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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

Colombia: Attack on Women's Link Worldwide's Bogotá office and human rights defender Ms Mónica Roaposted on: 2012/05/15

On 7 May 2012, the office of women's rights organisation Women's Link Worldwide in Bogotá was shot at, in an apparent attempt at targeting human rights defender Ms Mónica Roa.

Burundi: Human rights journalist Mr Bob Rugurika receives a series of threats and seeks protection from President Nkurunzizaposted on: 2012/05/15

On 7 May 2012, prominent Burundian human rights journalist, Mr Bob Rugurika, sent a formal letter to President Nkurunziza, appealing for protection in the face of a number of serious threats reportedly received from police and officials from SNR.

Bahrain: Arrest, detention and trial of human rights defender Mr Nabeel Rajabposted on: 2012/05/11

On the evening of 5 May 2012, prominent human rights defender Mr Nabeel Rajab was arrested on his arrival at Manama airport from a trip to Sweden, Denmark and Lebanon.

Angola: Harassment of human rights defender and journalist Mr Coque Mukutaposted on: 2012/05/11

On 1 May 2012, unidentified individuals broke into the home of journalist Mr Coque Mukuta for the third time in recent months, which represents the most recent act of harassment against the journalist, who has been the subject of several threats and intimidation.

Pakistan: Former member of National Assembly issues fatwa against women human rights defendersposted on: 2012/05/10

On 4 May 2012, former member of the Pakistan National Assembly, Mr Maulvi Abdul Haleem, associated with the United Council of Action from Kohistan district, issued a threat and a fatwa against women human rights defenders operating in Kohistan district.

Uzbekistan: Human rights defenders Mr Uktam Pardayev and Mr Mamir Azimov denied exit visasposted on: 2012/05/10

On 18 March 2012, Mr Uktam Pardayev was refused an exit visa from Uzbekistan. On 29 March 2012, Mr Mamir Azimov was temporarily refused an exit visa; to date no new information has been received on his application.

Sudan: Arbitrary arrest and detention of journalist Mr Faisal Mohamed Salih; ongoing harassment and intimidation of lawyer Ms Nagla Mohamedposted on: 2012/05/09

Sudanese journalist Mr Faisal Mohamed Salih was arrested and detained on 8 May 2012 and Sudanese lawyer Ms Nagla Mohamed has been suffering from ongoing harassment and intimidation since 21 April 2012.

Colombia: Forced disappearance of human rights defender Mr Hernán Henry Díazposted on: 2012/05/09

The last information on farmer leader and trade union activist Mr Hernán Henry Díaz's whereabouts was from 18 April 2012 and to date no new information has come to light.

India: Human Rights Defender Mr P.V. Rajagopal and his organisation branded as supporting Maoist rebelsposted on: 2012/05/04

On 21 April 2012, Indian authorities ordered the deportation of ten French citizens who were accused of illegally working with the organisation Ekta Parishad (Unity Forum) and falsely accused Gandhian activist Mr P.V. Rajagopal of supporting Maoist rebels.

China: Fear for safety of Mr Chen Guangcheng and his family;fellow HRD Ms He Peirong remains missing and Ms Zeng Jinyan under house arrestposted on: 2012/05/03

On 2 May 2012, Mr Chen Guangcheng left the US Embassy in Beijing where he had taken refuge for six days following his escape on 22 April 2012 from nineteen months of strict and unlawful house arrest in his home province of Shandong.

Mexico: Killing of journalist and human rights defender Ms Regina Martínez Pérezposted on: 2012/05/03

On 28 April 2012 journalist and human rights defender Ms Regina Martínez Pérez was found dead in her home in the city of Xalapa, in Veracruz.

Colombia: Renewed threats against human rights defender Mr Abelardo Sánchez Serrano posted on: 2012/05/02

On 30 April 2012 two unidentified persons were witnessed taking photographs of the home of Mr Vladimir Amaya Garcés, a security guard assigned to HRD Mr Abelardo Sánchez Serrano.

Cambodia: Killing of human rights defender and environmentalist Mr Chut Wuttyposted on: 2012/04/30

On 26 April 2012, Mr Chut Wutty was shot dead in Koh Kong province. Chut Wutty is the founder and director of Natural Resource Protection Group.

China: Human rights lawyer Mr Chen Guangcheng escapes house arrest; brother and fellow human rights defender, Ms He Peirong, reportedly detainedposted on: 2012/04/27

On 27 April 2012, it emerged that Chinese human rights defender and 'barefoot' lawyer Mr Chen Guangcheng had escaped the brutal house arrest which he and his family had been subjected to since his release from prison in September 2010.

Indonesia: Human rights defender Ms Luviana Ariyanti dismissed for trying to initiate a union posted on: 2012/04/27

On 29 March 2012, human rights defender and journalist Ms Luviana Ariyanti was dismissed after ten years of service as Producer's Assistant at Metro TV after promoting human rights at her workplace.

Kazakhstan: HRD Ms Roza Tuletaeva provides testimony she was tortured while in detention, concerns over fair trial continueposted on: 2012/04/26

Ms Roza Tuletaeva has testified during a court trial on 16 April 2012 that she was tortured while in detention, after being arrested at her home on 3 January 2012.

Azerbaijan: Severe beating of Mr Idrak Abbasov and attack on other independent journalists reporting on forced evictionsposted on: 2012/04/26

On 18 April 2012, Mr Idrak Abbasov was violently beaten by security guards of the state oil company SOCAR while filming the demolition of a house in the Sulu Tepe settlement on the outskirts of Baku.

Algeria: Arrest and trial of human rights defender Mr Kherba Abdelkaderposted on: 2012/04/26

On 26 April 2012, the trial of Mr Kherba Abdelkader will begin in Sidi Mohamed. He was arrested by the judiciary police on 18 April 2012 while attending a protest in front of the Sidi Mohamed tribunal building.

Kazakhstan: Armed attack on human rights defender Mr Lukpan Ahmedyarovposted on: 2012/04/24

On 19 April 2012, Mr Lukpan Ahmedyarov was attacked, receiving two gunshots to the heart and eight stab wounds. He was hospitalised, underwent a three-hour surgery and is currently in a rehabilitation unit.

Yemen: Human Rights Defender Mr Ali Al Dailami stopped at Sanaa airport and his passport confiscatedposted on: 2012/04/23

On 16 April 2012, Yemeni Human Rights Defender Mr Ali Al Dailami was stopped, threatened and harassed for four hours by national security officers at Sanaa airport on his arrival from Cairo where he had attended a human rights conference.

Russia: Attack on ecological rights defender Mr Alexey Dmitrievposted on: 2012/04/20

On 16 April 2012, at approximately 9.00am, ecological and human rights defender Mr Alexey Dmitriev was attacked and badly beaten on the stairwell of his apartment building in the suburbs of Moscow.

Saudi Arabia: Sentencing of human rights defender Mr Muhammad Saleh Al Bejadiposted on: 2012/04/20

On 10 April the Saudi Ministry of Interior's Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) sentenced Mr Muhammad Saleh Al Bejadi to four years in prison and a five year travel ban, after a grossly unfair trial.

Swaziland: Government declares Trade Union Congress of Swaziland illegal and disrupts peaceful demonstrations posted on: 2012/04/20

In early April 2012, the Swazi Government de-registered the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland and declared it illegal. TUCOSWA is a recently created umbrella organisation of pro-reform trade unions in Swaziland.

Brazil: Killing of land rights defender Mr Raimundo Alves Borgesposted on: 2012/04/19

On 14 April 2012, Mr Raimundo “Cabeça” Alves Borges was murdered after being ambushed close to his home in Terra Bela settlement, in the city of Buriticupu, in Maranhao state.

Russia: Risk of criminal prosecution of human rights defender Mr Maxim Efimovposted on: 2012/04/18

On 13 April 2012, Mr Maxim Efimov was summoned for an interrogation in relation to a criminal case opened against him and was presented with an accusation of being the author of a publication of 'extremist character'.

Russia: Risk of criminal prosecution of human rights defender Mr Maxim Efimovposted on: 2012/04/18

On 13 April 2012, Mr Maxim Efimov was summoned for an interrogation in relation to a criminal case opened against him and was presented with an accusation of being the author of a publication of 'extremist character'.

Mexico: Death threats against human rights defender Ms Alba Cruz in Oaxacaposted on: 2012/04/18

On 13 and 14 April 2012 human rights defender and lawyer Ms Alba Cruz was subjected to death threats received to her mobile telephone.

Iran: Sentencing of human rights defender Ms Mansoureh Behkishposted on: 2012/04/17

On 4 April 2012, Ms Behkish was sentenced to four and a half years on charges of “assembly and conspiring with the intent to harm national security by establishing the Mourning Mothers group” and “propaganda against the system”.

Honduras: Death threat and ongoing intimidation against human rights defender Ms Dina Meetabel Meza Elvirposted on: 2012/04/17

On 14 April 2012, journalist Ms Dina Meetabel Meza Elvir received the latest in a series of threatening messages,who has also been subjected to surveillance and intimidation for a couple of months.