Human Rights Defenders

Human Rights Defenders   Human Rights Watch Honors Global Rights Defenders
(New York, November 6, 2003) Leading human rights defenders from Egypt, Liberia and the United States will receive Human Rights Watch's highest honor at its annual dinner on Wednesday, November 12, in New York.

  • Human Rights Watch Honors Liberian Lawyer
    (New York, November 6, 2003) On November 12, Human Rights Watch will give its highest recognition to Tiawan Gongloe, a leading Liberian human rights lawyer and torture victim. An August peace agreement ended fourteen years of civil war in the West African nation.

  • Los Angeles Juvenile Hall Chaplain Honored for Human Rights Work
    (New York, November 6, 2003) Javier Stauring, a lay chaplain for detained youths in Los Angeles, is one of three individuals Human Rights Watch will honor on November 12 for their human rights work. Stauring mobilized a local interfaith coalition in June to protest abuses against youths in the Men�s Central Jail, leading the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to declare that the jail was unfit for detainees under the age of 18.

  • Human Rights Watch Honors Egyptian Anti-Torture Activist
    (New York, November 4, 2003) On November 12, Human Rights Watch will give its highest recognition to Dr. Aida Seif El Dawla, a psychiatrist and activist whose courageous work is breaking the silence surrounding torture in Egypt. Dr. Seif El Dawla�s pioneering work provides torture victims not just solace and care, but also the tools to work for justice.

  • Nobel Prize for Iranian Activist Welcomed
    (New York, October 10, 2003) The Nobel Prize Committee's choice of Iranian rights defender Shirin Ebadi for this year's Peace Prize is a welcome sign of international support for all Iranians, and especially Iranian women, struggling to exercise their basic rights, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Human Rights Defenders   2002 HRW Monitor Profiles
    August 2001 marked the first anniversary of the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for human rights defenders. Hina Jilani was the first to carry out the post's mandate, which called for her to press for the implementation of the 1998 Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and intervene in cases of threats to and harassment of human rights defenders worldwide.

  • Tunisia: Release Journalist Now
    (New York, August 22, 2003) The Tunisian government should release journalist Abdullah Zouari immediately and unconditionally, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Human Rights Watch Mourns Death of Refugee Advocate Arthur C. Helton
     (New York, August 20, 2003) Human Rights Watch mourns the loss of Arthur Helton, a leading advocate for refugees and internally displaced persons, who was among the victims of the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.

  • Cambodia: Arrest Murderer of Political Activist's Daughter
     (New York, August 20, 2003) -- The Cambodian government should arrest the village chief implicated in the murder of an opposition activist's 16-year-old daughter, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Kyrgyzstan: Continued Persecution of Political Prisoner
     (New York, August 20, 2003) Continued imprisonment of Kyrgyzstan’s main opposition leader puts the fairness of future elections there in doubt, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Human Rights Watch Mourns Death of Sergio Vieira de Mello
    (New York, August 19, 2003)The death of U.N. Special Envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello is a shocking loss not only to the United Nations and people of Iraq but to the cause of human rights, Human Rights Watch said.

  • Uzbekistan: Rights Defender Faces Discriminatory Charges
     (Tashkent, August 12, 2003) An Uzbek rights defender on trial for alleged homosexual conduct should be released from custody immediately, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • D.R. Congo: Kabila Should Prove Commitment to Human Rights
    (New York, September 12, 2002) President Joseph Kabila of Congo should use his visit to the United Nations General Assembly, starting today, to announce the release of one of the country's leading human rights defenders, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Chinese AIDS Activist Honored Despite Ongoing Detention
    (Montreal, September 12, 2002) - Human Rights Watch and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network will honor detained Chinese AIDS activist Dr. Wan Yanhai on September 13 as the first recipient of the two organizations' "Award for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights."

  • Uzbek Rights Defenders Detained
    (New York, September 11, 2002) Police in Uzbekistan detained two human rights defenders last week in what looks like government retribution for their human rights work, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Concern Escalates Over Missing Chinese AIDS Activist
    (New York, August 30, 2002) -- Human Rights Watch and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network today expressed increasing concern about missing Chinese AIDS activist Wan Yanhai. Dr. Wan had planned to travel to Canada in September as the first recipient of a newly established human rights award.

  • EU Must Not Forget Imprisoned Syrian Democrats
    (Brussels, August 30, 2002) — The European Union (EU) must react strongly to the harsh sentencing of 10 pro-democracy activists in Syria, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Uzbek Rights Defender in Psychiatric Detention
    (New York, August 30, 2002) — On Wednesday, August 28, two women, a human rights defender and someone she was trying to help, were forcibly detained in a locked ward of the main psychiatric hospital in Tashkent, Human Rights Watch reported today.

  • Repression in China Worsens Worker Protests
    (New York, August 2, 2002) - The Chinese government's refusal to allow independent trade unions is fueling worker protests, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.

  • Syria: Long Prison Terms for Democracy Activists
    (New York, August 2, 2002) The convictions on July 31 of two more Syrian political activists is another sign that the government of Bashar al-Asad is intent on stifling independent voices and moving backwards on freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Egypt: Ibn Khaldun Verdict Meant to Silence Criticism
    (New York, July 31, 2002) The seven-year prison sentence handed down July 29 to human rights defender Dr. Saadeddin Ibrahim is intended to silence real or potential criticism of the Egyptian government, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Banned, Censored, Harassed and Jailed
    (New York, July 24, 2002) — A diverse group of writers from nineteen countries have received Hellman/Hammett grants in recognition of the courage with which they faced political persecution, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Free Political Prisoners in Tunisia
    (Washington D.C., July 31, 2002) The United States should urge Tunisia to release Hamma Hammami and all others imprisoned for peaceful political expression and activity, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Tunisia: Release Hamma Hammami and Imprisoned Colleagues
    (New York, July 12, 2002) -- Human Rights Watch said today that Hamma Hammami is unjustly imprisoned in Tunisia for exercising his rights to peaceful political expression and activities, and should be released immediately and unconditionally.

  • Georgia: "Vicious" Assault on Rights Leaders
    (New York, July 12, 2002) -The Georgian authorities must swiftly investigate and prosecute those responsible for the July 10 attack on the Tbilisi headquarters of a leading Georgian human rights organization, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Leading Liberian Journalist Re-Arrested
    (New York, July 4, 2002) A prominent Liberian newspaper editor and three other Liberians have been detained without charge for more than a week, Human Rights Watch said today. The four are being held in incommunicado detention by the Liberian government, and may be at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

  • Uzbekistan: Release Rights Defender Now
    (New York, June 26, 2002) The government of Uzbekistan should immediately release a human rights defender who has been held in incommunicado detention for one month and is in serious danger of torture or other abuse, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov released today.

  • Afghanistan: Former Women's Minister Intimidated
    (New York, June 26, 2002) Afghan President Hamid Karzai should put a stop to the intimidation of former Women's Affairs minister, Dr. Sima Samar, Human Rights Watch said today. A formal charge of blasphemy against Dr. Samar was dismissed by a Kabul court on Monday, but future charges are still possible.

  • Ethiopia: Police Firing on Unarmed Protesters
    (New York, June 11, 2002) The Ethiopian government must urgently establish clear restraints on the use of lethal force against civilians, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Azerbaijan: Investigate Police Shootings of Protesters
    (New York, June 7, 2002) The Azerbaijani government should promptly establish an independent investigation into police shootings that killed one and wounded dozens of protesters in the town of Nardaran on the night of June 3-4, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Tunisia: Release Urged for Online Magazine Editor
    (New York, June 6, 2002) Human Rights Watch today called for the release of Zouhair Yahiaoui, who was arrested Tuesday in Tunis. The organization said it believes authorities arrested Yahiaoui because they had identified him as a writer and editor for the online publication Tunezine, which offers a platform for commentary critical of government repression.

  • Uzbekistan: Another Rights Defender Jailed
    (New York, May 28, 2002) Police in Uzbekistan have arrested a human rights defender who may be at risk for torture or ill-treatment, Human Rights Watch said today

  • Algeria: Release Rights Defenders Facing Trial
    (New York, May 24, 2002) Algerian authorities should release human rights defenders Abderrahmane Khelil and Sid Ahmed Mourad from jail, Human Rights Watch said today. The two men face trial on Sunday, May 26.

  • Ethiopia: Halt Crackdown on Oromo Students
    (New York, May 22, 2002) -- The Ethiopian government must halt the violent crackdown on students from Oromiya regional state, Human Rights Watch urged today.

  • Eritrea: Cease Persecution of Journalists and Dissidents
    (New York, May 16, 2002) The Eritrean government should immediately release nine jailed journalists who have been in detention without charge since September 2001, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Leading Liberian Lawyer Prevented From Leaving
    (New York, May 14, 2002) Tiawan Gongloe, one of Liberia's most prominent human rights lawyers, was prevented from leaving the country and briefly detained on May 12, 2002. Human Rights Watch today condemned the Liberian government for its continuing persecution of human rights defenders, and expressed concern about Mr. Gongloe's detention, for the second time in less than a month, and denial of his right to freedom of movement.

  • Cuba: Dissident Release Hailed
    (New York, May 6, 2002) Human Rights Watch today applauded the release of political dissident Vladimiro Roca Atúnez, one of Cuba's most prominent pro-democracy activists. Roca was freed on Sunday, two months before the expiration of his five-year sentence for sedition.

  • Guatemala: Stop Violence and Intimidation against Rights Advocates
    (New York, May 1, 2002) The Guatemalan government must take effective measures to stop violence and intimidation against members of the country's human rights community, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to President Alfonso Portillo today. Two days ago, Guillermo Ovalle de León, a member of the Rigoberta Menchú Foundation, was shot to death, and in recent weeks other rights advocates have received death threats.

  • Leading Liberian Rights Lawyer Tortured by Police
    (New York, April 26, 2002) One of Liberia's most prominent human rights lawyers, Tiawan Gongloe, has been brutalized in police custody and is hospitalized as a result, Human Rights Watch said today. Police guards remain near his hospital bed, and the police director has announced that Mr. Gongloe remains in police custody without charge pending an investigation.

  • Crackdown On Democracy Advocates In Syria
    Asad Government Steps Up Repression of Political Critics
    (New York, April 6, 2002) Human Rights Watch today condemned the harsh prison sentence handed down this week against Riad al-Seif, a 55-year-old independent parliamentarian. He was the second elected member of Syria's parliament in less than a month to get a five-year prison term for advocating democratic change.

  • Burma: Professor Receives Harsh Sentence
    U.N. Human Rights Body Should Pressure Burma
    (Geneva, March 27, 2002) - The harsh prison sentence given to a prominent Burmese academic this week underlines the urgent need for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva to increase pressure on Burma to unconditionally release all political prisoners, Human Rights Watch said today. The Commission will review a report on the human rights situation in Burma tomorrow.

  • Congolese Activist Detained and Beaten in Eastern DRC
    (New York, November 15, 2001) The head of a Congolese non-governmental organization from Uvira has been detained and severely beaten by the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Uzbek Activist in Eighth Day of Detention
    (New York, November 15, 2001) The Uzbek government must explain the continued detention of a activist Elena Urlaeva, a member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan.

  • Human Rights Watch Honors Global Rights Defenders
    (New York, November 5, 2001) -- On Wednesday, November 7, Human Rights Watch will give its highest honor to five leading human rights activists from around the world. Those chosen to be human rights "monitors" for the year 2001 have defended civilians in brutal wars in Sudan and Aceh, and worked to build civil society from the ground up in Pakistan, Guatemala and Uzbekistan.

  • Eastern Congo: Rebels' Persecution of Rights Activists
    (New York, August 21, 2001) The Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD-Goma), a rebel group based in eastern Congo, has stepped up abuse of civil society activists, Human Rights Watch charged today.

  • Persecuted Writers Honored with Prestigious Awards
    (New York, June 27, 2001) A diverse group of writers from 20 countries have received Hellman/Hammett grants in recognition of the courage with which they faced political persecution, Human Rights Watch announced today.

  • Tunisia Revives Hard Line on Dissent
    (New York, June 26, 2001) Tunisian authorities are stepping up their repression against those who criticize the government, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Congo: Activist Held in Kinshasa
    (New York, 22 June 2001) -- The Congolese government should immediately stop arbitrarily arresting human rights activists, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Mauritania: Cease Harassment of Opposition
    (New York, 22 June 2001) Human Rights Watch today condemned the ongoing harassment of opposition leaders and human rights activists in Mauritania. In a letter to President Ould Taya, Human Rights Watch called for the unconditional release from prison of three opposition activists.

  • Yemen: Closure of Newspaper, Journalist Flogging
    (New York, June 20, 2001) Human Rights Watch today condemned the Yemeni government's announced intention to close down the weekly newspaper Al-Shura. Human Rights Watch also expressed grave concern that the related flogging sentence against journalist Abd al-Jabbar Saad, convicted on defamation charges, may be implemented in the near future.

  • China: Detention of Scholars and Human Rights Conditions
    (Washington, D.C., June 19, 2001) China's detention of four intellectuals of Chinese descent with ties to the U.S. poses a serious challenge to U.S.-China relations.

  • Egypt: Politically Motivated Imprisonment
    (New York, May 21, 2001) Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today that the sentencing of human rights defender Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim to seven years' imprisonment is "alarming."

  • Morocco Jails Thirty-Six Rights Activists
    (New York, May 19, 2001) Human Rights Watch today expressed dismay at the conviction and sentencing of thirty-six human rights activists in Morocco on charges of holding an illegal demonstration last December.

  • Ethiopia: Court Ruling Attacks Rights Defenders
    (New York, May 19, 2001) A court ruling in Ethiopia has highlighted the government's campaign to silence its critics, Human Rights Watch said today.

  • Malaysia: End Political Arrests
    (New York, April 30, 2001) Human Rights Watch today welcomed a new coalition of Malaysian rights groups, the Anti-ISA Movement (AIM), dedicated to repeal of Malaysia's notorious Internal Security Act (ISA).

  • Congo: Human rights activist in Kinshasa detained since February 2001
    News release based on a letter to Minister She Okitundu
    (New York, April 12, 2001) Golden Misabiko Baholelwa, leading member of the African association for the defense of human rights (ASADHO), was arrested on 5 February 2001 and has been detained since. ASADHO is one the the leading non-governmental human rights associations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Mr Misabiko was arrested by the National Security Agency (ANR) in Lubumbashi, Katanga province, where he is the President of the provincial ASADHO section. He is reportedly accused of leaking information about the execution of a high military commander, Anselme Masasu, in November 2000, which formed the basis of an ASADHO statement. The government has only recently admitted that Anselme Masasu was court martialed and executed.

  • Intimidation of Human Rights Defenders in Liberia
    Offices of the Centre for Democratic Empowerment Stormed
    (New York, December 11, 2000) Dear President Taylor: Human Rights Watch is writing to express its deep concern over the increasing harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders in Liberia since you took office in 1997. Most recently, on 28 November, 2000, a gang of men armed with knives, hammers, and sticks stormed the offices of the Centre for Democratic Empowerment (CEDE), a nongovernmental organization in Monrovia. Human Rights Watch believes that this recent incident is part of a pattern of attacks against members of the Liberian human rights community and the independent media, intended to silence independent voices in Liberia.
    


Free Uzbek Rights Defender Ruslan Sharipov
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Human Rights Watch administers the Hellman/Hammett grant program for writers all around the world who have been victims of political persecution and are in financial need.  More..