[ DISPATCHES ] REPORTS FROM THE FRONT LINE 3 WHAT DOES FRONT LINE DEFENDERS DO? editorial Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) established by charitable deed trust. It was founded in Dublin in 2001 with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk, people who work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Front Line Defenders addresses the protection needs identified by defenders themselves. In October, Front Line Defenders hosted the in Cambodia, Irina Khalyp 7th Dublin Platform for Human Rights defending freedom of Defenders. There were 135 human rights expression in Belarus, Front Line Defenders provides rapid and practical support to at-risk human rights defenders including: defenders at risk from 90 countries and for Ruth Mumbi fighting for me, the most powerful part of the Dublin decent health care for n grants to pay for the practical security needs of human rights defenders; Platform was listening to the testimonies of the women in the slums of n provision of training and development of resource materials on security and protection, human rights defenders themselves. Often a Nairobi, or Morena including digital security; testimony stops you in your tracks. It is almost Herrera fighting for sexual too hard to listen to and you find yourself and reproductive rights n international advocacy on behalf of human rights defenders at immediate risk; rest and respite, including the Front Line Defenders Fellowship; remembering it over and over because of the for women in El Salvador. n sheer cruelty that was inflicted on the person All telling us how they opportunities for networking and exchange between human rights defenders, n and the unimaginable courage that they overcame fear as they including at the biennial Dublin Platform; needed to stand up and start over again. listened for the knock on n the annual Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk; Front Cover: Rebeca Masika the door in the small an emergency 24 hour phone line for human rights defenders operating in from Democratic Republic of Rebeca Masika’s story is one such example. hours of the night, how n Congo, discussing security and Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Russian; protection with fellow human Rebeca is from eastern Congo. She was they stood firm against n temporary relocation of human rights defenders in emergency situations. rights defenders. raped in a particularly violent and brutal threats, how they manner and her daughters were also recovered from rejection Front Line Defenders promotes the protection of human rights defenders through its support for the work attacked. But she summoned the courage by their families and how and the strength to act, not just for herself but in the end they found the of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and other international and for the other women in her community in the strength to continue. regional mechanisms. Front Line Defenders promotes respect for the UN Declaration on Human Rights FRON TLINE same situation. Defenders. Front Line Defenders has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of DEF ENDERS Women human rights the United Nations, partnership status with the Council of Europe and observer status with the African Rebeca set up a group called the Association defenders play a vital role Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Front Line Defenders received the 2007 King Baudouin Registered Charity Number CHY 14029 of Disinherited Persons United for in defending the rights of International Prize for Development. Development (Association des Personnes their communities in times Déshéritées Unies pour le Développement – of conflict and danger, Mary Lawlor, Front Line Defenders and Vincent APDUD) to help women and their children they hold families and Forest, Front Line Defenders (Brussels) listening to testimonies of human rights defenders. born of rape. They support each other, communities together TRUSTEES ADVISORY COUNCIL working in the fields and growing food to sell and they challenge the so that they can rebuild their lives and the power of the abusers. But often when the time shining eyes and said “That is the tradition Denis O’Brien (Chairman) is Chairman Michel Forst is Secretary General of Maryam Elahi is President and CEO children can go to school. As she said in comes to make the decisions and the deals under the Taliban – I’m hoping if I wear it like of the Digicel Group. He is one of the French National Consultative of the Community Foundation of her testimony, “I had to do something that will shape their future lives, those in power this they won’t kill me.” Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs with Commission on Human Rights. He Eastern Connecticut. She has spent empowering for myself and for other women. want that role forgotten and to relegate these extensive investments across was Secretary General of the Paris 25 years in the international human To help women move from the state they are women once again to the shadows. This is the human spirit, the triumph of hope several sectors. He founded the Summit of Human Rights Defenders rights community as an advocate, in today and reconnect with the women they over experience, captured by our late beloved and Director of the French section of teacher and grant-maker. She was Communicorp Group which has a were before. We want to show them that just Increasingly women human rights defenders poet, Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney who portfolio of media and broadcasting-related Amnesty International. previously the director of the International Women’s because they have been raped, this is not the refuse to be silenced and their bravery is un - companies in Ireland and seven other European Program at the Open Society Foundations. believed we were put here to improve civilisa - countries. In 2000 he established The Iris O’Brien Noeline Blackwell is Director of FLAC end. You can start again and build something questionable. Recently we had a woman tion and that we should always “Walk on air Foundation to assist disadvantaged communities in (Free Legal Advice Centres), Maina Kiai is the United Nations fresh and new, you can be something.” human rights defender in Dublin for rest and against your better judgement”. In a text Ireland and internationally. He is co-founder of Front an independent human rights Special Rapporteur on the rights to respite from a region where the Taliban message to his wife minutes before he died Line Defenders. organisation dedicated to the freedom of peaceful assembly and of This is a struggle that is retold by women operate. While she was with us she had he said: ‘Noli timere’ – don’t be afraid. [] realisation of equal access to justice association. A lawyer trained at Nairobi human rights defenders in many countries. counselling and physiotherapy for constant Hina Jilani is an internationally known for all. She is a Vice-President of FIDH. and Harvard Universities, he has spent Agnes Daroczi fighting racism against the pain in her back. The day before she went Mary Lawlor human rights lawyer and advocate for the last twenty years campaigning for Roma people of Hungary, Tep Vany helping a home I complimented her on her hair which Executive Director David Sykes is Investment Director of human rights and constitutional reform in Kenya – human rights defenders. She was the community of farmers to hold on to their land was beautifully braided. She looked at me with Front Line Defenders UN Special Representative of the Island Capital Ltd and has worked in notably as founder and Executive Director of the NGO Secretary General on the situation of various banks and stockbrokers Kenya Human Rights Commission, and then as human rights defenders from 2000 to including Trinity Bank and Dolmen Chairman of Kenya’s National Human Rights 2008. She and her sister Asma Jahangir co-founded stockbrokers. Commission (2003-2008). the first all female legal practice in Pakistan and she is "Walk on air against your better judgement" also one of the founders of the Human Rights James L. Cavallaro is the Founding Commission of Pakistan. She is a member of The Maria Mulcahy is the CEO of the Iris Director of the International Human Elders. O'Brien Foundation and the Irish- Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic at based Head of Philanthropy for the Stanford Law School, where he is also awarded for temporary relocations digital security trainings . Human rights defenders Elia Jim Conway is the founder and Digicel Group. She was involved with a professor of law. Prior to joining AT A GLANCE Chairman of the Print & Display Group, “People in Need” from 1988 to 2000. Stanford, he spent nine years on the 2013 of individual human rights Escobedo Garcia from Mexico and one of Ireland’s largest print She was responsible for organising the faculty at Harvard Law School, where he also served as defenders and family members. Front Line Defenders carried out 40 Yara Bader from Syria took part in companies. He also has a number of RTE telethons, which raised €28 million. She was executive director of the Human Rights Programme. In Front Line Defenders issued 386 missions to 34 countries. speaking tours in Ireland . other media interests in Ireland and Director of Fundraising for the 2003 Special Olympics June of 2013 he was elected to the Inter-American urgent appeals and updates on The Front Line Defenders Award Eastern Europe. World Games. Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). behalf of 426 individuals at risk in was awarded to Biram Dah Abeid Lives on the Line , a documentary The European Union: What it can 64 countries.