Documents on Habré | Human Rights Watch

Letter to Foreign Ministers of African Union Member States Concerning the Case of Hissène Habré

Letter
Jan 17, 2012

In July 2006, the heads of state and governments of the African Union gave hope to the victims when they mandated Senegal “to prosecute and ensure that Hissène Habré is tried, on behalf of Africa, by a competent Senegalese court with guarantees for fair trial.” More than five years later, Senegal has yet to execute this mandate and has now informed the African Union that Habré will not be tried in Senegal. Today the most realistic option to avoid impunity for the mass crimes allegedly committed by Hissène Habré, and the option supported by Chad, is to extradite him for trial to Belgium. We call on the African Union to support this option so that the victims can finally obtain justice.
Senegal: Stop stalling with Habré extradition

Press release
Jan 12, 2012

The Senegalese government should stop delaying the extradition of former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré to Belgium.
“Impunity is a cancer that prevents us from realizing our true potential”

Backgrounder Briefing
Dec 6, 2011

Jacqueline Moudeina is president of the Chadian Association for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (ATPDH) and has been the lawyer for the victims of the former dictator Hissène Habré since 2000. In 2001, Ms. Moudeina was seriously injured by a grenade thrown by security forces commanded by a former officer in Hissène Habré’s political police. On December 5, 2011, Ms. Moudeina received the Right Livelihood Award 2011, which is considered to be the “Alternative Nobel Prize,” “for her tireless efforts at great personal risk to win justice for the victims of the former dictatorship in Chad and to increase awareness and observance of human rights in Africa.”
United Nations: A Move Toward Prosecuting Chad’s Ex-Dictator

Press release
Nov 29, 2011

The United Nations Committee against Torture has called on Senegal to comply with its obligation to prosecute or extradite Chad's exiled former dictator, Hissène Habré.
The Netherlands: A Race to Bring Chad’s Ex-Dictator to Justice

Press release
Nov 23, 2011

Thirty-eight students from the Netherlands ran in the New York City Marathon on November 6, 2011, to raise money to extradite the exiled former dictator of Chad, Hissène Habré.
Statement of the Steering Committee of the International Committee for the Fair Trial of Hissène Habré

Written statement
Oct 27, 2011
Right Livelihood Award: Standing up for Victims of Chad’s Ex-Dictator

Press release
Sep 30, 2011

The decision to give the Right Livelihood Award to Jacqueline Moudeïna, the lawyer for the victims of the exiled former dictator of Chad, Hissène Habré, highlights the victims’ 20-year quest to bring Habré to justice.
Senegal: Chad asks for the extradition of Hissène Habré to Belgium

Press release
Jul 22, 2011

The Senegalese government should honor Chad’s request to send former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré to Belgium for prosecution for crimes against humanity during his rule from 1982 to 1990.
African Union: Press Senegal to Extradite Habré

Press release
Jun 27, 2011

The African Union (AU) should press Senegal to extradite the former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré to Belgium.
Letter to African Union Chairperson Jean Ping on the 17th AU Summit

Letter
Jun 21, 2011