STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL: MATTHEW EASTON FOR FRONT LINE STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL: PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN COLOMBIA INDONESIA AND ZIMBABWE MATTHEW EASTON FOR FRONT LINE Published in 2010 by Front Line The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders 81 Main St, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland Copyright © 2010 Front Line ISBN: 978-0-9558170-2-1 To request/order a copy please contact: Front Line The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders 81 Main St, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland Tel: 00 353 1 212 37 50 Fax 00 353 1 212 10 01 [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Glossary of acronyms . iii Acknowledgments . v Introduction . vii INDONESIA: TRANSITION AND THE PERSISTENCE OF THE PAST . 1 I. Introduction . 2 II. Human Rights Defenders Most at Risk . 2 Anti-corruption activists . 3 Women human rights defenders . 3 Minority rights activists . 3 Land rights and environmental activists . 3 LGBTI activists . 3 Advocates for accountability for past crimes . 4 Human rights defenders in conflict areas . 4 Students . 5 Journalists . 5 III. Types of Threats against Human Rights Defenders . 5 Killings and other forms of violence . 5 Threats of violence . 7 Criminalisation and civil suits . 8 Stigmatisation . 10 Threats and charges against family members . 10 Wiretaps and other surveillance . 10 Threats against women human rights defenders . 10 IV. Protection Strategies . 11 Security planning . 11 Legislative advocacy . 12 International advocacy . 13 Working in coalition . 13 Building support in society . 14 Back-up and support from authorities . 14 Evacuation . 16 Organising and supporting victims to speak out . 16 Adapting the message . 17 Fighting for accountability . 18 COLOMBIA: A LEGACY OF CONFLICT . 19 I. Introduction . 20 II. Human Rights Defenders Most at Risk . 20 Human rights lawyers and NGOs . 21 Displaced persons . 21 Trade unionists . 21 Campesino leaders and other community activists . 21 Environmental activists . 22 Women leaders . 22 Journalists . 22 Indigenous and Afro-Colombian leaders . 23 Victim advocates . 23 LGBTI activists . 23 III. Types of Threats Faced by Human Rights Defenders . 24 Killings and other acts of violence . 24 Threats . 24 Arbitrary detention and baseless prosecution . 24 STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL i Stigmatisation . 26 Illegal surveillance . 26 Gender specific threats to women leaders and defenders . 28 IV. Protection Strategies . 28 Civil society protection mechanisms . 28 Coordination . 30 Increasing or decreasing visibility . 32 State protection . 32 Public opinion as a protection mechanism . 35 Empowerment of victims to seek justice . 37 Cultural protection strategies of indigenous and Afrocolombian peoples . 37 ZIMBABWE: AUTHORITARIANISM AND RESILIENCE . 40 I. Introduction . 40 II. Human Rights Defenders Most at Risk . 41 Protestors . 41 Rural and small-town activists . 41 Human rights lawyers . 42 Trade unionists . 42 Journalists . 42 Students . 43 III. Types of Threats Against Human Rights Defenders . 43 Physical violence . 43 Abduction, enforced disappearance, and arbitrary detention . 44 Unfounded prosecutions . 45 Stigmatisation . 46 Surveillance . 47 Threats against livelihood and family members . 48 Restrictions on freedom of association, assembly, and expression . 48 IV. Protection Strategies . 49 Security planning . 50 Policy advocacy . 50 Publicising attacks and other international advocacy . 51 Build social solidarity . 51 Coordination . 52 Use of language . 52 Legal representation and advocacy . 53 CONCLUSIONS AND REVIEW OF BEST PRACTICES . 54 RECOMMENDATIONS . 58 ii FRONT LINE GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS COLOMBIA Acronym Spanish English ASFADDES Asociación de Familiares de Association of Families of the Detenidos-Desaparecidos Detained-Disappeared AUC Auto Defensas Unidas de Colombia United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia: coalition of paramilitaries CAJAR Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Restrepo Collective CCJ Comisión Colombiana de Juristas Colombian Commission of Jurists CIDH/ Comisión Interamericana de los Inter-American Commission on Human IACHR Derechos Humanos Rights CRER Comité de Reglamentación y Risk Evaluation Committee Evaluación de Riesgos CSPP Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Committee in Solidarity with Political Políticos Prisoners DAS Departamento Administrativo de Administrative Security Department Seguridad (national intelligence service) ELN Ejército de Liberación Nacional de National Liberation Army: smaller Colombia insurgent armed group FARC Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia Colombia: Largest, oldest armed insurgent group in the country MOVICE Movimiento de Víctimas de Crímenes National Movement of Victims of State.