Press Releases & Statements

Text of Intervention: Panel discussion on the issue of intimidation or reprisal against individuals and groups who cooperate or have cooperated with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

13 September 2012

A number of cases of reprisals against HRDs in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region have been reported by the Secretary-General. The details are available in the Secretary-General’s reports, but in summary these have taken the form of physical attacks, killings, arbitrary and incommunicado detention, torture and ill-treatment, death threats and media smear campaigns against organizations and individuals. Individuals have even been charged with “working with international organizations hostile to [the country]”.

IFISO Vetting Coalition Congratulates New Somali President, Takes Stock of Challenges and Way Forward

12 September 2012

IFISO Independent Vetting Coalition congratulates Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on his

South Sudan: Human Rights Defenders Network Officially Launched

23 August 2012

23rd August 2012 Eighteen human rights defenders representing thirteen organizations

Civil society concern at ban of newspaper in Tanzania

3 August 2012

Article 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Committee to

AU: Don’t Endorse Sudan, Ethiopia for Rights Council: Competitive Elections for UN Body Would Improve Membership

12 July 2012

Foreign ministers of African Union (AU) member states should reconsider

Eritrea: Establishment of New UN Special Rapporteur Welcomed

9 July 2012

The establishment of a Special Rapporteur on Eritrea by the

Space for civil society shrinking in Uganda say national and global CSOs

26 June 2012

Johannesburg, 25 June 2012. Civil society space in Uganda is

Burundi: Verdict in Activist’s Killing Trial Fails to Deliver Justice; Despite Many Leads, Investigation Fell Short

23 May 2012

The verdict on 22 May, 2012 in the trial of those accused of killing Ernest Manirumva, a Burundian anti-corruption activist, has been a missed opportunity to deliver justice, 20 Burundian and international non-governmental organizations said today in a joint statement. The outcome was a grave disappointment to those who have campaigned for his killers to be held to account, as potentially important evidence in the case was not pursued.

Burundi : Justice n’a pas été rendue à l’issue du procès sur le meurtre d’un militant, Malgré de nombreuses pistes, l’enquête n’a pas été à la hauteur

23 May 2012

La décision rendue le 22 mai 2012 au terme du procès des personnes accusées d’avoir tué Ernest Manirumva, un militant anticorruption burundais, a été une occasion manquée de rendre la justice, ont regretté 20 organisations non gouvernementales burundaises et internationales aujourd’hui dans une déclaration conjointe. Ce résultat est profondément décevant pour ceux qui se sont mobilisés afin que ses tueurs rendent des comptes, car des éléments de preuve potentiellement importants n’ont pas été pris en considération.

Sudan: End Harassment of Journalist and Human Rights Defender Faisal Mohammed Salih

19 May 2012

Mr. Salih, director of Teeba Press, former chief editor of Al-adwaa newspaper and a columnist, has been arbitrarily arrested and detained on three separate occasions on 8th, 9th and 15th May 2012. This follows almost two weeks of harassment by the National Intelligence and Security Services in Khartoum, who required him to report to their offices on a daily basis where he would be kept for the whole day. The arrests began after he refused to continue reporting voluntarily. On 15th May, Mr. Salih was charged with failure to cooperate with the order of a public officer to report at an appointed time and place.