https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/ Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:11:16 +0000 fr-FR hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cropped-OB-eye-orange-32x32.png https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/ 32 32 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/algerie-fermeture-et-mise-sous-scelles-des-bureaux-de-sos-disparus/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:10:40 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=24573 entraves répétées à leurs activités. L’association a notamment été ciblée par des interdictions d’événements, la surveillance et l’encerclement de ses locaux par les forces de sécurité, ainsi que par des mesures visant ses membres. En juillet 2025, Mme Nassera Dutour, présidente du CFDA, s’est vue refuser arbitrairement l’entrée sur le territoire algérien, la Cour administrative d’appel d’Alger ayant rejeté en janvier 2026 son recours contre cette interdiction d’entrée sur le territoire national. Ces éléments illustrent un schéma de harcèlement visant l’organisation dans un contexte plus large de restriction de l’espace civique, en particulier à l’égard des acteur·rices travaillant sur les disparitions forcées et l’héritage de la décennie noire. L’Observatoire exprime sa vive inquiétude face à la fermeture des bureaux de SOS Disparus, qui semble viser à réduire au silence l’un des derniers espaces de mémoire et de mobilisation des familles de disparu·es, et à entraver les activités légitimes de défense des droits humains menées par l’association. L’Observatoire rappelle que l’Algérie, en tant qu’État partie au Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP), qui garantit la liberté d’expression (article 19) et la liberté d’association (article 22), doit veiller à ce qu’aucune restriction ou entrave ne soit apportée à l’exercice de ces droits. Actions requises : L’Observatoire vous prie de bien vouloir écrire aux autorités algériennes en leur demandant de : Garantir en toutes circonstances l’intégrité physique et le bien-être psychologique des membres de SOS Disparus et du CFDA, ainsi que de l’ensemble des défenseur·es des droits humains en Algérie ; Lever immédiatement la mesure de fermeture et de mise sous scellés des bureaux de SOS Disparus, et permettre à l’association de reprendre ses activités ; Cesser tout harcèlement et toute intimidation à l’encontre d de l’ensemble des membres de SOS Disparus et du CFDA ainsi que tou⋅tes les défenseur⋅es des droits humains en Algérie et garantir en toutes circonstances qu’ils et elles puissent mener leurs activités légitimes en faveur des droits humains sans entraves ni crainte de représailles ; Garantir le respect effectif de la liberté d’association, de la liberté d’expression et du droit de défendre les droits humains, conformément aux obligations internationales de l’Algérie. Adresses : • M. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Président de l’Algérie, E-mail : president@el-mouradia.dz, X : @TebbouneAmadjid • M. Nadir Larbaoui, Premier Ministre de l’Algérie, E-mail : primeminister@pm.gov.dz • M. Abderrachid Tabi, Ministre de la Justice de l’Algérie, E-mail : contact@mjustice.dz • M. Rachid Bladehane Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire, Représentation Permanente de la République d’Algérie aux Nations unies à Genève, Suisse, E-mail : contact@mission-algeria.ch • M. Mohamed El Amine Bencherif, Ambassadeur de la République d’Algérie à Bruxelles, E-mail : info@algerian-embassy.be Prière d’écrire également aux représentations diplomatiques d’Algérie dans vos pays respectifs. *** Genève-Paris, le 18 mars 2026 Merci de bien vouloir informer l’Observatoire de toutes actions entreprises en indiquant le code de cet appel. L’Observatoire partenariat de la FIDH et de l’OMCT, a vocation à protéger les défenseur·es des droits humains victimes de violations et à leur apporter une aide aussi concrète que possible. La FIDH et l’OMCT sont membres de ProtectDefenders.eu, le mécanisme de l’Union européenne pour les défenseur·es des droits humains mis en œuvre par la société civile internationale. Pour contacter l’Observatoire, appeler La Ligne d’Urgence : · E-mail : alert@observatoryfordefenders.org · Tel FIDH : +33 1 43 55 25 18 · Tel OMCT : + 41 22 809 49 39]]> entraves répétées à leurs activités. L’association a notamment été ciblée par des interdictions d’événements, la surveillance et l’encerclement de ses locaux par les forces de sécurité, ainsi que par des mesures visant ses membres. En juillet 2025, Mme Nassera Dutour, présidente du CFDA, s’est vue refuser arbitrairement l’entrée sur le territoire algérien, la Cour administrative d’appel d’Alger ayant rejeté en janvier 2026 son recours contre cette interdiction d’entrée sur le territoire national. Ces éléments illustrent un schéma de harcèlement visant l’organisation dans un contexte plus large de restriction de l’espace civique, en particulier à l’égard des acteur·rices travaillant sur les disparitions forcées et l’héritage de la décennie noire. L’Observatoire exprime sa vive inquiétude face à la fermeture des bureaux de SOS Disparus, qui semble viser à réduire au silence l’un des derniers espaces de mémoire et de mobilisation des familles de disparu·es, et à entraver les activités légitimes de défense des droits humains menées par l’association. L’Observatoire rappelle que l’Algérie, en tant qu’État partie au Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP), qui garantit la liberté d’expression (article 19) et la liberté d’association (article 22), doit veiller à ce qu’aucune restriction ou entrave ne soit apportée à l’exercice de ces droits. Actions requises : L’Observatoire vous prie de bien vouloir écrire aux autorités algériennes en leur demandant de : Garantir en toutes circonstances l’intégrité physique et le bien-être psychologique des membres de SOS Disparus et du CFDA, ainsi que de l’ensemble des défenseur·es des droits humains en Algérie ; Lever immédiatement la mesure de fermeture et de mise sous scellés des bureaux de SOS Disparus, et permettre à l’association de reprendre ses activités ; Cesser tout harcèlement et toute intimidation à l’encontre d de l’ensemble des membres de SOS Disparus et du CFDA ainsi que tou⋅tes les défenseur⋅es des droits humains en Algérie et garantir en toutes circonstances qu’ils et elles puissent mener leurs activités légitimes en faveur des droits humains sans entraves ni crainte de représailles ; Garantir le respect effectif de la liberté d’association, de la liberté d’expression et du droit de défendre les droits humains, conformément aux obligations internationales de l’Algérie. Adresses : • M. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Président de l’Algérie, E-mail : president@el-mouradia.dz, X : @TebbouneAmadjid • M. Nadir Larbaoui, Premier Ministre de l’Algérie, E-mail : primeminister@pm.gov.dz • M. Abderrachid Tabi, Ministre de la Justice de l’Algérie, E-mail : contact@mjustice.dz • M. Rachid Bladehane Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire, Représentation Permanente de la République d’Algérie aux Nations unies à Genève, Suisse, E-mail : contact@mission-algeria.ch • M. Mohamed El Amine Bencherif, Ambassadeur de la République d’Algérie à Bruxelles, E-mail : info@algerian-embassy.be Prière d’écrire également aux représentations diplomatiques d’Algérie dans vos pays respectifs. *** Genève-Paris, le 18 mars 2026 Merci de bien vouloir informer l’Observatoire de toutes actions entreprises en indiquant le code de cet appel. L’Observatoire partenariat de la FIDH et de l’OMCT, a vocation à protéger les défenseur·es des droits humains victimes de violations et à leur apporter une aide aussi concrète que possible. La FIDH et l’OMCT sont membres de ProtectDefenders.eu, le mécanisme de l’Union européenne pour les défenseur·es des droits humains mis en œuvre par la société civile internationale. Pour contacter l’Observatoire, appeler La Ligne d’Urgence : · E-mail : alert@observatoryfordefenders.org · Tel FIDH : +33 1 43 55 25 18 · Tel OMCT : + 41 22 809 49 39]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/el-salvador-detencion-arbitraria-de-fidel-zavala-allanamiento-de-la-casa-de-ivania-cruz-y-de-la-oficina-de-unidehc/ Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:41:52 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23040 Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez , vocero de la Unidad por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios de El Salvador (UNIDEHC), el allanamiento de la vivienda de la Sra. Ivania Cruz, abogada y directora de la misma organización, y el allanamiento de la sede principal de UNIDEHC en San Salvador. UNIDEHC es una organización fundada en 2024, que brinda defensa penal en casos de detenciones arbitrarias cometidas durante el régimen de excepción, decretado por Nayib Bukele en marzo de 2022 y que sigue vigente. El 25 de febrero de 2025 a las 16:00 horas, la Policía, en presencia de miembros de la Fiscalía General de la República de El Salvador, allanó la sede de UNIDEHC y detuvo arbitrariamente a Fidel Zavala. Al momento de publicación de este Llamado Urgente, el Sr. Zavala se encuentra detenido arbitrariamente en las bartolinas de la delegación policial de Lourdes, Colón, Departamento de la Libertad. La fecha de su audiencia es aún desconocida, pero se prevee que se apliquen los plazos propios del regimen de excepción en vigencia, esto es, quince días después de la detención para que se obtenga una fecha. El allanamiento de la oficina de UNIDEHC duró hasta las 16:00 horas del 26 de febrero. Según los miembros de la organización los policías y fiscales dijeron que tenían una orden de allanamiento para las oficinas de UNIDEHC, emitida por un Juzgado de Paz de Santa Tecla, por el proceso de legalización de tierras de la Hacienda La Floresta. Sin embargo, en el allanamiento, las autoridades se llevaron documentos relativos a otros casos, por ejemplo, acusaciones contra funcionarios que habrían cometido delitos en el marco del régimen de excepción, y incluso documentos de otras oficinas y organizaciones que no eran UNIDEHC y que se ubican en el mismo edificio. En la misma tarde, sobre las 16:30 horas, la Fiscalía allanó arbitrariamente la vivienda de Ivania Cruz, quien se encontraba en España participando en acciones de incidencia sobre la situación de derechos humanos en El Salvador. Las autoridades ingresaron en su casa de manera violenta, quebrando la puerta principal. En la casa, estaba su madre, adulta mayor y diabética, quien no se opuso al allanamiento y solicitó la presencia de un abogado. Solo ante la llegada del abogado, la Fiscalía presentó el documento con la orden de allanamiento. De la vivienda llevaron únicamente una caja fuerte con documentos privados del hermano de Ivania Cruz. La detención del Sr. Zavala y los allanamientos de la sede de UNIDEHC y de la vivienda de Ivania Cruz ocurrieron en el contexto de un operativo conjunto de la Policía y de la Fiscalía, en el cual detuvieron a 21 líderes comunitarios de la Hacienda La Floresta, ubicada en el distrito de San Juan Opico, departamento de La Libertad, incluyendo a dos mujeres embarazadas, que se organizaban para frenar el desalojo de unas 250 familias que hace 12 años habitan ese lugar. La Fiscalía acusa a los detenidos de crímenes de agrupaciones ilícitas y de intentar comercializar terrenos que no eran de su propiedad. Previamente a la detención, el Sr. Zavala acababa de acompañar, en esa mañana, la presentación de una denuncia ante la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, en relación con la detención de dos líderes de esa comunidad. El Observatorio recuerda el 9 de febrero de 2022, el Sr. Zavala, quien en ese momento era empresario, fue detenido bajo acusaciones de estafa. Permaneció trece meses en detención preventiva en los centros penitenciarios de Mariona y Cutumay Camones. Un mes después de su arresto, en marzo de 2022, el régimen de Nayib Bukele decretó el régimen de excepción, el cual continúa vigente. El 9 de marzo de 2024, un tribunal lo declaró inocente, al determinar que no existían pruebas suficientes para sostener las acusaciones en su contra. Tras su liberación, el Sr. Zavala denunció públicamente los abusos cometidos durante el régimen de excepción, incluyendo las capturas masivas, los malos tratos, la tortura y los asesinatos dentro de las cárceles salvadoreñas. Describió la cárcel de Mariona como una caverna y relató haber estado hacinado en celdas con entre 100 y 120 personas. Además, afirmó haber presenciado la salida de un gran número de cadáveres en “bolsas negras” desde estos centros penitenciarios. El 17 de julio de 2024, la UNIDEHC, a través del Sr. Zavala abrió ante la Fiscalía un proceso en contra del viceministro de Seguridad Pública y director general de Centros Penales, Osiris Luna, y a los directores del Centro Penal "La Esperanza", conocido como "Mariona", y el Centro Industrial de Cumplimiento y Rehabilitación de Santa Ana, por tortura, corrupción, actos arbitrarios e incumplimiento de deberes. El Observatorio denuncia la detención arbitraria de Fidel Zavala y los actos de hostigamiento y allanamiento contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC, que constituyen represalias e intimidación por su labor de defensa de derechos humanos y de denuncia de malos tratos, tortura y detenciones arbitrarias. El Observatorio urge las autoridades salvadoreñas a liberar de manera inmediata e incondicional al Sr. Zavala y a poner fin a todo acto de hostigamiento contra él, así como contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC. El Observatorio también exige a las autoridades de El Salvador a frenar la persecución sistemática y el hostigamiento físico y judicial contra las personas defensoras, comunidades y organizaciones de derechos humanos que defienden derechos en el país.]]> Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez , vocero de la Unidad por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios de El Salvador (UNIDEHC), el allanamiento de la vivienda de la Sra. Ivania Cruz, abogada y directora de la misma organización, y el allanamiento de la sede principal de UNIDEHC en San Salvador. UNIDEHC es una organización fundada en 2024, que brinda defensa penal en casos de detenciones arbitrarias cometidas durante el régimen de excepción, decretado por Nayib Bukele en marzo de 2022 y que sigue vigente. El 25 de febrero de 2025 a las 16:00 horas, la Policía, en presencia de miembros de la Fiscalía General de la República de El Salvador, allanó la sede de UNIDEHC y detuvo arbitrariamente a Fidel Zavala. Al momento de publicación de este Llamado Urgente, el Sr. Zavala se encuentra detenido arbitrariamente en las bartolinas de la delegación policial de Lourdes, Colón, Departamento de la Libertad. La fecha de su audiencia es aún desconocida, pero se prevee que se apliquen los plazos propios del regimen de excepción en vigencia, esto es, quince días después de la detención para que se obtenga una fecha. El allanamiento de la oficina de UNIDEHC duró hasta las 16:00 horas del 26 de febrero. Según los miembros de la organización los policías y fiscales dijeron que tenían una orden de allanamiento para las oficinas de UNIDEHC, emitida por un Juzgado de Paz de Santa Tecla, por el proceso de legalización de tierras de la Hacienda La Floresta. Sin embargo, en el allanamiento, las autoridades se llevaron documentos relativos a otros casos, por ejemplo, acusaciones contra funcionarios que habrían cometido delitos en el marco del régimen de excepción, y incluso documentos de otras oficinas y organizaciones que no eran UNIDEHC y que se ubican en el mismo edificio. En la misma tarde, sobre las 16:30 horas, la Fiscalía allanó arbitrariamente la vivienda de Ivania Cruz, quien se encontraba en España participando en acciones de incidencia sobre la situación de derechos humanos en El Salvador. Las autoridades ingresaron en su casa de manera violenta, quebrando la puerta principal. En la casa, estaba su madre, adulta mayor y diabética, quien no se opuso al allanamiento y solicitó la presencia de un abogado. Solo ante la llegada del abogado, la Fiscalía presentó el documento con la orden de allanamiento. De la vivienda llevaron únicamente una caja fuerte con documentos privados del hermano de Ivania Cruz. La detención del Sr. Zavala y los allanamientos de la sede de UNIDEHC y de la vivienda de Ivania Cruz ocurrieron en el contexto de un operativo conjunto de la Policía y de la Fiscalía, en el cual detuvieron a 21 líderes comunitarios de la Hacienda La Floresta, ubicada en el distrito de San Juan Opico, departamento de La Libertad, incluyendo a dos mujeres embarazadas, que se organizaban para frenar el desalojo de unas 250 familias que hace 12 años habitan ese lugar. La Fiscalía acusa a los detenidos de crímenes de agrupaciones ilícitas y de intentar comercializar terrenos que no eran de su propiedad. Previamente a la detención, el Sr. Zavala acababa de acompañar, en esa mañana, la presentación de una denuncia ante la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, en relación con la detención de dos líderes de esa comunidad. El Observatorio recuerda el 9 de febrero de 2022, el Sr. Zavala, quien en ese momento era empresario, fue detenido bajo acusaciones de estafa. Permaneció trece meses en detención preventiva en los centros penitenciarios de Mariona y Cutumay Camones. Un mes después de su arresto, en marzo de 2022, el régimen de Nayib Bukele decretó el régimen de excepción, el cual continúa vigente. El 9 de marzo de 2024, un tribunal lo declaró inocente, al determinar que no existían pruebas suficientes para sostener las acusaciones en su contra. Tras su liberación, el Sr. Zavala denunció públicamente los abusos cometidos durante el régimen de excepción, incluyendo las capturas masivas, los malos tratos, la tortura y los asesinatos dentro de las cárceles salvadoreñas. Describió la cárcel de Mariona como una caverna y relató haber estado hacinado en celdas con entre 100 y 120 personas. Además, afirmó haber presenciado la salida de un gran número de cadáveres en “bolsas negras” desde estos centros penitenciarios. El 17 de julio de 2024, la UNIDEHC, a través del Sr. Zavala abrió ante la Fiscalía un proceso en contra del viceministro de Seguridad Pública y director general de Centros Penales, Osiris Luna, y a los directores del Centro Penal "La Esperanza", conocido como "Mariona", y el Centro Industrial de Cumplimiento y Rehabilitación de Santa Ana, por tortura, corrupción, actos arbitrarios e incumplimiento de deberes. El Observatorio denuncia la detención arbitraria de Fidel Zavala y los actos de hostigamiento y allanamiento contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC, que constituyen represalias e intimidación por su labor de defensa de derechos humanos y de denuncia de malos tratos, tortura y detenciones arbitrarias. El Observatorio urge las autoridades salvadoreñas a liberar de manera inmediata e incondicional al Sr. Zavala y a poner fin a todo acto de hostigamiento contra él, así como contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC. El Observatorio también exige a las autoridades de El Salvador a frenar la persecución sistemática y el hostigamiento físico y judicial contra las personas defensoras, comunidades y organizaciones de derechos humanos que defienden derechos en el país.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/russia-raids-on-office-of-the-crew-against-torture-and-homes-of-three-of-its-members/ Fri, 28 Apr 2023 19:25:07 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=20337 Olga Sadovskaya. CAT-Russia is a prominent and one of the oldest anti-torture human rights organisation in the country and a member of the OMCT SOS-Torture network. Among other things, CAT Russia helps victims of torture through efforts to further accountability, particularly in regions like Northern Caucasus. The organisation provides assistance to victims of torture and conducts independent investigation of torture cases. Since its creation, the organisation has received at least 3178 complaints, won 78 cases in European Court of Human Rights and contributed to verdicts to 159 perpetrators of torture. Ms Sadovskaya is a member of the OMCT Executive Council. She is a lawyer and joined CAT-Russia in 2002. As a lawyer, she is specialised in the submission of applications to the European Court of Human Rights for violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“prohibition of torture”). She received the Moscow Helsinki Group Award in the category "Protection of the rights of prisoners and other vulnerable groups" on April 27, 2023. On April 28, 2023, officers of the Centre for Combating Extremism (Centre-E) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs searched CAT-Russia’s office in the city of Nizhny Novgorod in connection with a criminal case opened against one of CAT-Russia’s beneficiaries in North Ossetia who reported torture at a police station. During the search, several USB flash drives were seized. Centre-E officers also searched the apartments of three staff of CAT-Russia in Nizhny Novgorod, including Olga Sadovskaya’s residence, where they seized her laptop, a mobile phone and 80 hunting cartridges belonging to her ex-husband. Previously, on April 14, 2023, CAT-Russia’s North Caucasus branch’s office in the city of Pyatigorsk was also searched in connection with the same case, the details of which remained unknown at the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal. On that day, the police seized an old laptop and an USB flash drive. CAT-Russia team’s position is that law enforcement officials are using the criminal case brought against their beneficiary to put pressure on the organisation, as it continues operating in the Russian Federation. The Observatory recalls that it is not the first time that CAT-Russia and its members face harassment and obstacles to their right to defend human rights. On June 10, 2022, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation designated CAT-Russia as a non-registered foreign agent organisation under the “Foreign Agent” Law. On June 11, 2022, the human rights organisation announced its liquidation due to the impossibility to continue carrying out its human rights work in a safe manner under the label of “foreign agent”. Yet, on June 15, 2022, the organisation announced the continuation of its work under a new name – from Committee Against Torture-Russia to Crew Against Torture-Russia. The organisation was likewise listed as a “foreign agent” in January 2015. After that, the organisation changed its name and it was again declared a ”foreign agent” in January 2016. The Observatory further recalls that the harassment against CAT-Russia and its members takes place in the context of an increased crackdown on the Russian civil society, including the systematic liquidation of human rights organisations and independent media outlets under the “Foreign Agent” Law. This is the case of the International Memorial and the Human Rights Center “Memorial (HRC Memorial), the Moscow Helsinki Group, as well as the independent human rights media project OVD-Info. The Observatory condemns the searches conducted in the offices of CAT-Russia and the apartments of three of its members and calls on the Russian authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against them and all human rights defenders and organisations in the country. The Observatory expresses its concern over the ongoing targeting of CAT-Russia as well as over the crackdown on all independent human rights organisations in Russia and urges the authorities to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, as enshrined in international human rights law, and particularly in Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.]]> Olga Sadovskaya. CAT-Russia is a prominent and one of the oldest anti-torture human rights organisation in the country and a member of the OMCT SOS-Torture network. Among other things, CAT Russia helps victims of torture through efforts to further accountability, particularly in regions like Northern Caucasus. The organisation provides assistance to victims of torture and conducts independent investigation of torture cases. Since its creation, the organisation has received at least 3178 complaints, won 78 cases in European Court of Human Rights and contributed to verdicts to 159 perpetrators of torture. Ms Sadovskaya is a member of the OMCT Executive Council. She is a lawyer and joined CAT-Russia in 2002. As a lawyer, she is specialised in the submission of applications to the European Court of Human Rights for violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“prohibition of torture”). She received the Moscow Helsinki Group Award in the category "Protection of the rights of prisoners and other vulnerable groups" on April 27, 2023. On April 28, 2023, officers of the Centre for Combating Extremism (Centre-E) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs searched CAT-Russia’s office in the city of Nizhny Novgorod in connection with a criminal case opened against one of CAT-Russia’s beneficiaries in North Ossetia who reported torture at a police station. During the search, several USB flash drives were seized. Centre-E officers also searched the apartments of three staff of CAT-Russia in Nizhny Novgorod, including Olga Sadovskaya’s residence, where they seized her laptop, a mobile phone and 80 hunting cartridges belonging to her ex-husband. Previously, on April 14, 2023, CAT-Russia’s North Caucasus branch’s office in the city of Pyatigorsk was also searched in connection with the same case, the details of which remained unknown at the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal. On that day, the police seized an old laptop and an USB flash drive. CAT-Russia team’s position is that law enforcement officials are using the criminal case brought against their beneficiary to put pressure on the organisation, as it continues operating in the Russian Federation. The Observatory recalls that it is not the first time that CAT-Russia and its members face harassment and obstacles to their right to defend human rights. On June 10, 2022, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation designated CAT-Russia as a non-registered foreign agent organisation under the “Foreign Agent” Law. On June 11, 2022, the human rights organisation announced its liquidation due to the impossibility to continue carrying out its human rights work in a safe manner under the label of “foreign agent”. Yet, on June 15, 2022, the organisation announced the continuation of its work under a new name – from Committee Against Torture-Russia to Crew Against Torture-Russia. The organisation was likewise listed as a “foreign agent” in January 2015. After that, the organisation changed its name and it was again declared a ”foreign agent” in January 2016. The Observatory further recalls that the harassment against CAT-Russia and its members takes place in the context of an increased crackdown on the Russian civil society, including the systematic liquidation of human rights organisations and independent media outlets under the “Foreign Agent” Law. This is the case of the International Memorial and the Human Rights Center “Memorial (HRC Memorial), the Moscow Helsinki Group, as well as the independent human rights media project OVD-Info. The Observatory condemns the searches conducted in the offices of CAT-Russia and the apartments of three of its members and calls on the Russian authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against them and all human rights defenders and organisations in the country. The Observatory expresses its concern over the ongoing targeting of CAT-Russia as well as over the crackdown on all independent human rights organisations in Russia and urges the authorities to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, as enshrined in international human rights law, and particularly in Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/india-independent-media-outlet-and-journalists-targeted/ Wed, 09 Nov 2022 21:15:01 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=19314 The Wire in New Delhi, and the residences of the media outlet’s founding editors Messrs Siddharth Vardarajan, M.K. Venu, and Sidharth Bhatia, deputy editor Ms Jahnavi Sen, and staff member Mr Mithun Kidambi in New Delhi and Mumbai, as well as about the seizure of their electronic devices. The Wire is an independent online media outlet established in 2015 and since then has published numerous pieces of investigative journalism. Several news stories published by The Wire have been critical of the policies and actions of the central and state governments in India. On the evening of October 31, 2022, a large contingent of Delhi Police Crime Branch officers conducted coordinated raids at The Wire’s office in New Delhi as well as at the residences of Messrs Vardarajan, Venu, and Ms Sen in New Delhi, and Mr Bhatia in Mumbai. The Wire’s lawyer was manhandled and denied access to The Wire’s office while the raids were being conducted. On November 1, 2022, at around 2:30 in the morning, raids were conducted at the residence of Mr Kidambi in Mumbai. The police did not present any search warrant in any of the raids. The police seized 16 electronic devices from the office, and phones, laptops and tablets from the above-mentioned individuals. All of them were asked by the police officers to provide them with the passwords of their personal and professional email accounts, and to remove the passcodes of all their devices. The police refused to provide The Wire staff members with the hash value of the seized phones, computers and tablets. The hash value is a numeric value of an electronic device that works as a digital “fingerprint” and is a critical tool to assess potential tampering after seizure of a device. These searches and seizures followed a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Delhi police on alleged charges of “cheating”, “forgery”, “defamation”, and “criminal conspiracy”. The basis of this FIR is a complaint filed on October 27, 2022, by Mr. Amit Malviya, head of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s National Information and Technology Department, against The Wire in relation to a series of articles published by the media outlet in early October 2022. The articles claimed that the multinational technology conglomerate Meta had granted Mr. Malviya the ability to remove any Instagram posts without any due process. On October 23, 2022, The Wire had retracted all the articles, as an internal review revealed that the researcher who wrote them had used falsified documents in the story. In another statement, The Wire publicly apologized to its readers and announced its decision to conduct an internal review of its recent coverage of Meta. On October 29, 2022, The Wire had also filed a complaint against the researcher with the Delhi Police. Yet, Mr. Malviya filed the complaint and the Delhi police pursued the raids and seizures. The Observatory condemns the harassment against The Wire, its editors, and staff members, which seems unnecessary and disproportionate, considering The Wire’s public retraction, announcement of subsequent internal review, and submission of a police complaint against its researcher. The Observatory believes this action is deliberately used as a pretext to intimidate and ultimately silence The Wire’s independent reporting and legitimate criticism, especially of the BJP. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the rampant deterioration of the right to freedom of expression, including media freedom, in India, which ranks 150th out of 180 countries surveyed in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s 2022 World Press Index. Several journalists and online critics, including Mohammad Zubair and Siddique Kappan, have been subjected to arbitrary detention and judicial harassment on trumped-up charges in retaliation to their online and offline criticism of the ruling party. Many journalists, including Siddharth Varadarajan and M.K. Venu, have been subjected to online surveillance, including through the use of the spyware Pegasus, as reported by The Wire and international media in July 2021. The Observatory urges the Indian authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against The Wire, its editors, and staff members, and all independent journalists in India, and to ensure the right to freedom of expression is protected, respected and promoted in the country, in line with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a state party.]]> The Wire in New Delhi, and the residences of the media outlet’s founding editors Messrs Siddharth Vardarajan, M.K. Venu, and Sidharth Bhatia, deputy editor Ms Jahnavi Sen, and staff member Mr Mithun Kidambi in New Delhi and Mumbai, as well as about the seizure of their electronic devices. The Wire is an independent online media outlet established in 2015 and since then has published numerous pieces of investigative journalism. Several news stories published by The Wire have been critical of the policies and actions of the central and state governments in India. On the evening of October 31, 2022, a large contingent of Delhi Police Crime Branch officers conducted coordinated raids at The Wire’s office in New Delhi as well as at the residences of Messrs Vardarajan, Venu, and Ms Sen in New Delhi, and Mr Bhatia in Mumbai. The Wire’s lawyer was manhandled and denied access to The Wire’s office while the raids were being conducted. On November 1, 2022, at around 2:30 in the morning, raids were conducted at the residence of Mr Kidambi in Mumbai. The police did not present any search warrant in any of the raids. The police seized 16 electronic devices from the office, and phones, laptops and tablets from the above-mentioned individuals. All of them were asked by the police officers to provide them with the passwords of their personal and professional email accounts, and to remove the passcodes of all their devices. The police refused to provide The Wire staff members with the hash value of the seized phones, computers and tablets. The hash value is a numeric value of an electronic device that works as a digital “fingerprint” and is a critical tool to assess potential tampering after seizure of a device. These searches and seizures followed a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Delhi police on alleged charges of “cheating”, “forgery”, “defamation”, and “criminal conspiracy”. The basis of this FIR is a complaint filed on October 27, 2022, by Mr. Amit Malviya, head of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s National Information and Technology Department, against The Wire in relation to a series of articles published by the media outlet in early October 2022. The articles claimed that the multinational technology conglomerate Meta had granted Mr. Malviya the ability to remove any Instagram posts without any due process. On October 23, 2022, The Wire had retracted all the articles, as an internal review revealed that the researcher who wrote them had used falsified documents in the story. In another statement, The Wire publicly apologized to its readers and announced its decision to conduct an internal review of its recent coverage of Meta. On October 29, 2022, The Wire had also filed a complaint against the researcher with the Delhi Police. Yet, Mr. Malviya filed the complaint and the Delhi police pursued the raids and seizures. The Observatory condemns the harassment against The Wire, its editors, and staff members, which seems unnecessary and disproportionate, considering The Wire’s public retraction, announcement of subsequent internal review, and submission of a police complaint against its researcher. The Observatory believes this action is deliberately used as a pretext to intimidate and ultimately silence The Wire’s independent reporting and legitimate criticism, especially of the BJP. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the rampant deterioration of the right to freedom of expression, including media freedom, in India, which ranks 150th out of 180 countries surveyed in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s 2022 World Press Index. Several journalists and online critics, including Mohammad Zubair and Siddique Kappan, have been subjected to arbitrary detention and judicial harassment on trumped-up charges in retaliation to their online and offline criticism of the ruling party. Many journalists, including Siddharth Varadarajan and M.K. Venu, have been subjected to online surveillance, including through the use of the spyware Pegasus, as reported by The Wire and international media in July 2021. The Observatory urges the Indian authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against The Wire, its editors, and staff members, and all independent journalists in India, and to ensure the right to freedom of expression is protected, respected and promoted in the country, in line with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a state party.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/israel-opt-stand-against-raids-and-closures-of-seven-palestinian-organisations/ Mon, 22 Aug 2022 20:06:11 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=18684 Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Al-Haq Law in the Service of Man (Al-Haq), Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P), Health Work Committees (HWC), the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC). FIDH condemns Israel’s assault on prominent Palestinian human rights organisations: read here. On the morning of 18 August 2022, the Israeli occupying forces (IOF) raided and sealed the doorways into the offices of the seven Palestinian organisations. The IOF also confiscated documents and equipment and destroyed items in the offices. On the doors of the organisations, military orders were left behind ordering the closure of the offices under Article 319 of the Emergency Regulations of 1945. This development follows the 19 October 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz designation of six leading Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist organisations under Israel’s Anti-Terrorism Law (2016), which was then extended to the West Bank on 3 November 2021 by a military order that outlawed the same organisations. We urge the international community to unequivocally condemn Israel’s targeting of Palestinian civil society and tactics to further repress of freedom of expression. States must take all necessary action to support and protect Palestinian human rights defenders and ensure the continuation of their invaluable work. These raids and closures represent the latest escalation in Israel’s widespread campaign aiming to silence and discredit any Palestinian individual or organisation that dares to seek accountability for Israel’s grave human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The “persecution of organisations and persons, by depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms, because they oppose apartheid” is a method used by Israel, amounting to acts of apartheid prosecutable under the Rome Statute, to maintain its domination and oppression over the Palestinian people. The organisations remain at an additional risk of closure of bank accounts, travel bans and movement restrictions, and the arrest and detention of staff members for their work. Israel’s attacks against these organisations pose an existential threat to independent Palestinian human rights organisations and civil society who work to monitor and document violations of human rights and provide basic services to the Palestinian people.  We call upon the international community to demand that Israel immediately revoke its designations of Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations as “terrorist organisations”, reverse the military orders designating the organisations and closing their offices and repeal its Anti-Terrorism Law (2016) as it does not meet basic human rights standards.  Moreover, we call on the international community to take effective measures to end all other actions that deny Palestinians their inalienable human rights.  Lastly, we call on the members of the international community to continue their support and increase funding to the organisations and engage with financial institutions to ensure the transfer of funds to the organisations.]]> Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Al-Haq Law in the Service of Man (Al-Haq), Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P), Health Work Committees (HWC), the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC). FIDH condemns Israel’s assault on prominent Palestinian human rights organisations: read here. On the morning of 18 August 2022, the Israeli occupying forces (IOF) raided and sealed the doorways into the offices of the seven Palestinian organisations. The IOF also confiscated documents and equipment and destroyed items in the offices. On the doors of the organisations, military orders were left behind ordering the closure of the offices under Article 319 of the Emergency Regulations of 1945. This development follows the 19 October 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz designation of six leading Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist organisations under Israel’s Anti-Terrorism Law (2016), which was then extended to the West Bank on 3 November 2021 by a military order that outlawed the same organisations. We urge the international community to unequivocally condemn Israel’s targeting of Palestinian civil society and tactics to further repress of freedom of expression. States must take all necessary action to support and protect Palestinian human rights defenders and ensure the continuation of their invaluable work. These raids and closures represent the latest escalation in Israel’s widespread campaign aiming to silence and discredit any Palestinian individual or organisation that dares to seek accountability for Israel’s grave human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The “persecution of organisations and persons, by depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms, because they oppose apartheid” is a method used by Israel, amounting to acts of apartheid prosecutable under the Rome Statute, to maintain its domination and oppression over the Palestinian people. The organisations remain at an additional risk of closure of bank accounts, travel bans and movement restrictions, and the arrest and detention of staff members for their work. Israel’s attacks against these organisations pose an existential threat to independent Palestinian human rights organisations and civil society who work to monitor and document violations of human rights and provide basic services to the Palestinian people.  We call upon the international community to demand that Israel immediately revoke its designations of Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations as “terrorist organisations”, reverse the military orders designating the organisations and closing their offices and repeal its Anti-Terrorism Law (2016) as it does not meet basic human rights standards.  Moreover, we call on the international community to take effective measures to end all other actions that deny Palestinians their inalienable human rights.  Lastly, we call on the members of the international community to continue their support and increase funding to the organisations and engage with financial institutions to ensure the transfer of funds to the organisations.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/russia-administrative-harassment-against-chairperson-of-the-civic-assistance-committee-ms-svetlana-gannushkina/ Fri, 18 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/alert/russia-administrative-harassment-against-chairperson-of-the-civic-assistance-committee-ms-svetlana-gannushkina/ Svetlana Gannushkina, founder and Chairperson of the Civic Assistance Committee[efn_note]The Civic Assistance Committee was founded in 1990 to support refugees and internal displaced people after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Civic Assistance Committee provides advisory assistance and legal support to migrants and refugees, and works for the protection of migrants’ rights to housing, work, medical care and education. In April 2015, the Ministry of Justice of Russia placed the organisation on the list of “foreign agents”.[/efn_note]. The administrative harassment against her takes place amid the brutal crackdown on peaceful anti-war demonstrators, human rights defenders, and civil society organisations, that followed Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, which started on February 24, 2022. On March 15, 2022, Ms. Svetlana Gannushkina was fined 10,000 Rubles (approximately 87 Euros) by the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow, after she was found guilty of “violating the established procedure for arranging or conducting a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picket” (Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). The Observatory recalls that Svetlana Gannushkina was arbitrarily arrested by law enforcement officers on March 6, 2022 for allegedly attending an anti-war protest on February 27, 2022. On the same day, prominent human rights defender Mr. Oleg Orlov, member of the Council of the Human Rights Center “Memorial” (HRC “Memorial”) and head of its “Hot Points” programme, was arbitrarily arrested at Manezhnaya Square for holding a sign in which it was written “Peace for Ukraine, Freedom to Russia”. They were both charged with “violating the established procedure for arranging or conducting a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picket”. Mr. Orlov and Ms. Gannushkina were released pending trial after more than 10 hours of arbitrary detention. Mr. Orlov was due to appear before the court on March 9, 2022 but the hearing was postponed until March 28, 2022. The Observatory underlines that as of March 18, 2022, over 14,800 peaceful anti-war protesters have been arbitrarily arrested in 147 cities across Russia, according to OVD-Info, an independent human rights media project which has been targeted by the authorities in reprisal for its work documenting violations of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, the right to be free from arbitrary arrest and other human rights in Russia. Furthermore, according to independent media reports, some of the detainees have been beaten and there are also reports of torture by the police. Additionally, on March 4, 2022, a bill criminalising the dissemination of “fake news” about Russian military operations was approved “to prevent the discrediting of the armed forces of the Russian Federation during their operations to protect the interests of the country and its citizens”. Individuals convicted on the charge of “fake news” will face up to three years of imprisonment, up to ten years if committed in an official capacity, and up to 15 years if the distribution of “fake news” leads to “serious consequences”. Moreover, “making calls against the use of Russian troops to protect the interests of Russia”, “discrediting such use” and “calling for sanctions against Russia” will be penalised with a prison sentence of up to three years. In this framework, independent journalists and media outlets reporting on the war have been heavily targeted by the Russian authorities, both in Russia and in Ukraine. On February 26, 2022, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s media regulator, published a statement ordering media to remove reports describing the attack on Ukraine as an “attack”, “invasion” or a “war”. Should media outlets fail to comply with this order, they will face fines of up to 5 million rubles (approximately 53,200 Euros) and blockages. Roskomnadzor accused several independent media outlets of “spreading unreliable socially significant untrue information” about civilian deaths and the attacks of Russia against Ukrainian cities. The media regulator further underlined that reliable information could be found in “official Russian information outlets”, that is, State-controlled media. Around 30 independent media sites have been blocked since the publication of the statement, including Dozhd, Echo of Moscow, Meduza, Media Zona, New Times, among others. As of March 2, 2022, at least 11 independent journalists had been arbitrarily arrested for their work reporting on the war, including while they were covering anti-war demonstrations. The Observatory strongly condemns the increased crackdown on human rights defenders, independent media and civil society organisations in Russia and expresses its utmost concern over the blatant violations of the rights to freedom of expression, information and assembly perpetrated by the Russian authorities, including the censorship imposed on independent media operating in the country by the Russian media regulator. The Observatory further condemns the administrative harassment of human rights defenders and independent journalists, including Oleg Orlov and Svetlana Gannushkina. The Observatory urges the authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial and administrative levels, against Oleg Orlov, Svetlana Gannushkina and all human rights defenders, peaceful protesters, and independent journalists and media outlets in the country. The Observatory further urges the authorities to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, as enshrined in international human right law, and particularly in Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Finally, the Observatory calls on the authorities to immediately repeal the above-mentioned new law and to reverse all restrictive measures implemented by Roskomnadzor.]]> Svetlana Gannushkina, founder and Chairperson of the Civic Assistance Committee[efn_note]The Civic Assistance Committee was founded in 1990 to support refugees and internal displaced people after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Civic Assistance Committee provides advisory assistance and legal support to migrants and refugees, and works for the protection of migrants’ rights to housing, work, medical care and education. In April 2015, the Ministry of Justice of Russia placed the organisation on the list of “foreign agents”.[/efn_note]. The administrative harassment against her takes place amid the brutal crackdown on peaceful anti-war demonstrators, human rights defenders, and civil society organisations, that followed Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, which started on February 24, 2022. On March 15, 2022, Ms. Svetlana Gannushkina was fined 10,000 Rubles (approximately 87 Euros) by the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow, after she was found guilty of “violating the established procedure for arranging or conducting a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picket” (Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). The Observatory recalls that Svetlana Gannushkina was arbitrarily arrested by law enforcement officers on March 6, 2022 for allegedly attending an anti-war protest on February 27, 2022. On the same day, prominent human rights defender Mr. Oleg Orlov, member of the Council of the Human Rights Center “Memorial” (HRC “Memorial”) and head of its “Hot Points” programme, was arbitrarily arrested at Manezhnaya Square for holding a sign in which it was written “Peace for Ukraine, Freedom to Russia”. They were both charged with “violating the established procedure for arranging or conducting a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picket”. Mr. Orlov and Ms. Gannushkina were released pending trial after more than 10 hours of arbitrary detention. Mr. Orlov was due to appear before the court on March 9, 2022 but the hearing was postponed until March 28, 2022. The Observatory underlines that as of March 18, 2022, over 14,800 peaceful anti-war protesters have been arbitrarily arrested in 147 cities across Russia, according to OVD-Info, an independent human rights media project which has been targeted by the authorities in reprisal for its work documenting violations of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, the right to be free from arbitrary arrest and other human rights in Russia. Furthermore, according to independent media reports, some of the detainees have been beaten and there are also reports of torture by the police. Additionally, on March 4, 2022, a bill criminalising the dissemination of “fake news” about Russian military operations was approved “to prevent the discrediting of the armed forces of the Russian Federation during their operations to protect the interests of the country and its citizens”. Individuals convicted on the charge of “fake news” will face up to three years of imprisonment, up to ten years if committed in an official capacity, and up to 15 years if the distribution of “fake news” leads to “serious consequences”. Moreover, “making calls against the use of Russian troops to protect the interests of Russia”, “discrediting such use” and “calling for sanctions against Russia” will be penalised with a prison sentence of up to three years. In this framework, independent journalists and media outlets reporting on the war have been heavily targeted by the Russian authorities, both in Russia and in Ukraine. On February 26, 2022, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s media regulator, published a statement ordering media to remove reports describing the attack on Ukraine as an “attack”, “invasion” or a “war”. Should media outlets fail to comply with this order, they will face fines of up to 5 million rubles (approximately 53,200 Euros) and blockages. Roskomnadzor accused several independent media outlets of “spreading unreliable socially significant untrue information” about civilian deaths and the attacks of Russia against Ukrainian cities. The media regulator further underlined that reliable information could be found in “official Russian information outlets”, that is, State-controlled media. Around 30 independent media sites have been blocked since the publication of the statement, including Dozhd, Echo of Moscow, Meduza, Media Zona, New Times, among others. As of March 2, 2022, at least 11 independent journalists had been arbitrarily arrested for their work reporting on the war, including while they were covering anti-war demonstrations. The Observatory strongly condemns the increased crackdown on human rights defenders, independent media and civil society organisations in Russia and expresses its utmost concern over the blatant violations of the rights to freedom of expression, information and assembly perpetrated by the Russian authorities, including the censorship imposed on independent media operating in the country by the Russian media regulator. The Observatory further condemns the administrative harassment of human rights defenders and independent journalists, including Oleg Orlov and Svetlana Gannushkina. The Observatory urges the authorities to put an immediate end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial and administrative levels, against Oleg Orlov, Svetlana Gannushkina and all human rights defenders, peaceful protesters, and independent journalists and media outlets in the country. The Observatory further urges the authorities to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, as enshrined in international human right law, and particularly in Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Finally, the Observatory calls on the authorities to immediately repeal the above-mentioned new law and to reverse all restrictive measures implemented by Roskomnadzor.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/turkey-illegal-police-raid-of-ihd-diyarbakir-branch/ Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/alert/turkey-illegal-police-raid-of-ihd-diyarbakir-branch/ Paris-Geneva-Ankara, February 8, 2022 – The Diyarbakır branch of the Human Rights Association (İnsan Hakları Derneği – İHD) was raided by the police on February 3, 2022, on yet another act of harassment against the organisation, which has been constantly targeted by the country’s authorities in recent years. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (Türkiye İnsan Hakları Vakfı – HRFT/TİHV), and Front Line Defenders condemn this new attack and urge the authorities to immediately put an end to any act of harassment against IHD, its members as well as against all human rights defenders in Turkey. In the morning of February 3, 2022, İHD Diyarbakır branch was raided by the police and the office of the organisation was searched. Simultaneously police raided the home of İHD Diyarbakır Executive Board member and Secretary, Mr. Ferhat Berkpınar and detained him due to alleged membership to a terrorist organisation. This is related to an investigation launched by the Adıyaman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on February 2, 2022, pursuant to a warrant issued by the Diyarbakır 4 Peace Criminal Judgeship ordering Mr. Berkpınar's detention and the search of his house and workplace. The raid of İHD Diyarbakır branch’s premises took place despite the fact, verifiable through employment records, that this is not Mr. Berkpınar's workplace, as he works with İHD as a volunteer. Moreover, the police did not follow the procedure applicable to searching associations and the offices were searched as any other workplace. The search took place without the branch chairperson or executives being informed, and with several violations of procedural safeguards. The police entered the offices by breaking down the door and confiscated documents and hard discs. The police also searched a desk that does not belong to Mr. Berkpınar, thus unlawfully exceeding the scope of the warrant. The objections raised by the branch chair and executives regarding the raid and search were not recorded and no information was provided on the basis that the file is restricted. However, photographs and information concerning the investigation were leaked to pro-government press, who targeted İHD with criminalising language. The İHD Diyarbakır branch announced on February 4, 2022 that they have filed complaints with the Council of Judges and Prosecutors against the judge who issued the unlawful search warrant and with the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s office against the law enforcement officers which conducted the illegal raid and search. The above-mentioned signatory organisations underline that this latest attack against İHD Diyarbakır branch is part of the relentless repression by the authorities in Turkey against İHD and its members that has been ongoing for years because of their peaceful human rights activities and exercise of freedom of expression and association. İHD co-chairperson, Mr. Öztürk Türkdoğan is currently facing multiple criminal proceedings related to his legitimate activities as a human rights defender, while Ms. Eren Keskin, human rights lawyer and İHD co-president, has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison in the Özgür Gündem trial and remains under investigation in multiple cases. In addition, İHD has been directly targeted by the government which has attacked, stigmatised and threatened the organisation on numerous occasions for their work in defence of human rights and peace. The signatory organisations strongly condemn the ongoing attacks against İHD for their defence of human rights and call on the authorities in Turkey to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Berkpınar and to put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against him, as well as against İHD and all the members of the organisation. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. Human Rights Foundation of Turkey is an internationally recognized civil society organization that has been offering treatment and rehabilitation services for those subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment along with their families, and has been working to prevent human rights violations most notably torture since 1990. Front Line Defenders is an international organisation/charity based in Ireland that works exclusively for the protection of human rights defenders at risk. Human rights defenders are people who are persecuted because of their peaceful work for the rights of others. Front Line Defenders provides practical help through protection grants, physical and digital protection training, lobbying, advocacy and campaigning. ]]> Paris-Geneva-Ankara, February 8, 2022 – The Diyarbakır branch of the Human Rights Association (İnsan Hakları Derneği – İHD) was raided by the police on February 3, 2022, on yet another act of harassment against the organisation, which has been constantly targeted by the country’s authorities in recent years. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (Türkiye İnsan Hakları Vakfı – HRFT/TİHV), and Front Line Defenders condemn this new attack and urge the authorities to immediately put an end to any act of harassment against IHD, its members as well as against all human rights defenders in Turkey. In the morning of February 3, 2022, İHD Diyarbakır branch was raided by the police and the office of the organisation was searched. Simultaneously police raided the home of İHD Diyarbakır Executive Board member and Secretary, Mr. Ferhat Berkpınar and detained him due to alleged membership to a terrorist organisation. This is related to an investigation launched by the Adıyaman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on February 2, 2022, pursuant to a warrant issued by the Diyarbakır 4 Peace Criminal Judgeship ordering Mr. Berkpınar's detention and the search of his house and workplace. The raid of İHD Diyarbakır branch’s premises took place despite the fact, verifiable through employment records, that this is not Mr. Berkpınar's workplace, as he works with İHD as a volunteer. Moreover, the police did not follow the procedure applicable to searching associations and the offices were searched as any other workplace. The search took place without the branch chairperson or executives being informed, and with several violations of procedural safeguards. The police entered the offices by breaking down the door and confiscated documents and hard discs. The police also searched a desk that does not belong to Mr. Berkpınar, thus unlawfully exceeding the scope of the warrant. The objections raised by the branch chair and executives regarding the raid and search were not recorded and no information was provided on the basis that the file is restricted. However, photographs and information concerning the investigation were leaked to pro-government press, who targeted İHD with criminalising language. The İHD Diyarbakır branch announced on February 4, 2022 that they have filed complaints with the Council of Judges and Prosecutors against the judge who issued the unlawful search warrant and with the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s office against the law enforcement officers which conducted the illegal raid and search. The above-mentioned signatory organisations underline that this latest attack against İHD Diyarbakır branch is part of the relentless repression by the authorities in Turkey against İHD and its members that has been ongoing for years because of their peaceful human rights activities and exercise of freedom of expression and association. İHD co-chairperson, Mr. Öztürk Türkdoğan is currently facing multiple criminal proceedings related to his legitimate activities as a human rights defender, while Ms. Eren Keskin, human rights lawyer and İHD co-president, has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison in the Özgür Gündem trial and remains under investigation in multiple cases. In addition, İHD has been directly targeted by the government which has attacked, stigmatised and threatened the organisation on numerous occasions for their work in defence of human rights and peace. The signatory organisations strongly condemn the ongoing attacks against İHD for their defence of human rights and call on the authorities in Turkey to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Berkpınar and to put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against him, as well as against İHD and all the members of the organisation. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. Human Rights Foundation of Turkey is an internationally recognized civil society organization that has been offering treatment and rehabilitation services for those subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment along with their families, and has been working to prevent human rights violations most notably torture since 1990. Front Line Defenders is an international organisation/charity based in Ireland that works exclusively for the protection of human rights defenders at risk. Human rights defenders are people who are persecuted because of their peaceful work for the rights of others. Front Line Defenders provides practical help through protection grants, physical and digital protection training, lobbying, advocacy and campaigning. ]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/india-judicial-harassment-against-the-centre-for-promotion-of-social-concerns/ Fri, 14 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/alert/india-judicial-harassment-against-the-centre-for-promotion-of-social-concerns/ India. Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed about a search conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the offices of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (CPSC)[efn_note]The Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (CPSC), is a charitable trust established over 35 years ago. The CPSC’s program unit, People’s Watch, is a national human rights organisation based in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. People’s Watch undertakes programs on human rights monitoring, education, campaigns and rehabilitation in the state of Tamil Nadu.[/efn_note] in the city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu State, and the judicial harassment against CPSC. On January 8, 2022, at around 10:30am, a team of eight officers from the CBI entered CPSC’s premises pursuant to a search warrant related to a First Information Report (FIR) filed on January 6, 2022. The CBI officers inspected CPSC’s accounts and other financial documents for the period ranging from 2008 to 2014. During the search, which lasted until 8:30pm, several documents were seized. CPSC was only informed about the FIR during the search. The FIR, which was filed under Sections 120B (“Criminal conspiracy”) and 420 (“Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property”) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 33, 35, 29, read in conjunction with Sections 7, 8, 9 of the Foreign Contributions (Regulations) Act (FCRA), is based on a complaint filed in 2014 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, alleging violations of foreign contribution regulations by CPSC and its program unit, People’s Watch, by receiving and utilising foreign funding between 2008 and 2014.[efn_note]The complaint alleged that after the suspension of its FCRA registration in 2012, CPSC withdrew 2,8 million Indian Rupees (nearly 40,000 Euros) in July 2012 and another 16.9 million Rupees (around 240,000 Euros) from 2008 to 2012, which were not accounted for. The complaint also alleged that CPSC had withdrawn about 4.5 million Rupees (over 60,000 Euros) of foreign contributions from 2011 to 2013 on 240 occasions and transferred about one million Rupees (around 14,000 Euros) of foreign contributions to other associations, of which they had declared only 878,000 Rupees (over 10,000 Euros). People’s Watch was also accused of functioning as a separate legal entity from CPSC, which allegedly directly dealt with foreign contributions and issued most of invoices or receipts in its name. The complaint also alleged that the CPSC used foreign contributions for a purpose other than “for which it was received”.[/efn_note] The Observatory recalls that between 2012 and 2014, CPSC had its FCRA registration suspended on three occasions, for a total period of 18 months, until the Delhi High Court ruled in CPSC’s favor in March 2014 following a writ petition by CPSC, which had challenged the suspension of its FCRA registration. CPSC’s application for FCRA renewal was however rejected by the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 29, 2016 “on the basis of field reports”. When CPSC challenged the application’s rejection before the Delhi High Court in October 2016, in its written response, the Ministry of Home Affairs mentioned People’s Watch Executive Director Henri Tiphagne's engagement with embassies and United Nations Special Rapporteurs as the reason for denying the renewal of CPSC’s registration under the FCRA. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, the case is still pending. The next hearing has been scheduled for January 24, 2002. In November 2016, the 7th Asian Human Rights Defenders Forum (AHRDF)[efn_note]The Forum is a biennial meeting where women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) from Asia and beyond gather to look into patterns and trends of violations, but also review and brainstorm on more effective protection policies and mechanisms.[/efn_note] also filed a petition regarding the non-renewal of CPSC’s registration under the FCRA with the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC). The NHRC, which initially issued a strong notice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, closed the case on January 25, 2021, on the grounds that the matter relating to the constitutionality of the FCRA was being considered before the Supreme Court and High Court of Delhi. Neither CPSC nor AHRDF were informed of NHRC’s decision to close the case. The Observatory expresses its deepest concern over the ongoing judicial harassment of CPSC and People’s Watch, which hinders the organisation’s freedom of association and access to funding, and seems to be merely aimed at intimidating the organisation’s staff and punishing the organisation for its human rights activities. The Observatory is all the more concerned that the search took place in the framework of a wider repression of civil society in India, including through restrictions on funding through the use of the FCRA, which has increasingly been used to obstruct civil society’s ability to carry out their legitimate work. Such restrictions are inconsistent with international norms and standards. Since 2016, civil society organisations operating in India, including Indian Social Action Forum, Lawyers Collective, Sabrang Trust, Anhad, Oxfam India, Greenpeace, and Amnesty International India, had their registrations either not renewed, revoked or suspended and their accounts frozen. Recent amendments to the FCRA in September 2020 have added intrusive and undue governmental oversight, additional regulations and certification processes, and operational requirements, which have adversely affected civil society groups’ access to foreign funding and their ability to carry out human rights work. The Observatory urges the Indian authorities to immediately put an end to all acts of harassment against CPSC and People’s Watch, drop all complaints against them and unconditionally renew CPSC’s FCRA registration, in order to allow this prominent organisation to resume its legitimate human rights work. The Observatory further urges the Indian authorities to ensure that all human rights defenders and organisations are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals in all circumstances. The Observatory calls upon the NHRC of India to investigate the denial to renew the registration of the CPSC under the FCRA and to take all appropriate and necessary actions to protect human rights defenders and organisations in India, including their right to access funding in order to carry out their work. Actions requested: Please write to the authorities in India, urging them to: i. Immediately and unconditionally put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against CPSC and all civil society organisations and human rights defenders in India; ii. Take all necessary measures to protect the right to freedom of association of CPSC and unconditionally renew its FCRA registration; iii. Review the FCRA and amend the law and related implementing policies to ensure that they comply with international law and human rights standards. Addresses:

• Mr. Narendra Damodardas Modi, Prime Minister of India, E-mail: pmosb@pmo.nic.in, Twitter: @narendramodi
• Mr. Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs of India, Email: dirfcra-mha@gov.in
• Mr. Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs of India, Email: hshso@nic.in
• Mr. N.V. Ramana, Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court of India, Email: supremecourt@nic.in
• Mr. M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Email : cmcell@tn.gov.in, cs@tn.gov.in, cmsec@tn.gov.in, tncmsec1@gmail.com, Twitter : @MKStalin @CMOTamilnadu
• Mr. Shri Bimbadhar Pradhan, IAS, Secretary General Chief Executive Officer of the National Human Rights Commission of India, Email: sgnhrc@nic.in, Twitter: @India_NHRC
• Mr. Debindra Kundra, Focal Point on Human Rights Defenders, National Human Rights Commission of India, Email: hrd-nhrc@nic.in
• H.E. Mr. Rajiv Kumar Chander, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Email: mission.india@ties.itu.int

Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of India located in your country. *** Geneva-Paris, January 14, 2022 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH. The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. OMCT and FIDH are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line: • E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org • Tel OMCT: + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 • Tel FIDH: + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18]]> India. Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed about a search conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the offices of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (CPSC)[efn_note]The Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (CPSC), is a charitable trust established over 35 years ago. The CPSC’s program unit, People’s Watch, is a national human rights organisation based in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. People’s Watch undertakes programs on human rights monitoring, education, campaigns and rehabilitation in the state of Tamil Nadu.[/efn_note] in the city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu State, and the judicial harassment against CPSC. On January 8, 2022, at around 10:30am, a team of eight officers from the CBI entered CPSC’s premises pursuant to a search warrant related to a First Information Report (FIR) filed on January 6, 2022. The CBI officers inspected CPSC’s accounts and other financial documents for the period ranging from 2008 to 2014. During the search, which lasted until 8:30pm, several documents were seized. CPSC was only informed about the FIR during the search. The FIR, which was filed under Sections 120B (“Criminal conspiracy”) and 420 (“Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property”) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 33, 35, 29, read in conjunction with Sections 7, 8, 9 of the Foreign Contributions (Regulations) Act (FCRA), is based on a complaint filed in 2014 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, alleging violations of foreign contribution regulations by CPSC and its program unit, People’s Watch, by receiving and utilising foreign funding between 2008 and 2014.[efn_note]The complaint alleged that after the suspension of its FCRA registration in 2012, CPSC withdrew 2,8 million Indian Rupees (nearly 40,000 Euros) in July 2012 and another 16.9 million Rupees (around 240,000 Euros) from 2008 to 2012, which were not accounted for. The complaint also alleged that CPSC had withdrawn about 4.5 million Rupees (over 60,000 Euros) of foreign contributions from 2011 to 2013 on 240 occasions and transferred about one million Rupees (around 14,000 Euros) of foreign contributions to other associations, of which they had declared only 878,000 Rupees (over 10,000 Euros). People’s Watch was also accused of functioning as a separate legal entity from CPSC, which allegedly directly dealt with foreign contributions and issued most of invoices or receipts in its name. The complaint also alleged that the CPSC used foreign contributions for a purpose other than “for which it was received”.[/efn_note] The Observatory recalls that between 2012 and 2014, CPSC had its FCRA registration suspended on three occasions, for a total period of 18 months, until the Delhi High Court ruled in CPSC’s favor in March 2014 following a writ petition by CPSC, which had challenged the suspension of its FCRA registration. CPSC’s application for FCRA renewal was however rejected by the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 29, 2016 “on the basis of field reports”. When CPSC challenged the application’s rejection before the Delhi High Court in October 2016, in its written response, the Ministry of Home Affairs mentioned People’s Watch Executive Director Henri Tiphagne's engagement with embassies and United Nations Special Rapporteurs as the reason for denying the renewal of CPSC’s registration under the FCRA. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, the case is still pending. The next hearing has been scheduled for January 24, 2002. In November 2016, the 7th Asian Human Rights Defenders Forum (AHRDF)[efn_note]The Forum is a biennial meeting where women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) from Asia and beyond gather to look into patterns and trends of violations, but also review and brainstorm on more effective protection policies and mechanisms.[/efn_note] also filed a petition regarding the non-renewal of CPSC’s registration under the FCRA with the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC). The NHRC, which initially issued a strong notice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, closed the case on January 25, 2021, on the grounds that the matter relating to the constitutionality of the FCRA was being considered before the Supreme Court and High Court of Delhi. Neither CPSC nor AHRDF were informed of NHRC’s decision to close the case. The Observatory expresses its deepest concern over the ongoing judicial harassment of CPSC and People’s Watch, which hinders the organisation’s freedom of association and access to funding, and seems to be merely aimed at intimidating the organisation’s staff and punishing the organisation for its human rights activities. The Observatory is all the more concerned that the search took place in the framework of a wider repression of civil society in India, including through restrictions on funding through the use of the FCRA, which has increasingly been used to obstruct civil society’s ability to carry out their legitimate work. Such restrictions are inconsistent with international norms and standards. Since 2016, civil society organisations operating in India, including Indian Social Action Forum, Lawyers Collective, Sabrang Trust, Anhad, Oxfam India, Greenpeace, and Amnesty International India, had their registrations either not renewed, revoked or suspended and their accounts frozen. Recent amendments to the FCRA in September 2020 have added intrusive and undue governmental oversight, additional regulations and certification processes, and operational requirements, which have adversely affected civil society groups’ access to foreign funding and their ability to carry out human rights work. The Observatory urges the Indian authorities to immediately put an end to all acts of harassment against CPSC and People’s Watch, drop all complaints against them and unconditionally renew CPSC’s FCRA registration, in order to allow this prominent organisation to resume its legitimate human rights work. The Observatory further urges the Indian authorities to ensure that all human rights defenders and organisations are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals in all circumstances. The Observatory calls upon the NHRC of India to investigate the denial to renew the registration of the CPSC under the FCRA and to take all appropriate and necessary actions to protect human rights defenders and organisations in India, including their right to access funding in order to carry out their work. Actions requested: Please write to the authorities in India, urging them to: i. Immediately and unconditionally put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against CPSC and all civil society organisations and human rights defenders in India; ii. Take all necessary measures to protect the right to freedom of association of CPSC and unconditionally renew its FCRA registration; iii. Review the FCRA and amend the law and related implementing policies to ensure that they comply with international law and human rights standards. Addresses:

• Mr. Narendra Damodardas Modi, Prime Minister of India, E-mail: pmosb@pmo.nic.in, Twitter: @narendramodi
• Mr. Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs of India, Email: dirfcra-mha@gov.in
• Mr. Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs of India, Email: hshso@nic.in
• Mr. N.V. Ramana, Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court of India, Email: supremecourt@nic.in
• Mr. M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Email : cmcell@tn.gov.in, cs@tn.gov.in, cmsec@tn.gov.in, tncmsec1@gmail.com, Twitter : @MKStalin @CMOTamilnadu
• Mr. Shri Bimbadhar Pradhan, IAS, Secretary General Chief Executive Officer of the National Human Rights Commission of India, Email: sgnhrc@nic.in, Twitter: @India_NHRC
• Mr. Debindra Kundra, Focal Point on Human Rights Defenders, National Human Rights Commission of India, Email: hrd-nhrc@nic.in
• H.E. Mr. Rajiv Kumar Chander, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Email: mission.india@ties.itu.int

Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of India located in your country. *** Geneva-Paris, January 14, 2022 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH. The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. OMCT and FIDH are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line: • E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org • Tel OMCT: + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 • Tel FIDH: + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/dcl-gtm-041121/ Thu, 04 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=17752 Misión de Observancia y Verificación llevada a cabo por la Convergencia por los Derechos Humanos, las fuerzas de seguridad hicieron un uso injustificado y desproporcionado de la fuerza contra las personas manifestantes y la población, destacando el uso indiscriminado de gases lacrimógenos. Se documentaron, además, agresiones y restricciones a la libertad de información de periodistas que se encontraban en la zona. Cuatro comunicadores de Prensa Comunitaria fueron agredidos por las fuerzas especiales de la PNC para evitar que documentaran el desalojo. A dos de ellos les confiscaron su equipo de trabajo y a otros dos les allanaron sus viviendas en la comunidad. Hubo asimismo vigilancia y allanamientos a las casas de 12 personas defensoras de derechos humanos de El Estor por parte del Ejército, la PNC y miembros de la División Especializada en Investigación Criminal (DEIC) de la PNC, durante los cuales se cometieron abusos físicos y psicológicos contra niñas y niños. En un allanamiento el 27 de octubre, la PNC arrestó de manera arbitraria al defensor de derechos humanos Eduardo Bin Poou con una orden de captura emitida el 15 de agosto de 2017 por un caso de criminalización por el que goza de medidas sustitutivas a la detención. Fue puesto en libertad al día siguiente. Posteriormente al desalojo, se declaró el estado de sitio y un toque de queda de las 6 de la tarde a las 6 de la mañana en el municipio por un período de 30 días. El Gobierno de Guatemala, además, acusó a la Procuraduría de Derechos Humanos (PDH) de “malinformar” a la población, tras la publicación de un comunicado de la PDH denunciando el uso excesivo de la fuerza ejercido en el desalojo y exigiendo el respeto del derecho a una consulta previa. Las organizaciones firmantes destacan que el proyecto minero “Fénix”, operado por CGN, fue implantado en el territorio sin consulta previa, libre e informada a las comunidades afectadas, violando así sus derechos colectivos, tal y como estableció la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos en septiembre de 2020. Además, en julio de 2019, la Corte de Constitucionalidad suspendió la licencia de explotación a la minera CGN y ordenó llevar a cabo un proceso de consulta con las poblaciones indígenas afectadas en los 18 meses posteriores a la emisión de la sentencia. El Ministerio de Energía y Minas ha excluido a las comunidades indígenas del proceso de consulta y, mientras tanto, la empresa minera ha seguido operando ilegalmente, provocando afectaciones medioambientales al lago de Izabal. El incumplimiento de la legislación en materia de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas por parte de las autoridades de Guatemala ha cronificado el conflicto entre la empresa minera y las comunidades de El Estor, derivando en un buen número desalojos y acciones violentas, entre las que destacan el asesinato del líder comunitario Adolfo Ich Chamán en 2009, la violación sexual de mujeres Maya Q’eqchi’ del Lote 8en 2007, el asesinato de Carlos Maaz Coc en mayo de 2017 y en la detención arbitraria, criminalización y de personas defensoras de derechos humanos. Ante estos hechos, el Observatorio, UDEFEGUA, CALDH, el Grupo de Pueblos Indígenas y Tortura e IM-Defensoras urgen a las autoridades a revocar de manera inmediata el estado de sitio y a investigar de forma exhaustiva todos los casos de uso excesivo de la fuerza arriba mencionados. Las organizaciones firmantes exhortan al Estado de Guatemala a cumplir con sus obligaciones internacionales en materia de seguridad ciudadana y proceder a la retirada de las Fuerzas Armadas de las tareas de seguridad ciudadana, tal y como recomendó el Comité Contra la Tortura de las Naciones Unidas en 2018. El Observatorio, UDEFEGUA, CALDH, el Grupo de Pueblos Indígenas y Tortura e IM-Defensoras urgen al Estado de Guatemala a dar cumplimiento a la sentencia de la Corte de Constitucionalidad, y a poner fin a la criminalización y persecución de quienes defienden los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y el medio ambiente frente a las actividades de industrias extractivas que operan ilegalmente en el país. *** El Observatorio para la Protección de los Defensores de Derechos Humanos (el Observatorio) es un programa creado en 1997 por la Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT) y la FIDH y tiene por objetivo intervenir para prevenir o remediar situaciones concretas de represión contra los defensores y defensoras de los derechos humanos. OMCT y FIDH son ambos miembros de ProtectDefenders.eu, el Mecanismo de la Unión Europea para Defensores de Derechos Humanos implementado por sociedad civil internacional. La Unidad de Protección a Defensores y Defensoras de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala (UDEFEGUA) es una organizaciónque proporciona servicios a defensoras y defensores de derechos humanos enGuatemala y en países de la región Centroamericana desde el año 2000, para lageneración de capacidades individuales y colectivas la autogestión de riesgos.La UDEFEGUA es una organización miembro de la Red SOS-Tortura de la OMCT. El Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos (CALDH) es una organización de Derechos Humanos que ejerce la acción política autónoma valorando, construyendo e integrando los saberes, luchas y memorias de los pueblos y comunidades mayas, mujeres, juventudes y en alianza impulsa y acompaña procesos de rebeldías y resistencias por la emancipación de las opresiones racistas, clasistas y patriarcales, por la justicia histórica, la recuperación de la memoria, la resignificación de la historia y la defensa del cuerpo-tierra-territorio construyendo vidas libres de violencias. El Grupo de Trabajo Temático sobre Pueblos Indígenas y Tortura en América Latina establecido en mayo de 2020 y conformada por 10 personas expertas en tortura y/o derechos de los pueblos indígenas, procedentes de 7 países de América Latina y la Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT), es una iniciativa dirigida a visibilizar los actos de violencia y persecución que constituyen tortura y otros malos tratos y sus impactos y consecuencias específicas para la población indígena, así como a promover acciones colectivas comunes para la incidencia, protección y defensa de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas. La Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos (IM-Defensoras) es una alianza local y regional de diversas defensoras de derechos humanos, organizaciones y redes, cuya misión es impulsar estrategias de Protección Integral Feminista (PIF) que sustenten las luchas y el trabajo de las defensoras de derechos humanos mesoamericanas para defender los derechos humanos en condiciones de seguridad, bienestar, liderazgo y autonomía.]]> Misión de Observancia y Verificación llevada a cabo por la Convergencia por los Derechos Humanos, las fuerzas de seguridad hicieron un uso injustificado y desproporcionado de la fuerza contra las personas manifestantes y la población, destacando el uso indiscriminado de gases lacrimógenos. Se documentaron, además, agresiones y restricciones a la libertad de información de periodistas que se encontraban en la zona. Cuatro comunicadores de Prensa Comunitaria fueron agredidos por las fuerzas especiales de la PNC para evitar que documentaran el desalojo. A dos de ellos les confiscaron su equipo de trabajo y a otros dos les allanaron sus viviendas en la comunidad. Hubo asimismo vigilancia y allanamientos a las casas de 12 personas defensoras de derechos humanos de El Estor por parte del Ejército, la PNC y miembros de la División Especializada en Investigación Criminal (DEIC) de la PNC, durante los cuales se cometieron abusos físicos y psicológicos contra niñas y niños. En un allanamiento el 27 de octubre, la PNC arrestó de manera arbitraria al defensor de derechos humanos Eduardo Bin Poou con una orden de captura emitida el 15 de agosto de 2017 por un caso de criminalización por el que goza de medidas sustitutivas a la detención. Fue puesto en libertad al día siguiente. Posteriormente al desalojo, se declaró el estado de sitio y un toque de queda de las 6 de la tarde a las 6 de la mañana en el municipio por un período de 30 días. El Gobierno de Guatemala, además, acusó a la Procuraduría de Derechos Humanos (PDH) de “malinformar” a la población, tras la publicación de un comunicado de la PDH denunciando el uso excesivo de la fuerza ejercido en el desalojo y exigiendo el respeto del derecho a una consulta previa. Las organizaciones firmantes destacan que el proyecto minero “Fénix”, operado por CGN, fue implantado en el territorio sin consulta previa, libre e informada a las comunidades afectadas, violando así sus derechos colectivos, tal y como estableció la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos en septiembre de 2020. Además, en julio de 2019, la Corte de Constitucionalidad suspendió la licencia de explotación a la minera CGN y ordenó llevar a cabo un proceso de consulta con las poblaciones indígenas afectadas en los 18 meses posteriores a la emisión de la sentencia. El Ministerio de Energía y Minas ha excluido a las comunidades indígenas del proceso de consulta y, mientras tanto, la empresa minera ha seguido operando ilegalmente, provocando afectaciones medioambientales al lago de Izabal. El incumplimiento de la legislación en materia de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas por parte de las autoridades de Guatemala ha cronificado el conflicto entre la empresa minera y las comunidades de El Estor, derivando en un buen número desalojos y acciones violentas, entre las que destacan el asesinato del líder comunitario Adolfo Ich Chamán en 2009, la violación sexual de mujeres Maya Q’eqchi’ del Lote 8en 2007, el asesinato de Carlos Maaz Coc en mayo de 2017 y en la detención arbitraria, criminalización y de personas defensoras de derechos humanos. Ante estos hechos, el Observatorio, UDEFEGUA, CALDH, el Grupo de Pueblos Indígenas y Tortura e IM-Defensoras urgen a las autoridades a revocar de manera inmediata el estado de sitio y a investigar de forma exhaustiva todos los casos de uso excesivo de la fuerza arriba mencionados. Las organizaciones firmantes exhortan al Estado de Guatemala a cumplir con sus obligaciones internacionales en materia de seguridad ciudadana y proceder a la retirada de las Fuerzas Armadas de las tareas de seguridad ciudadana, tal y como recomendó el Comité Contra la Tortura de las Naciones Unidas en 2018. El Observatorio, UDEFEGUA, CALDH, el Grupo de Pueblos Indígenas y Tortura e IM-Defensoras urgen al Estado de Guatemala a dar cumplimiento a la sentencia de la Corte de Constitucionalidad, y a poner fin a la criminalización y persecución de quienes defienden los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y el medio ambiente frente a las actividades de industrias extractivas que operan ilegalmente en el país. *** El Observatorio para la Protección de los Defensores de Derechos Humanos (el Observatorio) es un programa creado en 1997 por la Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT) y la FIDH y tiene por objetivo intervenir para prevenir o remediar situaciones concretas de represión contra los defensores y defensoras de los derechos humanos. OMCT y FIDH son ambos miembros de ProtectDefenders.eu, el Mecanismo de la Unión Europea para Defensores de Derechos Humanos implementado por sociedad civil internacional. La Unidad de Protección a Defensores y Defensoras de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala (UDEFEGUA) es una organizaciónque proporciona servicios a defensoras y defensores de derechos humanos enGuatemala y en países de la región Centroamericana desde el año 2000, para lageneración de capacidades individuales y colectivas la autogestión de riesgos.La UDEFEGUA es una organización miembro de la Red SOS-Tortura de la OMCT. El Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos (CALDH) es una organización de Derechos Humanos que ejerce la acción política autónoma valorando, construyendo e integrando los saberes, luchas y memorias de los pueblos y comunidades mayas, mujeres, juventudes y en alianza impulsa y acompaña procesos de rebeldías y resistencias por la emancipación de las opresiones racistas, clasistas y patriarcales, por la justicia histórica, la recuperación de la memoria, la resignificación de la historia y la defensa del cuerpo-tierra-territorio construyendo vidas libres de violencias. El Grupo de Trabajo Temático sobre Pueblos Indígenas y Tortura en América Latina establecido en mayo de 2020 y conformada por 10 personas expertas en tortura y/o derechos de los pueblos indígenas, procedentes de 7 países de América Latina y la Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT), es una iniciativa dirigida a visibilizar los actos de violencia y persecución que constituyen tortura y otros malos tratos y sus impactos y consecuencias específicas para la población indígena, así como a promover acciones colectivas comunes para la incidencia, protección y defensa de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas. La Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos (IM-Defensoras) es una alianza local y regional de diversas defensoras de derechos humanos, organizaciones y redes, cuya misión es impulsar estrategias de Protección Integral Feminista (PIF) que sustenten las luchas y el trabajo de las defensoras de derechos humanos mesoamericanas para defender los derechos humanos en condiciones de seguridad, bienestar, liderazgo y autonomía.]]>