Rights and many others to demonstrate in 120 meetings with government residence visas of two volunteers. international concern over the closing of representatives in France, Germany, We activated our emergency network space for human rights defence. All this Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and carried out an intense advocacy led to a reversal of the cancellation of our Spain, Switzerland and the UK. campaign which achieved visits by volunteers’ visas and to the organisations We produced 75 publications, videos ambassadors from the EU, US and which we accompany being able to and radio appeals amplifying defenders’ Switzerland to affected communities, continue their work. voices and exposing the realities and challenges they face to public and official audiences. We also sent detailed information on the human rights situation on the ground in areas where we work to members of our support network each month. Our unique access to information, rigorous analysis and objectivity are key to the effectiveness of our integrated protection and advocacy. We activated our emergency support networks 12 times in response to the most pressing and serious issues faced by defenders we accompany. We attended 1,266 meetings with diplomatic corps, intergovernmental organisations including the UN and a range of local, national and international NGOs and coalitions to raise concerns about the safety of human rights defenders, provide information on the Eviction of La Puya Peaceful effectiveness of protective and preventative Resistance Community, Guatemala measures, propose ways in which policy and practice can be improved and work strategically with others to strengthen SPEAKER TOUR of torture and enforced disappearances in global civil societal action around human Silvia Méndez, Paso del Norte northern Mexico. Silvia led a roundtable rights defenders. Human Rights Centre, Mexico discussion at the German parliament We organised speaker tours for 13 which had a direct influence on the women and 14 men human rights In November, Mexican human rights government’s decision to put on hold a defenders, enabling them to travel defender Silvia Méndez of the Paso del security agreement which would have across Europe and North America to raise Norte Human Rights Centre participated provided for extensive collaboration international awareness of, and support in 10 public events or press meetings between German and Mexican police for, their work. These tours empowered and 27 meetings with Foreign Affairs forces and had been heavily criticised defenders to develop relationships with key Ministries, MPs, lawyers’ groups and by human rights groups. Paso del Norte allies, from parliamentarians to grassroots EU, UN and civil society representatives in turn strengthened their international activists, and gain invaluable political, moral in Belgium, France, Germany and the support network, making new contacts to and financial support. Netherlands, drawing attention to cases provide them with emergency assistance.

“[The speaker tour] was an experience of great personal growth…. [W]e proposed conducting an advocacy strategy two years ago, but didn’t know how: this tour clarified the ‘how’ aspect. It strengthened me, as it helped me develop my capacities for dialogue and advocacy at the international level.” Silvia Mendez, roundtable with Silvia Mendez, Paso del Norte parliamentarians and representatives of Human Rights Centre, Mexico the German Foreign Affairs Ministry, Berlin

PBI Annual Review 2014 5 Where we work

Key to map

Field Programmes Country Groups EUROPE BELGIUM International Office EUROPE FRANCE GERMANY IRELAND CANADA ITALY NETHERLANDS NORWAY SPAIN SWEDEN SWITZERLAND USA UK

Field Programmes INTERNATIONAL OFFICE: LONDON NEPAL Colombia 21 international volunteers accompanied 91 MEXICO defenders working on a range of issues such HONDURAS as human rights violations due to economic interests and enforced disappearances. GUATEMALA Volunteers are based in Bogotá, Barrancabermeja and Apartadó. COLOMBIA Guatemala KENYA INDONESIA Nine international volunteers accompanied 83 defenders working on the environment and land rights, impunity and globalisation. Volunteers are based in Guatemala City and travel to other areas of the country.

Honduras PBI began protective accompaniment for the first time in Honduras in 2014. A small team of five international volunteers accompanied 18 defenders working on business and human rights, land rights, indigenous rights, freedom of expression, support for victims and women’s rights.

Indonesia PBI made extensive preparations for an innovative training programme to strengthen the capacities of Indonesian defenders working in isolated regions. The first two rounds of training will be conducted in 2015. Mexico Nepal Nine international volunteers accompanied PBI worked in collaboration with a coalition of 43 Kenya 99 defenders working on forceful Nepali human rights organisations to maintain and Four international volunteers carried out the disappearances, impunity, indigenous develop NepalMonitor, an online and SMS platform project’s first accompaniments with defenders rights and environmental protection. sharing information about human rights and working in the informal settlements of Nairobi. Volunteers are based in two field teams security incidents across the country. NepalMonitor The project continued building relationships in Oaxaca and in the north; covering the mapped 1,772 incidents in 2014, enabling national with grassroots Kenyan defenders and civil states of Chihuahua and Coahuila, and one and international organisations to better respond society, as well as undertaking important coordination office in Mexico City. to human rights violations and improving the lobbying and legal work. safety of human rights defenders.

Volunteer numbers included here are the average number of volunteers serving in each field programme at any one time.

6 PBI Annual Review 2014 EUROPE BELGIUM EUROPE FRANCE GERMANY IRELAND CANADA ITALY NETHERLANDS NORWAY SPAIN SWEDEN SWITZERLAND USA UK

INTERNATIONAL OFFICE: LONDON NEPAL

MEXICO HONDURAS GUATEMALA COLOMBIA KENYA INDONESIA

PBI Country Groups Country Groups Without country groups, PBI would be unable to offer international protective accompaniment to human rights defenders and would Belgium Italy Switzerland have limited global support or impact. Country groups find, train and support our international volunteers. They raise funds for our Canada Netherlands UK field projects. They develop links with elected officials, embassy France Norway USA staff, lawyers, judges, academics, NGOs, churches, community groups and others to support human rights defenders. Country Germany Spain groups raise awareness of human rights abuses and advocate for Ireland Sweden action in the international community.

PBI Annual Review 2014 7 Advocacy highlights

n 2014, PBI worked in Colombia, keep land and environmental defenders and make written statements to relevant Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, on the Forum’s agenda. PBI submitted a UN conferences. In 2015, we will use our I Kenya, Mexico and Nepal – briefing to states and multilateral bodies statements to amplify defenders’ voices countries where human rights defenders with clear recommendations to mainstream in the Human Rights Council, and aim to face intimidation, harassment, persecution, protection of human rights defenders in obtain special consultative status for the arrest, enforced disappearance, torture and their business and human rights national global organisation. death for their beliefs and actions. Just as action plans (NAPs), emphasising the need Country groups organised and co- crucially, we used detailed and accurate for more effective protection mechanisms organised many events to raise awareness information from defenders on the ground and for consultation and inclusion of about human rights defenders and the to raise awareness and mobilise action defenders in policy implementation. This issues they face. PBI Germany co-organised amongst the international community, reinforced feedback we had previously a conference of 60 NGOs and solidarity contributing towards making the world submitted to the UN Working Group on groups on the criminalisation of protest in a safer place for human rights defenders. Business and Human Rights informing Central America, leading to the founding of These pages illustrate just some of the their Guidance on National Action Plans the Central America Roundtable, a platform highlights of our advocacy work this year. on Business and Human Rights, which was for collaborative action to support defenders launched at the Forum. We will continue across the region. PBI France organised five to bring these messages to meetings with conferences on issues including business governments and UN representatives and human rights, land restitution, torture Lobbying, networking and leading up to the 28th regular session of the and enforced disappearance, and held two awareness-raising UN Human Rights Council in 2015. screenings of Pais Errante, a documentary PBI Switzerland was awarded special about forced displacement in Colombia. PBI coordinated speaker tours for 27 human consultative status with the UN Economic PBI Netherlands held two Human Rights rights defenders in 2014. In December, and Social Council in July 2014. This Cafés, enabling human rights defenders human rights and environmental lawyer enables PBI to organise our own side- from Colombia and Honduras to reach an Donald Hernández of the Honduran events at the UN in Geneva and New York, international audience. Centre for Community Promotion and Development (CEHPRODEC) met with Donald Hernández at the 3rd UN Forum for national authorities, legal professionals Business and Human Rights and civil society representatives and spoke before public audiences in France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, raising awareness of the situation of Honduran communities affected by mining, agribusiness and hydroelectric projects. Donald in turn developed CEHPRODEC’s international support network, making valuable new connections. Among other things, he now has a direct line to Amnesty International for emergency activation and strategic assistance. Donald participated in a side-event at the 3rd UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, co-organised by PBI, which helped

collaboration. The group held 18 meetings on the successes and challenges of, and PBI Ireland Launch with NGOs and three meetings with Irish prospects for, the EU Guidelines for the authorities throughout the year. Protection of Human Rights Defenders. PBI Ireland was unanimously voted to This highly successful launch, as well as In 2014, a new PBI country group was full country group status at our General subsequent events and meetings involving established in Ireland on the initiative of Assembly in November. PBI Ireland held defenders, NGOs and academics, served a a former volunteer with the Colombian a public launch at Trinity College Dublin, range of purposes: strengthening defenders’ and Guatemalan field projects. Assembled attended by over 100 guests. Speakers access to international support; promoting in May, 17 volunteers began raising included human rights defenders from awareness of, and links with, PBI Ireland; awareness of PBI and obtaining support Colombia, Honduras and Kenya, Dr Iain and developing the nascent country group’s and advice from existing country groups, Atack of the Irish School of Ecumenics, who advocacy, logistical and other capacities, PBI’s International Secretariat, other NGOs talked about his time as a PBI volunteer in which are already being put to use in and academics, gaining valuable expertise in the 1990s; and Mary Lawlor, planning an array of events and activities and laying the groundwork for future Director of Frontline Defenders, who spoke for 2015.

8 PBI Annual Review 2014 from the EEAS, several EU member states’ recommending concrete actions for EU EU Guidelines on Human Rights permanent representations to Brussels member states and encouraging the Defenders: ten years on and various NGOs, as well as the UN Council to include these recommendations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of in its post-2014 EU Strategic Framework 2014 marked 10 years since the adoption Human Rights Defenders. and Action Plan on Human Rights and of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights We also launched our report, ‘Ten Years Democracy (Human Rights Action Plan). Defenders. PBI was instrumental in both of The Guidelines on We also worked to strengthen the drafting and revising the Guidelines, and has Human Rights Defenders: An Assessment Guidelines’ implementation on the ground. utilised them extensively in our work over From the Field’, synthesising analysis from In Mexico, we organised a meeting between the past decade. ten years’ work with 30 interviews with civil society and diplomatic corps to debate In February, we participated in a human rights defenders and members challenges, successes and prospects seminar in which we submitted our of the diplomatic corps from Colombia, around the Guidelines’ implementation, conclusions and recommendations on Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya and Mexico. followed by a public meeting where achievements and challenges in the The next day, the EU Council met to representatives from the Ministry of the Guidelines’ implementation to over 100 discuss the Guidelines’ implementation, Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs EU delegations, five EU member states’ publishing their conclusions on 23 June. acknowledged the important role of permanent representations to Brussels, These incorporated several of PBI’s human rights defenders in Mexican society. the EU Special Representative on Human recommendations and committed to In Guatemala, we worked with other Rights and representatives from the “intensify… political and material support international organisations to educate 200 European External Action Service (EEAS) to human rights defenders and step up… isolated rural human rights defenders about and European Commission. efforts against all forms of reprisals.” the Guidelines and their use, and facilitated On 17 June, we co-hosted an event We published a joint statement meetings with representatives from the with Amnesty International, Frontline with Amnesty International, Frontline EU, the governments of Switzerland Defenders, Human Rights Watch, the Defenders, Human Rights Watch, the and Norway and the Office of the High International Federation for Human Observatory for the Protection of Commissioner for Human Rights. Rights and Protection International to Human Rights Defenders and Protection We will continue to work and advocate evaluate the Guidelines’ implementation. International, welcoming the EU’s strongly at all levels for improved Participants included representatives renewed commitment to the Guidelines, implementation of the Guidelines in 2015.

Protecting women human rights defenders

Mainstreaming protection of women human rights defenders is a major theme of our work. In 2014, PBI Netherlands facilitated two roundtables on women human rights defenders’ protection in the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which reaffirms the importance of women’s role in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and of their full and equal participation in the maintenance of peace and security. Both roundtables were attended by Guatemalan defenders Lorena Cabnal and Lolita Chávez, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NGO staff and academics. The first focused on increasing the visibility of women human rights defenders, whilst the second focused on the role of police and other state authorities in their protection. ‘Safe in Action’ Roundtable on protecting Recommendations emerging from and supporting women human rights these discussions will inform action by defenders, Netherlands PBI and others to protect and support promoting awareness of the EU Guidelines and defamation; lobbying for gender- women human rights defenders at on Human Rights Defenders in rural sensitive protection mechanisms in the local, national and international levels. areas; campaigning to improve the image Guidelines’ implementation; and including Examples include: prioritising protection of women human rights defenders by these and other recommendations in the of rural women human rights defenders; countering stigmatisation, criminalisation post-2014 Human Rights Action Plan.

PBI Annual Review 2014 9 Focus on Field Projects

n 2014, PBI worked with human Honduras and Mexico), (Kenya) challenges and risks defenders faced, rights defenders in Latin and (Nepal and Indonesia). These and how PBI was able to support them in I America (Colombia, Guatemala, pages provide a snapshot of the complex their work.

Honduras

PBI began working in Honduras in 2013, following a petition from the Honduras Platform on Human Rights and extensive field research. We immediately focused on building relationships with local organisations and promoting international concern for the risks faced by Honduran human rights defenders. This work has continued in 2014, alongside our first formal protective accompaniments of the Honduran Centre for Community Promotion and Development (CEHPRODEC) and world- renowned and human rights activist, Dina Meza. PBI has become an effective and sought-after source of expertise on the PBI volunteer accompanies CEHPRODEC to situation and protection of human rights support an assembly of the Lenca indigenous defenders in Honduras, and is regularly movement in La Paz called on for analysis by the international Dina participated in an EU-organised NGO community. PBI Honduras acquired official conference in Brussels, reached public Honduran NGO status in November. We “I have committed myself to audiences in Amsterdam and met with the strengthened our international support handing them [my children] a Dutch minister for foreign affairs as well as network, meeting with government and civil better country… The threats I face various international agencies. society representatives in Canada, France, are not as powerful as the pain of PBI accompanies CEHPRODEC lawyers Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland doing nothing for my country.” and legal advisors as they travel to remote and the UK. We also held 19 meetings with areas to advise and support peasant diplomats based in Honduras, Guatemala Accompanied Honduran journalist communities, and we plan to accompany and Mexico, including the British, French, Dina Meza their visits to new areas in 2015. At Spanish and Swiss ambassadors, as well CEHPRODEC’s request, PBI co-organised, as the head of the European Delegation. with Protection International, a personal We held 21 meetings with Honduran security workshop for 30 community leaders authorities, including the national police, defending land rights in Siguatepeque. military, public prosecutor’s office and We also co-organised an IT security National Commissioner for Human Rights workshop with the Access Foundation for 18 (CONADEH), expressing concern for the representatives from various human rights security of those we accompany and organisations. emphasising the state’s international PBI Honduras carried out international legal obligations to protect human rights observation at 57 events where activists defenders. We received constructive were at risk of violence during 2014. We also responses and concrete action in regard coordinated closely with other organisations to our specific requests from the national carrying out international observation police and CONADEH on four occasions. and accompaniment, including the Dina Meza was awarded the 2014 Oxfam Honduras Accompaniment Project (PROAH), Novib/PEN International Free Expression reinforcing their work and strengthening Award in January. In December she became cooperation amongst global civil society the founding President of PEN Honduras, in Honduras. During 2014, PBI Honduras which will campaign to protect was accepted as a member of both the threatened by violent repression and combat International Cooperation Agencies network persistent impunity for attacks against them. and the Copenhagen Initiative for Central In addition to providing accompaniment, America and Mexico’s platform for advocacy we coordinated a speaker tour during which PBI volunteer before the European Union. accompanies Dina Meza

10 PBI Annual Review 2014 Colombia

In 2014, PBI celebrated 20 years of working in Colombia with accompanied individuals and organisations in Bogotá, Barrancabermeja and Apartadó, and with international supporters in Spain and the US. Over 450 volunteers from 31 countries have been part of PBI Colombia, and the project receives around 100 applications PBI Colombia celebrate 20 years of presence each year, demonstrating immense in the country with accompanied defenders international solidarity with our work and in Barrancabermeja the work of those we accompany. an honourable mention from the Franco- Jorge Molano. In 2013 the government However, the situation of human rights German Human Rights Award committee for defined Jorge’s risk level as ‘extraordinary’, defenders in Colombia remains deeply their constant work defending peace, justice and in March 2014 it agreed before the Inter- alarming despite the formal negotiations and human rights. Additionally, as part of American Commission on Human Rights to between the government and the our accompaniment of the Inter-Church adopt measures to ensure his safety. In May, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia Commission for Justice and Peace (CIJP), however, Jorge was forced to temporarily (FARC) which are taking place in Habana, we travelled to Humanitarian Zones in the suspend his work, following a series of serious Cuba, since October 2012. The organisation Curbaradó river basin, Urabá region, where security incidents. Despite constant threats ‘We Are Defenders’ (Somos Defensores) communities have returned to their land after and aggression against him, we contributed recorded 626 attacks against defenders in being forcefully displaced in 1996-1997. They towards Jorge being able to resume his 2014, including 55 murders. continue to resist and to stake their claim work representing communities who have We spent 136 days alongside the San to the land which was violently stolen from suffered extrajudicial executions, enforced José de Apartadó Peace Community, them. disappearances and massacres, demanding who are emblematic of grassroots rural We continued to accompany one of justice, truth and reparations on their behalf peacebuilding. The community received Colombia’s most at-risk human rights lawyers, as well as guarantees of non-repetition.

Guatemala

In 2014, Guatemalan human rights defenders faced the most significant risk of violence since the project reopened in 2002. Particularly for those defending communities’ land rights against corporate interests, direct attacks have grown in relation to threats whilst defamations and criminalisation have escalated. These developments have had severe impacts on the work of human rights organisations, and led to increased requests PBI volunteer for accompaniment. By using flexible tools accompanies UVOC (observations, short-term accompaniments lawyer Jorge Luis Morales and sharing information through meetings and publications), we managed to respond lands. We focused international attention of community leaders since they began to almost half of the 100 requests we on this issue, including arranging meetings peacefully resisting a hydroelectric project received in this period, including supporting between UVOC, the Norwegian ambassador in 2012. We issued an alert to highlight defenders and communities in isolated rural to Guatemala and UN personnel. This the deteriorating human rights situation areas. attention, and our continued presence, in the area and provided international PBI’s accompaniment of the Union of has helped sustain the possibility of a just observation at key moments throughout Peasant Organisations of Verapaz (UVOC) resolution to the community’s ongoing the year. We also accompanied journalists extends to the indigenous community of La negotiations with the state. from the Independent Media Centre (CMI) Primavera, who are constantly intimidated In the same region, we responded to who received threats whilst covering the and threatened with eviction as well as requests from indigenous peoples of the situation. In 2015, we will continue to defamed and criminalised for peacefully Dolores river basin who have suffered pay close attention to these and other demanding legal rights to their ancestral killings, violent evictions, raids and arrests marginalised regions of Guatemala.

PBI Annual Review 2014 11 Focus on Field Projects

Mexico

In September, three students in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero were killed, several others injured and 43 forcefully disappeared. These events, and the repression subsequently faced by demonstrators protesting the impunity surrounding them, are emblematic of the deteriorating human rights situation in Mexico. We have supported the work of the Tlachinollan Human Rights Centre (accompanied since 2003) and other organisations working with survivors and victims’ relatives. In November, PBI marked one year of presence in Chihuahua and Coahuila with an event where human rights defenders from both states met representatives from five European embassies, highlighting the grave insecurities they face, the dangerous and ongoing struggle to locate thousands of disappeared in Coahuila and their Relatives of disappeared persons during the difficulties defending migrants’ rights whilst annual Mother’s Day Protest in Mexico City facing defamations and threats. On business and human rights, we reality of those who go out to work every Oaxaca remains one of Mexico’s most organised three meetings between day and who constantly experience human dangerous states for human rights defenders, government, diplomatic corps, private rights violations.” particularly those working on land and sector and civil society representatives to On implementation of protection environmental issues. In response to threats discuss implementation of the ‘UN Guiding measures, we lobbied the government against members of the Committee for the Principles on Business and Human Rights’, on the recommendations received in its Defence of Human Rights Gobixha (Código- and successfully lobbied for the inclusion 2nd Universal Periodic Review, urging DH, accompanied since 2009), PBI activated of business and human rights in the EU- it to consult and include human rights its support network to focus concern on Mexico High-Level Dialogue on Human defenders in their implementation. The the area. Código-DH’s Juridical Coordinator Rights. government accepted all recommendations Alba Cruz said that PBI’s “accompaniment On security, justice and impunity, we concerning defenders, and most other has been very useful, most of all regarding undertook a detailed investigation of the recommendations. We also successfully visibility, which has been essential at difficult human rights impacts of public security campaigned alongside other international times to reduce risk.” policies, producing a report, ‘Peace in organisations for stronger implementation PBI Mexico’s advocacy covered three Mexico? Security Strategies and Human of the government’s Mechanism to Protect themes: business and human rights; Rights’, described by Juan Gerardi Human Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, security, justice and impunity; and Rights Centre’s Antonio Esparza as “very which had experienced major setbacks in implementation of protection measures. important [for] taking a firm stand on the 2014.

from defenders on the ground stated The NepalMonitor project team also Nepal that NepalMonitor had helped them with participated in meetings with the UN either security or capacity, whilst 100% of Development Project’s Armed Violence PBI closed its Nepal field team in International NGO respondents felt they Reduction Workgroup, an Early Warning January 2014 and focused on developing were more informed about the situation of System Contact Group coordinated by NepalMonitor, an online and SMS platform defenders than they otherwise would have Saferworld and the EU Working Group on sharing information about human rights been. Following such positive feedback, in Human Rights Defenders. and security incidents around the country. 2014 PBI advanced NepalMonitor as a joint In 2015, PBI and COCAP will continue NepalMonitor enables local, national initiative with the Collective Campaign for to develop NepalMonitor as an effective and international organisations to better Peace (COCAP), a network of 43 human platform for monitoring and reporting respond to human rights violations and rights organisations from across Nepal. human rights and security incidents, whilst provides defenders with timely access to NepalMonitor mapped 1,772 incidents the project team build on their cooperation reports of security incidents in their vicinity, throughout the year, 26 of which originated with other international organisations to helping them stay safe. from victims or reporters contacting support and protect human rights defenders In 2013, 100% of survey responses NepalMonitor directly. across the country.

12 PBI Annual Review 2014 PBI volunteer accompanies social movement Kenya leader in Mathare informal settlement, Nairobi

Recent years have seen growing international concern for the situation of Kenyan human rights defenders. Legislation restricting NGOs’ registration and funding, increased bail conditions for defenders and widespread impunity for human rights abuses committed by police and security forces are all elements of increasing criminalisation of protest, restricting the ability of grassroots defenders to carry out their work. In December 2014, the government passed the Security Laws (Amendments) Act, which the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Kenyan Human Rights Commission (KHRC) assert “contains several provisions which violate… international human rights” norms, presence in the area. Chief Justice, High Court judges and including rights to freedom of assembly, In December, an Alliance for Lawyers representatives from both the Independent association and expression. FIDH and KHRC at Risk (ALR) delegation visited Kenya, Police Oversight Authority and the National reported the assault and arrest of eight organised by PBI UK. Its objectives were Commission on Human Rights, as well as human rights defenders during peaceful to offer support to local lawyers at risk several important civil society organisations. protests against the Act. and to advocate for PBI, building support The ALR delegation’s visit is our most Throughout 2014, we regularly amongst government officials for our official significant advocacy achievement in accompanied grassroots defenders registration in the country. Kenya to date, fostering recognition of PBI to police stations in Mathare informal The delegation met with key Kenyan amongst both national authorities and local settlement in Nairobi and attended court authorities, including the Attorney General, human rights defenders. PBI will work hard hearings, gradually building a visible the Director of Public Prosecutions, the to build on this momentum in 2015.

society experience to establish an Indonesia Advisory Council to offer expertise in the challenges of working in From 2000-11, PBI accompanied human isolated regions whilst providing rights defenders in East and West Timor, political protection to the project; Aceh, Jakarta and Papua. This was halted establishing an informal working due to political changes and defenders’ group of representatives from evolving needs. We conducted research and Jakarta-based human rights consultations to determine how we could organisations to support the continue supporting defenders, recognising trainings; drafting a comprehensive the strengths of our support networks, PBI Indonesia and ELSAM four-month curriculum; identifying our experience building defenders’ face-to-face meeting mentors to guide the research capacities and trust built through long-term former general Prabowo Subianto, accused element of the training; and developing an relationships with local organisations. This of numerous human rights abuses under international protection network for project led to the development of a joint project the Suharto dictatorship, the Indonesian participants through meetings with the with the Institute for Policy Research and human rights community was very active diplomatic community in Jakarta, as well as Advocacy (ELSAM), a Jakarta-based NGO, to during the elections. This interrupted our European civil society organisations. train at-risk defenders from isolated regions. preparations, a key component of which is The defenders set to arrive in Jakarta in The project will bring defenders to Jakarta to develop a support network in Jakarta for January 2015 have varied backgrounds in for four-month intensive trainings followed defenders receiving training, as many of the journalism, domestic violence support work by three months of supported field research. individuals who would form this network and Church-based community organising. The political situation in Indonesia was were overwhelmed with election-related A second round of training with new dynamic in 2014, with a hotly contested activities. defenders will begin in mid-2015, and as election calendar dominated by three We nevertheless undertook a range of the project develops we will work towards rounds of national voting. Given that one preparatory activities, including recruiting building a mutual support and protection of the main presidential candidates was Indonesians with government and civil alumni network.

PBI Annual Review 2014 13 Our volunteers and supporters

n 2014, PBI was supported by a total of 312 volunteers who worked Volunteer gender I in our field projects, our country groups and our international office: TOTAL MEN volunteers provided support 112 to 13 PBI Country Groups and 36% our220 International Office in 2014 TOTAL international volunteers WOMEN provided protection to 291 200 human92 rights defenders in the feld in 2014 64%

Ireland Field volunteers came from Switzerland Austria Norway Argentina Poland Greece Mexico SpainUK France Germany/Finland Italy/Switzerland Czech Republic Holland Italy Portugal Chile USA Germany Australia Netherlands USA/Colombia Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Kriens hilft Menschen in Not Our supporters in 2014 Diakonisches Werk der Evangelishen Kirche Lawyers Bar of Paris Diputación Córdoba MacArthur Foundation We would like to thank the many organisations Diputación Valladolid Maya Behn Eschenburg-Stiftung and individuals who made generous District of Pamplona Mensen Met Een Missie contributions to our work in 2014, including: Dutch Embassy Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de European Instrument for Democracy and Cooperación (MAEC) de España Agencia Catalana de Cooperación al Human Rights (EIDHR) Misereor Desarrollo (ACCD) European Union IEDDH Non-Violence XXI Ayuntamiento de Donostia Fairshare Foundation Norway Peace Fund Ayuntamiento de Pamplona Fedevaco Canton Vaud Norwegian Embassy Ayuntamiento de Reynosa Ferster Foundation Norwegian Foreign Ministry Ayuntamiento de Santander Finnish Embassy in Mexico Ontario Public Service Employees Union Ayuntamiento de San Sebastián - Donostia Frederick Mulder Foundation (OPSEU) Ayuntamiento de Valladolid Fribourg Solidarity Open Society Foundation Basilian Human Development Fund Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Overbrook Foundation (Canada) Fundación brasileña de padres por el Oxfam Solidarité Berti Wicke-Stiftung desarrollo humano Protestant Church St. Gallen-Tablat Bistum St. Gallen Gesamtkirchgemeinde (GKG) Bern Sigrid Rausing Trust British Embassy German Federal Foreign Office Swedish Amnesty Fund Brot für die Welt Gobierno de Navarra / Mugarik Gabe Swiss Agency for Development and Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) Hartstra Stichting (Foundation) Cooperation (SDC) Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (Canadian Interchurch Organisation for Development Swiss Embassy Embassy in Mexico) Cooperation (ICCO) Swiss Foreign Ministry (FDFA) Caritas Francia Intermon-Oxfam Trocaire Chiesa Valdesi Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen e.V. UNIFOR Humanity Fund (Canada) Christian Aid (ifa) Programm zivik (Internationale Valdesian Church, Italy Christian Aid (with Irish Aid) UK & Ireland Friedensprojekte in Krisenregionen) Ville de Bernex Cooperación Cántabra Jenö Stähelin-Stiftung Ziviler Friedensdienst Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Kanton Basel Stadt Zurich Community Trust

14 PBI Annual Review 2014 Without hundreds of dedicated individuals and organisations who support us with their time, energy and fnancial contributions our human rights work would not be possible. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to PBI.

Who funds PBI?

In our work protecting human rights defenders, we rely on the support of individuals, trusts, foundations and religious groups as well as governments and other multilateral funders.

Most of our income from governments and foundations is raised by country Governments and multilateral groups with project support. Country bodies 56% groups also work closely with our committed individual donors in Belgium, Foundations 36% Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Individuals 2% Switzerland, Sweden, the UK and the USA. Country groups 4% Total income in 2014: Other 2% USD $2,864,157

How we spend your money

From every $1 you give us, we spend 88 cents on our human rights work and 9 cents on ensuring best practice in organisational governance is followed in line with PBI’s principles of non- hierarchy and consensus decision- making. The remaining 3 cents is used International to raise the next $1. protective accompaniment and other Total expenditure in 2014*: support for USD $ 2,474,271 human rights defenders 88% Fundraising 3% *All figures are in US dollars and subject to Governance 9% final audit. This financial analysis does not include the accounts of PBI country groups which are separate legal entities.

PBI Annual Review 2014 15 Promoting nonviolence and protecting human rights since 1981 www.peacebrigades.org

PBI Contacts

PBI Country Groups

Belgium Italy Sweden 23 rue Lt F Wampach Via Asiago 5/A, 35010, EMAIL anders.malmsten@ B-1200 Brussels Cadoneghe (PD), naturskyddsforeningen.se Belgium Italy EMAIL [email protected] TEL +39 345 269 0132 Switzerland EMAIL [email protected] Gutenbergstrasse 35 Canada 3011 Bern, Switzerland 323 Chapel Street Netherlands TEL +41 31 372 44 44 Ottawa, Ontario Oudegracht 36 EMAIL [email protected] K1N 7Z2 3511 AP Utrecht CANADA The Netherlands UK TEL +1 613 237 6968 TEL + 0031- 6-16498221 1B Waterlow Road EMAIL [email protected] EMAIL [email protected] London N19 5NJ, UK TEL +44 (0)20 7281 5370 France Norway EMAIL [email protected] 21 ter rue Voltaire Fredshuset (Peace House) 75011, Paris, France møllergata 12, 7th floor, USA TEL +33 14373 4960 Oslo, Norway Peace Brigades International-USA, EMAIL [email protected] TEL +47 97092657 P.O. Box 75880, EMAIL [email protected] Washington DC, 20013 Germany EMAIL [email protected] PBI Deutscher Zweig. e.V. Spanish State Bahrenfelder Straße 101a C/General Dávila, 242 B, 4º B, PBI international office 22765 Hamburg 39006 Santander, Spain Development House TEL +49 40 3890 43710 TEL + 34 942 07 10 96 56-64 Leonard Street, EMAIL [email protected] EMAIL [email protected] London EC2A 4LT, UK TEL + 44 (0) 20 7065 0775 Ireland PBI Spanish State Catalunya EMAIL [email protected] 12 Parliament Street, C/ Rocafort, 242 bis, primer piso, Dublin 2 08029 Barcelona, SPAIN. Republic of Ireland TEL +34 931291333 EMAIL [email protected]

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