Against All Odds

All over the world there is an evident growing backlash against activists and campaigners who ask for a fair use of their countries’ natural resources. In 2015 alone 185 activists fighting to protect the environment and for transparency in oil, gas and mining, have been killed, including the high profile death of Berta Cáceres in Honduras.

These activists are harassed, threatened, arrested and even killed for standing up for the rights of their fellow citizens. This is only getting worse. Women and indigenous peoples are especially at risk as they are already often economically and politically disenfranchised.

The report contains a series of case studies illustrating the different types of threats, from restrictive legislation, criminalisation, unwarranted surveillance to smear campaigns, tight control of public space and violence. 

Front Line Defenders: 2016 Annual Report

As the 2016 Annual Report documents, at least 156 human rights defenders were killed or died in detention in 2015. More than half of those killings, 87, took place in Latin America, with Colombia alone accounting for 54 killings. Outside the Americas one of the starkest figures was the total of 31 targeted killings of HRDs in the Philippines.

Global Witness Report: "Find the Facts, Expose the Story, Change the System"

Global Witness released a report, Find the Facts Expose the Story Change the System, that focuses on the world's worst environmental and human rights abuses that are driven by the exploitation of natural resources and corruption in the global. 

CIVICUS Brief: "Burundi on a Downward Spiral"

A recent policy action brief from CIVICUS details the ongoing political repression in Burundi and the potential for the conflict to escalate even further. As Pierre Nkurunziza continues to target representatives of civil society and crack down on suspected members of the political opposition, the country risks a return to the level of violence and human rights violations suffered during Burundi's civil war. In the brief, CIVICUS provides concrete recommendations and action points for all involved actors, including the international community, armed opposition groups, the government of Burundi, and civil society groups.

Protection International: Criminalization of Human Rights Defenders Report

Protection International releases Criminalization of Human Rights Defenders report. 

"The report illustrates the interplay among legal instruments, socio-political contexts, practices by state authorities and non-state actors, which altogether ultimately contribute to stigmatise, delegitimise and criminalise HRDs. Counter-measures that may be adopted to combat criminalisation are also discussed in the report together with a number of concrete recommendations to HRDs, State authorities and justice institutions, as well as foreign governments, multilateral agencies, donors and civil society organisations."

FORUM-ASIA: 25th Anniversary Report

In 2016 FORUM-ASIA celebrates its 25th Anniversary. A momentous occasion, which gives us the opportunity to look back on 25 years of struggle for human rights in Asia. This report will give us the chance to reflect, learn, and plan our focus for the future.