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Across the globe human rights defenders face various forms of persecution in their everyday struggle for human rights

In Honduras an anonymous tip off alerts members of Cofadeh that their Director Bertha Oliva, and other prominent human rights defenders, are on a death list.

In Armenia Mr Arshaluys Hakobyan of the Helsinki Association is taken into custody and beaten.

In Thailand Ms Angkhana Neelaphaijit who is the chairperson of the Working Group on Justice and Peace (WGJP) and wife of the missing human rights lawyer, Somchai Neelaphaijit, who disappeared on 12 March 2004 in Bangkok, is subjected to an ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation.

These few cases are typical of the thousands of human rights defenders who dedicate their lives and risk their personal security in defence of the rights of others.

Your support will help them to create more just and equal societies for all. These are the people with the power to change the world.

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- Thompson Ade Bayor, lawyer and human rights defender, Liberia

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Urgent Cases

Malaysia/Saudi Arabia - Saudi human rights defender Hamza Kashgari at risk of being deported to Saudi Arabia where he may face the death penaltyposted on: 2012/02/10

Mr Hamza Kashgari, a national of Saudi Arabia is at risk of being deported from Malaysia to Saudi Arabia where he may face the death penalty as a result of comments he posted on the social media site Twitter. Hamza Kashgari is a journalist and blogger and an advocate of freedom of expression and freedom of thought in Saudi Arabia.

China: Human rights defender Mr Zhu Yufu sentenced to seven years imprisonmentposted on: 2012/02/10

On 10 February 2012 Hangzhou City Intermediate People's Court sentenced human rights defender Mr Zhu Yufu to seven years in prison and a further three years deprivation of political rights for 'inciting subversion of state power'.

Russian Federation: Search at the home of human rights defender Mrs Stefania Kulaevaposted on: 2012/02/10

On 3 February 2012, the district police inspector carried out a search at the home of human rights defender Mrs Stefania Kulaeva, head of the Anti-Discrimination Centre 'Memorial' (ADC 'Memorial'), following a complaint that a brothel was operating at her address, lodged by the murderer of human rights defender Mr Nikolai Girenko.

Chile: LGBTI rights defender Ms Javiera Villareal attacked and beatenposted on: 2012/02/10

On 2 February 2012, human rights defender Ms Javiera Villareal was attacked and beaten in Santiago by three unidentified assailants after she had distributed condoms as part of a health protection programme.

Kuwait: United Arab Emirates human rights defender Mr Ahmad Mansour denied entry at Kuwait airportposted on: 2012/02/10

On 2 February 2012, United Arab Emirates human rights defender Mr Ahmad Mansour was stopped at Kuwait city airport and denied entry into the country. Mr Ahmad Mansour is a blogger who has been active in demanding political reform in the UAE.

Tanzania: Arrest of sixteen human rights defenders following peaceful protest over government failure to resolve health crisisposted on: 2012/02/10

On 9 February 2012, sixteen human rights defenders were arrested in Dar es Salaam. Their arrest followed their participation in a peaceful protest against the Government’s failure to resolve the ongoing health crisis in the country.

Oman: Arrest and incommunicado detention of human rights defender and blogger Mr Muawiya Al Rawahiposted on: 2012/02/09

On 4 February 2012 human rights defender Mr Muawiya Al Rawahi was arrested in Muscat following the publication of an on-line article in which he criticised the Government.

Burundi: Arrest of human rights defender Mr Faustin Ndikumanaposted on: 2012/02/09

Human rights defender Mr Faustin Ndikumana was arrested on 7 February 2012 after he made public declarations on the issue of corruption in the judiciary

UgandA: 2009 'Anti-Homosexuality' Bill re-tabled in parliamentposted on: 2012/02/08

On 7 February 2012, the 'Anti-Homosexuality' Bill proposed first in 2009 was re-tabled at a parliamentary session in Kampala. The Bill contains harsh provisions which, if introduced, would severely limit the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Syria: Arrest and incommunicado detention of human rights defender and lawyer Mr Abdulla Al Khalilposted on: 2012/02/08

On 3 February 2012 human rights defender and lawyer Mr Abdulla Al Khalil was arrested in Al Riqqa and is currently being held in incommunicado detention.

Russian Federation: Brutal attack on human rights defender Mr Philipp Kostenkoposted on: 2012/02/07

On 3 February 2012, human rights defender Mr Philipp Kostenko was attacked and badly beaten by two unidentified individuals in Saint Petersburg.

India: Human rights defender and trade union leader Mr Murali Mohan beaten to death by policeposted on: 2012/02/07

On 27 January 2012, human rights defender and trade union leader Mr Murali Mohan was beaten to death by police officers outside the Regency Ceramics Limited factory in Yanam, Andhra Pradesh State.

Mexico: Knife attack against human rights defender Ms Norma Andradeposted on: 2012/02/06

On 3 February 2012, human rights defender Ms Norma Andrade was attacked by an unknown assailant in the south of Mexico City.

India: Attack against human rights defenders opposing a nuclear plant project at Koodankulamposted on: 2012/02/02

On 31 January 2012, six representatives of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) and 15 of their supporters were attacked and had stones thrown at them in the Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu State.

Cambodia: Human rights defender Mr San Samneang summoned and interrogated in relation to fabricated chargesposted on: 2012/02/02

On 30 January 2012, human rights defender Mr San Samneang appeared before Battambang Court on charges of Intentional Damage and Intentional Violence.

Gao Zhisheng - Currently missing in Chinaposted on: 2012/02/01

Human rights defender and self-taught lawyer Gao Zhisheng was named one of China's top ten lawyers by the Ministry of Justice in 2001. However, after beginning to investigate and draw attention to allegations of abuse against members of China’s religious minorities, he became subject to harassment, detentions and forced disappearances himself.

Colombia: David Rabelo Crespo arrestedposted on: 2012/02/01

On 14 September 2010 human rights defender David Rabelo Crespo was arrested in Barrancabermeja, Colombia and is facing politically motivated charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and aggravated murder.

Honduras: Protect Defenders of Gay Rights in Hondurasposted on: 2012/02/01

Across the country, human rights defenders from various organisations working on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) rights have been targeted by threats, surveillance, kidnappings, intimidation and killings. Despite these threats the defenders of the LGBTI community continue to work for progress in this extremely dangerous environment. LGBTI defenders in Honduras are doubly discriminated against. They are discriminated firstly because they are human rights defenders and secondly because they defend LGBTI rights.

Belarus: Administrative conviction of human rights defender Mr Aleg Volchakposted on: 2012/01/31

On 30 January 2012, human rights defender Mr Aleg Volchak was sentenced to 4 days imprisonment for petty hooliganism. Aleg Volchak is head of human rights organisation Pravovaya pomoshch naseleniyu (Legal assistance to the population) closed down by the Belarusian authorities in 2003 but since registered in Ukraine.

El Salvador: Attack against anti-mining activist and human rights defender Father Santos Neftalí Ruíz Martínezposted on: 2012/01/31

Front Line Defenders expresses concern regarding the attack against Father Santos Neftalí Ruíz Martínez on 20 January 2012. Father Neftalí is the Secretary of the Board of the Comité Ambiental de Cabañas – CAC.

Uzbekistan: Ongoing detention of human rights defender Mr Akzam Turgunov declared 'arbitrary' by UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentionposted on: 2012/01/31

In an opinion recently made available, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) confirms that the ongoing detention of human rights defender Mr Akzam Turgunov is arbitrary, and calls for his immediate release.

Uzbekistan: Ongoing intimidation, judicial harassment and threats against human rights defender Ms Tatiana Dovlatova and her familyposted on: 2012/01/30

Human rights defender Ms Tatiana Dovlatova and her family face intimidation, harassment, threats and continuous surveillance by law enforcement authorities following a television broadcast in which she spoke out against the human rights situation in the country.

Russian Federation: Campaign of harassment against children's rights defender Mrs Vera Drobinskayaposted on: 2012/01/27

On 16 January 2012, a group of individuals visited the home of children's rights defender Mrs Vera Drobinskaya and attempted to take her seven foster children from her. Vera Drobinskaya has been subjected to a campaign of harassment after denouncing violations of the rights of children living in a home for mentally disabled children in the village of Raznochinovka, in the region of Astrakhan.

Honduras: Death threats and intimidation of human rights defender Ms Gilda Carolina Silvestrucchiposted on: 2012/01/27

Over the course of January 2012 human rights defender and independent journalist and editor of daily programme "En La Plaza" Ms Gilda Carolina Silvestrucchi has been subjected to surveillance and death threats.

Malawi: Arrest of human rights defender Mr Ben Chiza Mkandawireposted on: 2012/01/26

On 24 January 2012, human rights defender and student activist Mr Ben Chiza Mkandawire was arrested in Lilongwe. He was questioned by police before being released on police bail the same day.

Venezuela: Assassination attempt against human rights defender Mr Víctor Martínezposted on: 2012/01/25

On 23 January 2012, human rights defender Mr Víctor Martínez was the victim of an assassination attempt at his home in the west of Barquisimeto, Lara.