Human rights defenders
\nand Covid-19:<\/h1>\n<\/div>the impact of the pandemic on human rights defenders and their work<\/h2>\n<\/div>Over the past two years, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has documented and analysed how the measures taken to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic \u2013 including lockdowns, quarantines, prohibition of mass events and protests, or travel bans \u2013 have deeply impacted human rights work all around the world.<\/p>\n
From the very beginning of the spread of the Covid-19, United Nations (UN) experts urged States to avoid overreach of security measures in their response to the outbreak, and reminded them that emergency powers should not be used to quash dissent. Yet, among the numerous measures taken by State authorities, some have intentionally undermined the work and freedom of human rights defenders under the guise of protecting health and fighting false information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Human rights defenders
\nand Covid-19:<\/h1>\n<\/div>the impact of the pandemic on human rights defenders and their work<\/h2>\n<\/div>Over the past two years, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has documented and analysed how the measures taken to contain the spread of the pandemic \u2013 including lockdowns, quarantines, prohibition of mass events and protests, or travel bans \u2013 have deeply impacted human rights and freedoms all around the world.<\/p>\n
From the very beginning of the spread of the Covid-19, United Nations (UN) experts urged States to avoid overreach of security measures in their response to the outbreak, and reminded them that emergency powers should not be used to quash dissent. Yet, among the numerous measures taken by State authorities, some have intentionally undermined the work and freedom of human rights defenders under the guise of protecting health and fighting false information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Methodology<\/h2>\n<\/div>The present report is mostly <\/b>based on the alerts published by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and OMCT, since the beginning of the pandemic, in early 2020. The individual cases outlined throughout the report have been updated with follow-up information, to the extent possible.<\/p>\n
In this framework, several trends of repression have been observed over the past couple of years:<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n- Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/li>\n
- Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/li>\n
- Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/li>\n
- Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Download the full report (PDF)<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
- 1<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 2<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 3<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 4<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- All<\/div><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h4>\nAngola, Cambodia, Guatemala, Hungary, Morocco, Niger, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>![\"Map](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/1_COVID-World-Map@2x.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nCriminalisation of human rights defenders criticising the handling of the pandemic<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Niger, Peru, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>![\"Map](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/2_COVID-World-Map@2x.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nArbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison.<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Honduras, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>![\"Map](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3_COVID-World-Map@2x.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nThreats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h4>\nBrazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>![\"Map](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4_COVID-World-Map@2x.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nAll countries in report<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>![\"Map](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/All_COVID-World-Map@2x.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1. Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h2>\n<\/div>The restriction of access to public space justified by Covid-19 has led to abusive restrictions, namely<\/p>\n
\n- the introduction of increased surveillance measures <\/span><\/li>\n
- the adoption of legislation granting extensive powers to the authorities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- the sometimes abusive use of these laws to restrict civic space under the guise of the fight against the pandemic.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"Niger](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Niger-Flag.png\" "\\"Niger")
<\/span><\/div>For example, in Niger, the authorities severely repressed an assembly convened by the NGO Turning the Page Niger (Tournons La Page Niger – TLP) on 15 March 2020 to denounce the misappropriation of public funds for the purchase of arms for the fight against terrorism. Law enforcement officials alleged that the assembly had been banned within the framework of the fight against Covid-19, although Turning the Page was not notified of such a ban. Between March 15 and 17, at least 15 people were arrested and detained for \u201cparticipating in a prohibited demonstration\u201d.<\/p>\n
Some of the human rights defenders were arrested, including Moussa Moudi, Halidou Mounkaila<\/strong> and Ma\u00efkoul Zodi<\/strong>..<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about their case, you can read section 1 of the report.
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Maikoul](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Maikoul_A0Zodi@2x-1020x1024.png\" "\\"Ma\u00efkoul")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>2. Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/h2>\n<\/div>Under the pretext of limiting the dissemination of false information about the virus, some authorities have arrested and harassed in court independent journalists and human rights defenders critical of their handling of the crisis, even closing down some media outlets.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Iran\"](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/China@2x.png\" "\\"China")
<\/span><\/div>One emblematic case is that of Zhang Zhan<\/strong>, a former lawyer turned journalist, who was arrested in Wuhan on 15 May 2020 after commenting on Twitter about the authorities’ countermeasures to contain the virus. She was sentenced on December 28, 2020, in a two-hour trial, to four years’ detention by the Shanghai Pudong People’s Court, for “picking a quarrel and causing trouble” (Article 293 of China’s Criminal Law). Her detention conditions are disastrous and her health has deteriorated after she went on hunger strike. Under the pretext of health measures, her family is not allowed to visit her.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Zhang Zhan\u2019s case, you can read section 2 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Zhang](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Zhang-Zhan-v2@2x-1-1020x1024.png\" "\\"Zhang")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>3. Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/h2>\n<\/div>Despite repeated declarations by the United Nations, and waves of mass releases aimed at decongesting prisons to combat the spread of the virus, a large number of human rights defenders held in high-risk environments have not been released. While some have died in prison, states have used the health crisis as an excuse to postpone their trials or keep them in detention.<\/p>\n
There have been multiple reports of defenders affected by Covid-19 in detention across the world, sometimes leading to their death.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"India](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/India@2x.png\" "\\"India")
<\/span><\/div>In India, Stan Swamy<\/strong>, who was incarcerated for nine months in the Bhima Koregaon case, which refers to the violences during the bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle in January 1, 2018, died in custody after contracting Covid-19 due to the lack of effective and timely treatment in jail and the routine denial of bail.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Stan Swamy\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Stan](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Stan-Swamy@2x-1020x1024.png\" "\\"Stan")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Morocco](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Morocco@2x.png\" "\\"Morocco")
<\/span><\/div>Ma\u00e2ti Monjib<\/strong> is an example of the reinforcement of isolation for political prisoners in the context of Covid-19. On December 29, 2020, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib, historian, journalist, President of the \u201cFreedom Now\u201d association for freedom of expression in Morocco, founding member of the Moroccan Association for Investigative Journalism (Association marocaine pour le journalisme d\u2019investigation \u2013 AMJI), was arrested by plainclothes police officers without an arrest warrant. During his detention, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib has had access to his lawyers but was not able to see his family because of the quarantine imposed on all new arrivals in prison in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Ma\u00e2ti Monjib\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Ma\u00e2ti](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Maati-Monjib@2x-1020x1024.png\" "\\"Ma\u00e2ti")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>4. Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h2>\n<\/div>Confinement, curfews and the general context generated by Covid-19 have increased the vulnerability of human rights defenders already at risk. In countries such as Mexico and Venezuela, violence against defenders has increased significantly<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Venezuela](\"https:\/\/observatoryfordefenders-reports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Venezuela@2x.png\" "\\"Venezuela")
<\/span><\/div>In Venezuela, there was in 2020 a 157% increase in attacks on defenders and civil society organisations compared to the figures for 2019.<\/p>\n
Similarly in Mexico, data from the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists indicate that between March and June 2020, 141 attacks against human rights defenders and journalists were recorded. Overall, in 2020 a 67% increase in attacks against defenders was recorded.<\/p>\n
Four human rights defenders were killed as a reprisal for their human rights work in the few weeks following the beginning of the health crisis: Isaac Medardo Herrera Avil\u00e9s<\/strong> (on March 23, 2020), Benito Peralta Arias<\/strong> (on March 30, 2020), Juan Zamarron Torres<\/strong> (on April 1, 2020), Adan Vez Lira<\/strong> (on April 8, 2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>
the impact of the pandemic on human rights defenders and their work<\/h2>\n<\/div>Over the past two years, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has documented and analysed how the measures taken to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic \u2013 including lockdowns, quarantines, prohibition of mass events and protests, or travel bans \u2013 have deeply impacted human rights work all around the world.<\/p>\n
From the very beginning of the spread of the Covid-19, United Nations (UN) experts urged States to avoid overreach of security measures in their response to the outbreak, and reminded them that emergency powers should not be used to quash dissent. Yet, among the numerous measures taken by State authorities, some have intentionally undermined the work and freedom of human rights defenders under the guise of protecting health and fighting false information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Human rights defenders
\nand Covid-19:<\/h1>\n<\/div>the impact of the pandemic on human rights defenders and their work<\/h2>\n<\/div>Over the past two years, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has documented and analysed how the measures taken to contain the spread of the pandemic \u2013 including lockdowns, quarantines, prohibition of mass events and protests, or travel bans \u2013 have deeply impacted human rights and freedoms all around the world.<\/p>\n
From the very beginning of the spread of the Covid-19, United Nations (UN) experts urged States to avoid overreach of security measures in their response to the outbreak, and reminded them that emergency powers should not be used to quash dissent. Yet, among the numerous measures taken by State authorities, some have intentionally undermined the work and freedom of human rights defenders under the guise of protecting health and fighting false information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Methodology<\/h2>\n<\/div>The present report is mostly <\/b>based on the alerts published by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and OMCT, since the beginning of the pandemic, in early 2020. The individual cases outlined throughout the report have been updated with follow-up information, to the extent possible.<\/p>\n
In this framework, several trends of repression have been observed over the past couple of years:<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n- Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/li>\n
- Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/li>\n
- Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/li>\n
- Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Download the full report (PDF)<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
- 1<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 2<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 3<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 4<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- All<\/div><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h4>\nAngola, Cambodia, Guatemala, Hungary, Morocco, Niger, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nCriminalisation of human rights defenders criticising the handling of the pandemic<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Niger, Peru, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nArbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison.<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Honduras, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nThreats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h4>\nBrazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nAll countries in report<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1. Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h2>\n<\/div>The restriction of access to public space justified by Covid-19 has led to abusive restrictions, namely<\/p>\n
\n- the introduction of increased surveillance measures <\/span><\/li>\n
- the adoption of legislation granting extensive powers to the authorities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- the sometimes abusive use of these laws to restrict civic space under the guise of the fight against the pandemic.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>
For example, in Niger, the authorities severely repressed an assembly convened by the NGO Turning the Page Niger (Tournons La Page Niger – TLP) on 15 March 2020 to denounce the misappropriation of public funds for the purchase of arms for the fight against terrorism. Law enforcement officials alleged that the assembly had been banned within the framework of the fight against Covid-19, although Turning the Page was not notified of such a ban. Between March 15 and 17, at least 15 people were arrested and detained for \u201cparticipating in a prohibited demonstration\u201d.<\/p>\n
Some of the human rights defenders were arrested, including Moussa Moudi, Halidou Mounkaila<\/strong> and Ma\u00efkoul Zodi<\/strong>..<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about their case, you can read section 1 of the report.
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>2. Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/h2>\n<\/div>Under the pretext of limiting the dissemination of false information about the virus, some authorities have arrested and harassed in court independent journalists and human rights defenders critical of their handling of the crisis, even closing down some media outlets.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>One emblematic case is that of Zhang Zhan<\/strong>, a former lawyer turned journalist, who was arrested in Wuhan on 15 May 2020 after commenting on Twitter about the authorities’ countermeasures to contain the virus. She was sentenced on December 28, 2020, in a two-hour trial, to four years’ detention by the Shanghai Pudong People’s Court, for “picking a quarrel and causing trouble” (Article 293 of China’s Criminal Law). Her detention conditions are disastrous and her health has deteriorated after she went on hunger strike. Under the pretext of health measures, her family is not allowed to visit her.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Zhang Zhan\u2019s case, you can read section 2 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>3. Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/h2>\n<\/div>Despite repeated declarations by the United Nations, and waves of mass releases aimed at decongesting prisons to combat the spread of the virus, a large number of human rights defenders held in high-risk environments have not been released. While some have died in prison, states have used the health crisis as an excuse to postpone their trials or keep them in detention.<\/p>\n
There have been multiple reports of defenders affected by Covid-19 in detention across the world, sometimes leading to their death.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In India, Stan Swamy<\/strong>, who was incarcerated for nine months in the Bhima Koregaon case, which refers to the violences during the bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle in January 1, 2018, died in custody after contracting Covid-19 due to the lack of effective and timely treatment in jail and the routine denial of bail.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Stan Swamy\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>Ma\u00e2ti Monjib<\/strong> is an example of the reinforcement of isolation for political prisoners in the context of Covid-19. On December 29, 2020, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib, historian, journalist, President of the \u201cFreedom Now\u201d association for freedom of expression in Morocco, founding member of the Moroccan Association for Investigative Journalism (Association marocaine pour le journalisme d\u2019investigation \u2013 AMJI), was arrested by plainclothes police officers without an arrest warrant. During his detention, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib has had access to his lawyers but was not able to see his family because of the quarantine imposed on all new arrivals in prison in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Ma\u00e2ti Monjib\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>4. Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h2>\n<\/div>Confinement, curfews and the general context generated by Covid-19 have increased the vulnerability of human rights defenders already at risk. In countries such as Mexico and Venezuela, violence against defenders has increased significantly<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In Venezuela, there was in 2020 a 157% increase in attacks on defenders and civil society organisations compared to the figures for 2019.<\/p>\n
Similarly in Mexico, data from the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists indicate that between March and June 2020, 141 attacks against human rights defenders and journalists were recorded. Overall, in 2020 a 67% increase in attacks against defenders was recorded.<\/p>\n
Four human rights defenders were killed as a reprisal for their human rights work in the few weeks following the beginning of the health crisis: Isaac Medardo Herrera Avil\u00e9s<\/strong> (on March 23, 2020), Benito Peralta Arias<\/strong> (on March 30, 2020), Juan Zamarron Torres<\/strong> (on April 1, 2020), Adan Vez Lira<\/strong> (on April 8, 2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>
Over the past two years, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has documented and analysed how the measures taken to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic \u2013 including lockdowns, quarantines, prohibition of mass events and protests, or travel bans \u2013 have deeply impacted human rights work all around the world.<\/p>\n
From the very beginning of the spread of the Covid-19, United Nations (UN) experts urged States to avoid overreach of security measures in their response to the outbreak, and reminded them that emergency powers should not be used to quash dissent. Yet, among the numerous measures taken by State authorities, some have intentionally undermined the work and freedom of human rights defenders under the guise of protecting health and fighting false information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Human rights defenders
\nand Covid-19:<\/h1>\n<\/div>the impact of the pandemic on human rights defenders and their work<\/h2>\n<\/div>Over the past two years, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has documented and analysed how the measures taken to contain the spread of the pandemic \u2013 including lockdowns, quarantines, prohibition of mass events and protests, or travel bans \u2013 have deeply impacted human rights and freedoms all around the world.<\/p>\n
From the very beginning of the spread of the Covid-19, United Nations (UN) experts urged States to avoid overreach of security measures in their response to the outbreak, and reminded them that emergency powers should not be used to quash dissent. Yet, among the numerous measures taken by State authorities, some have intentionally undermined the work and freedom of human rights defenders under the guise of protecting health and fighting false information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Methodology<\/h2>\n<\/div>The present report is mostly <\/b>based on the alerts published by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and OMCT, since the beginning of the pandemic, in early 2020. The individual cases outlined throughout the report have been updated with follow-up information, to the extent possible.<\/p>\n
In this framework, several trends of repression have been observed over the past couple of years:<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n- Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/li>\n
- Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/li>\n
- Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/li>\n
- Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Download the full report (PDF)<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
- 1<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 2<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 3<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 4<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- All<\/div><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h4>\nAngola, Cambodia, Guatemala, Hungary, Morocco, Niger, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nCriminalisation of human rights defenders criticising the handling of the pandemic<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Niger, Peru, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nArbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison.<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Honduras, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nThreats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h4>\nBrazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nAll countries in report<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1. Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h2>\n<\/div>The restriction of access to public space justified by Covid-19 has led to abusive restrictions, namely<\/p>\n
\n- the introduction of increased surveillance measures <\/span><\/li>\n
- the adoption of legislation granting extensive powers to the authorities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- the sometimes abusive use of these laws to restrict civic space under the guise of the fight against the pandemic.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>
For example, in Niger, the authorities severely repressed an assembly convened by the NGO Turning the Page Niger (Tournons La Page Niger – TLP) on 15 March 2020 to denounce the misappropriation of public funds for the purchase of arms for the fight against terrorism. Law enforcement officials alleged that the assembly had been banned within the framework of the fight against Covid-19, although Turning the Page was not notified of such a ban. Between March 15 and 17, at least 15 people were arrested and detained for \u201cparticipating in a prohibited demonstration\u201d.<\/p>\n
Some of the human rights defenders were arrested, including Moussa Moudi, Halidou Mounkaila<\/strong> and Ma\u00efkoul Zodi<\/strong>..<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about their case, you can read section 1 of the report.
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>2. Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/h2>\n<\/div>Under the pretext of limiting the dissemination of false information about the virus, some authorities have arrested and harassed in court independent journalists and human rights defenders critical of their handling of the crisis, even closing down some media outlets.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>One emblematic case is that of Zhang Zhan<\/strong>, a former lawyer turned journalist, who was arrested in Wuhan on 15 May 2020 after commenting on Twitter about the authorities’ countermeasures to contain the virus. She was sentenced on December 28, 2020, in a two-hour trial, to four years’ detention by the Shanghai Pudong People’s Court, for “picking a quarrel and causing trouble” (Article 293 of China’s Criminal Law). Her detention conditions are disastrous and her health has deteriorated after she went on hunger strike. Under the pretext of health measures, her family is not allowed to visit her.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Zhang Zhan\u2019s case, you can read section 2 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>3. Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/h2>\n<\/div>Despite repeated declarations by the United Nations, and waves of mass releases aimed at decongesting prisons to combat the spread of the virus, a large number of human rights defenders held in high-risk environments have not been released. While some have died in prison, states have used the health crisis as an excuse to postpone their trials or keep them in detention.<\/p>\n
There have been multiple reports of defenders affected by Covid-19 in detention across the world, sometimes leading to their death.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In India, Stan Swamy<\/strong>, who was incarcerated for nine months in the Bhima Koregaon case, which refers to the violences during the bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle in January 1, 2018, died in custody after contracting Covid-19 due to the lack of effective and timely treatment in jail and the routine denial of bail.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Stan Swamy\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>Ma\u00e2ti Monjib<\/strong> is an example of the reinforcement of isolation for political prisoners in the context of Covid-19. On December 29, 2020, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib, historian, journalist, President of the \u201cFreedom Now\u201d association for freedom of expression in Morocco, founding member of the Moroccan Association for Investigative Journalism (Association marocaine pour le journalisme d\u2019investigation \u2013 AMJI), was arrested by plainclothes police officers without an arrest warrant. During his detention, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib has had access to his lawyers but was not able to see his family because of the quarantine imposed on all new arrivals in prison in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Ma\u00e2ti Monjib\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>4. Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h2>\n<\/div>Confinement, curfews and the general context generated by Covid-19 have increased the vulnerability of human rights defenders already at risk. In countries such as Mexico and Venezuela, violence against defenders has increased significantly<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In Venezuela, there was in 2020 a 157% increase in attacks on defenders and civil society organisations compared to the figures for 2019.<\/p>\n
Similarly in Mexico, data from the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists indicate that between March and June 2020, 141 attacks against human rights defenders and journalists were recorded. Overall, in 2020 a 67% increase in attacks against defenders was recorded.<\/p>\n
Four human rights defenders were killed as a reprisal for their human rights work in the few weeks following the beginning of the health crisis: Isaac Medardo Herrera Avil\u00e9s<\/strong> (on March 23, 2020), Benito Peralta Arias<\/strong> (on March 30, 2020), Juan Zamarron Torres<\/strong> (on April 1, 2020), Adan Vez Lira<\/strong> (on April 8, 2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>
the impact of the pandemic on human rights defenders and their work<\/h2>\n<\/div>Over the past two years, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has documented and analysed how the measures taken to contain the spread of the pandemic \u2013 including lockdowns, quarantines, prohibition of mass events and protests, or travel bans \u2013 have deeply impacted human rights and freedoms all around the world.<\/p>\n
From the very beginning of the spread of the Covid-19, United Nations (UN) experts urged States to avoid overreach of security measures in their response to the outbreak, and reminded them that emergency powers should not be used to quash dissent. Yet, among the numerous measures taken by State authorities, some have intentionally undermined the work and freedom of human rights defenders under the guise of protecting health and fighting false information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Methodology<\/h2>\n<\/div>The present report is mostly <\/b>based on the alerts published by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and OMCT, since the beginning of the pandemic, in early 2020. The individual cases outlined throughout the report have been updated with follow-up information, to the extent possible.<\/p>\n
In this framework, several trends of repression have been observed over the past couple of years:<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n- Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/li>\n
- Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/li>\n
- Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/li>\n
- Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Download the full report (PDF)<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
- 1<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 2<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 3<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 4<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- All<\/div><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h4>\nAngola, Cambodia, Guatemala, Hungary, Morocco, Niger, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nCriminalisation of human rights defenders criticising the handling of the pandemic<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Niger, Peru, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nArbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison.<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Honduras, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nThreats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h4>\nBrazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nAll countries in report<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1. Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h2>\n<\/div>The restriction of access to public space justified by Covid-19 has led to abusive restrictions, namely<\/p>\n
\n- the introduction of increased surveillance measures <\/span><\/li>\n
- the adoption of legislation granting extensive powers to the authorities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- the sometimes abusive use of these laws to restrict civic space under the guise of the fight against the pandemic.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>
For example, in Niger, the authorities severely repressed an assembly convened by the NGO Turning the Page Niger (Tournons La Page Niger – TLP) on 15 March 2020 to denounce the misappropriation of public funds for the purchase of arms for the fight against terrorism. Law enforcement officials alleged that the assembly had been banned within the framework of the fight against Covid-19, although Turning the Page was not notified of such a ban. Between March 15 and 17, at least 15 people were arrested and detained for \u201cparticipating in a prohibited demonstration\u201d.<\/p>\n
Some of the human rights defenders were arrested, including Moussa Moudi, Halidou Mounkaila<\/strong> and Ma\u00efkoul Zodi<\/strong>..<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about their case, you can read section 1 of the report.
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>2. Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/h2>\n<\/div>Under the pretext of limiting the dissemination of false information about the virus, some authorities have arrested and harassed in court independent journalists and human rights defenders critical of their handling of the crisis, even closing down some media outlets.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>One emblematic case is that of Zhang Zhan<\/strong>, a former lawyer turned journalist, who was arrested in Wuhan on 15 May 2020 after commenting on Twitter about the authorities’ countermeasures to contain the virus. She was sentenced on December 28, 2020, in a two-hour trial, to four years’ detention by the Shanghai Pudong People’s Court, for “picking a quarrel and causing trouble” (Article 293 of China’s Criminal Law). Her detention conditions are disastrous and her health has deteriorated after she went on hunger strike. Under the pretext of health measures, her family is not allowed to visit her.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Zhang Zhan\u2019s case, you can read section 2 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>3. Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/h2>\n<\/div>Despite repeated declarations by the United Nations, and waves of mass releases aimed at decongesting prisons to combat the spread of the virus, a large number of human rights defenders held in high-risk environments have not been released. While some have died in prison, states have used the health crisis as an excuse to postpone their trials or keep them in detention.<\/p>\n
There have been multiple reports of defenders affected by Covid-19 in detention across the world, sometimes leading to their death.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In India, Stan Swamy<\/strong>, who was incarcerated for nine months in the Bhima Koregaon case, which refers to the violences during the bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle in January 1, 2018, died in custody after contracting Covid-19 due to the lack of effective and timely treatment in jail and the routine denial of bail.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Stan Swamy\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>Ma\u00e2ti Monjib<\/strong> is an example of the reinforcement of isolation for political prisoners in the context of Covid-19. On December 29, 2020, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib, historian, journalist, President of the \u201cFreedom Now\u201d association for freedom of expression in Morocco, founding member of the Moroccan Association for Investigative Journalism (Association marocaine pour le journalisme d\u2019investigation \u2013 AMJI), was arrested by plainclothes police officers without an arrest warrant. During his detention, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib has had access to his lawyers but was not able to see his family because of the quarantine imposed on all new arrivals in prison in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Ma\u00e2ti Monjib\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>4. Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h2>\n<\/div>Confinement, curfews and the general context generated by Covid-19 have increased the vulnerability of human rights defenders already at risk. In countries such as Mexico and Venezuela, violence against defenders has increased significantly<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In Venezuela, there was in 2020 a 157% increase in attacks on defenders and civil society organisations compared to the figures for 2019.<\/p>\n
Similarly in Mexico, data from the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists indicate that between March and June 2020, 141 attacks against human rights defenders and journalists were recorded. Overall, in 2020 a 67% increase in attacks against defenders was recorded.<\/p>\n
Four human rights defenders were killed as a reprisal for their human rights work in the few weeks following the beginning of the health crisis: Isaac Medardo Herrera Avil\u00e9s<\/strong> (on March 23, 2020), Benito Peralta Arias<\/strong> (on March 30, 2020), Juan Zamarron Torres<\/strong> (on April 1, 2020), Adan Vez Lira<\/strong> (on April 8, 2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>
Over the past two years, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has documented and analysed how the measures taken to contain the spread of the pandemic \u2013 including lockdowns, quarantines, prohibition of mass events and protests, or travel bans \u2013 have deeply impacted human rights and freedoms all around the world.<\/p>\n
From the very beginning of the spread of the Covid-19, United Nations (UN) experts urged States to avoid overreach of security measures in their response to the outbreak, and reminded them that emergency powers should not be used to quash dissent. Yet, among the numerous measures taken by State authorities, some have intentionally undermined the work and freedom of human rights defenders under the guise of protecting health and fighting false information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Methodology<\/h2>\n<\/div>The present report is mostly <\/b>based on the alerts published by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and OMCT, since the beginning of the pandemic, in early 2020. The individual cases outlined throughout the report have been updated with follow-up information, to the extent possible.<\/p>\n
In this framework, several trends of repression have been observed over the past couple of years:<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n- Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/li>\n
- Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/li>\n
- Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/li>\n
- Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Download the full report (PDF)<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
- 1<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 2<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 3<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- 4<\/div><\/a><\/li>
- All<\/div><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h4>\nAngola, Cambodia, Guatemala, Hungary, Morocco, Niger, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nCriminalisation of human rights defenders criticising the handling of the pandemic<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Niger, Peru, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nArbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison.<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Honduras, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nThreats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h4>\nBrazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nAll countries in report<\/h4>\nAlgeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1. Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h2>\n<\/div>The restriction of access to public space justified by Covid-19 has led to abusive restrictions, namely<\/p>\n
\n- the introduction of increased surveillance measures <\/span><\/li>\n
- the adoption of legislation granting extensive powers to the authorities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- the sometimes abusive use of these laws to restrict civic space under the guise of the fight against the pandemic.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>
For example, in Niger, the authorities severely repressed an assembly convened by the NGO Turning the Page Niger (Tournons La Page Niger – TLP) on 15 March 2020 to denounce the misappropriation of public funds for the purchase of arms for the fight against terrorism. Law enforcement officials alleged that the assembly had been banned within the framework of the fight against Covid-19, although Turning the Page was not notified of such a ban. Between March 15 and 17, at least 15 people were arrested and detained for \u201cparticipating in a prohibited demonstration\u201d.<\/p>\n
Some of the human rights defenders were arrested, including Moussa Moudi, Halidou Mounkaila<\/strong> and Ma\u00efkoul Zodi<\/strong>..<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about their case, you can read section 1 of the report.
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>2. Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/h2>\n<\/div>Under the pretext of limiting the dissemination of false information about the virus, some authorities have arrested and harassed in court independent journalists and human rights defenders critical of their handling of the crisis, even closing down some media outlets.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>One emblematic case is that of Zhang Zhan<\/strong>, a former lawyer turned journalist, who was arrested in Wuhan on 15 May 2020 after commenting on Twitter about the authorities’ countermeasures to contain the virus. She was sentenced on December 28, 2020, in a two-hour trial, to four years’ detention by the Shanghai Pudong People’s Court, for “picking a quarrel and causing trouble” (Article 293 of China’s Criminal Law). Her detention conditions are disastrous and her health has deteriorated after she went on hunger strike. Under the pretext of health measures, her family is not allowed to visit her.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Zhang Zhan\u2019s case, you can read section 2 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>3. Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/h2>\n<\/div>Despite repeated declarations by the United Nations, and waves of mass releases aimed at decongesting prisons to combat the spread of the virus, a large number of human rights defenders held in high-risk environments have not been released. While some have died in prison, states have used the health crisis as an excuse to postpone their trials or keep them in detention.<\/p>\n
There have been multiple reports of defenders affected by Covid-19 in detention across the world, sometimes leading to their death.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In India, Stan Swamy<\/strong>, who was incarcerated for nine months in the Bhima Koregaon case, which refers to the violences during the bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle in January 1, 2018, died in custody after contracting Covid-19 due to the lack of effective and timely treatment in jail and the routine denial of bail.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Stan Swamy\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>Ma\u00e2ti Monjib<\/strong> is an example of the reinforcement of isolation for political prisoners in the context of Covid-19. On December 29, 2020, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib, historian, journalist, President of the \u201cFreedom Now\u201d association for freedom of expression in Morocco, founding member of the Moroccan Association for Investigative Journalism (Association marocaine pour le journalisme d\u2019investigation \u2013 AMJI), was arrested by plainclothes police officers without an arrest warrant. During his detention, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib has had access to his lawyers but was not able to see his family because of the quarantine imposed on all new arrivals in prison in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>To learn more about Ma\u00e2ti Monjib\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
\n<\/a>
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>4. Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h2>\n<\/div>Confinement, curfews and the general context generated by Covid-19 have increased the vulnerability of human rights defenders already at risk. In countries such as Mexico and Venezuela, violence against defenders has increased significantly<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In Venezuela, there was in 2020 a 157% increase in attacks on defenders and civil society organisations compared to the figures for 2019.<\/p>\n
Similarly in Mexico, data from the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists indicate that between March and June 2020, 141 attacks against human rights defenders and journalists were recorded. Overall, in 2020 a 67% increase in attacks against defenders was recorded.<\/p>\n
Four human rights defenders were killed as a reprisal for their human rights work in the few weeks following the beginning of the health crisis: Isaac Medardo Herrera Avil\u00e9s<\/strong> (on March 23, 2020), Benito Peralta Arias<\/strong> (on March 30, 2020), Juan Zamarron Torres<\/strong> (on April 1, 2020), Adan Vez Lira<\/strong> (on April 8, 2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>
The present report is mostly <\/b>based on the alerts published by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and OMCT, since the beginning of the pandemic, in early 2020. The individual cases outlined throughout the report have been updated with follow-up information, to the extent possible.<\/p>\n
In this framework, several trends of repression have been observed over the past couple of years:<\/p>\n<\/div>
- \n
- Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/li>\n
- Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/li>\n
- Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/li>\n
- Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Download the full report (PDF)<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
- 1<\/div><\/a><\/li>2<\/div><\/a><\/li>3<\/div><\/a><\/li>4<\/div><\/a><\/li>All<\/div><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h4>\n
Angola, Cambodia, Guatemala, Hungary, Morocco, Niger, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nCriminalisation of human rights defenders criticising the handling of the pandemic<\/h4>\n
Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Niger, Peru, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nArbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison.<\/h4>\n
Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Honduras, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Venezuela<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nThreats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h4>\n
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nAll countries in report<\/h4>\n
Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>1. Abusive restrictions on civic space<\/h2>\n<\/div>
The restriction of access to public space justified by Covid-19 has led to abusive restrictions, namely<\/p>\n
- \n
- the introduction of increased surveillance measures <\/span><\/li>\n
- the adoption of legislation granting extensive powers to the authorities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- the sometimes abusive use of these laws to restrict civic space under the guise of the fight against the pandemic.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>For example, in Niger, the authorities severely repressed an assembly convened by the NGO Turning the Page Niger (Tournons La Page Niger – TLP) on 15 March 2020 to denounce the misappropriation of public funds for the purchase of arms for the fight against terrorism. Law enforcement officials alleged that the assembly had been banned within the framework of the fight against Covid-19, although Turning the Page was not notified of such a ban. Between March 15 and 17, at least 15 people were arrested and detained for \u201cparticipating in a prohibited demonstration\u201d.<\/p>\n
Some of the human rights defenders were arrested, including Moussa Moudi, Halidou Mounkaila<\/strong> and Ma\u00efkoul Zodi<\/strong>..<\/p>\n<\/div>
To learn more about their case, you can read section 1 of the report.
\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>2. Criminalisation of human rights defenders critical of the management of the pandemic<\/h2>\n<\/div>
Under the pretext of limiting the dissemination of false information about the virus, some authorities have arrested and harassed in court independent journalists and human rights defenders critical of their handling of the crisis, even closing down some media outlets.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>One emblematic case is that of Zhang Zhan<\/strong>, a former lawyer turned journalist, who was arrested in Wuhan on 15 May 2020 after commenting on Twitter about the authorities’ countermeasures to contain the virus. She was sentenced on December 28, 2020, in a two-hour trial, to four years’ detention by the Shanghai Pudong People’s Court, for “picking a quarrel and causing trouble” (Article 293 of China’s Criminal Law). Her detention conditions are disastrous and her health has deteriorated after she went on hunger strike. Under the pretext of health measures, her family is not allowed to visit her.<\/p>\n<\/div>
To learn more about Zhang Zhan\u2019s case, you can read section 2 of the report.
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\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>3. Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders despite acute risk of infection in prison<\/h2>\n<\/div>
Despite repeated declarations by the United Nations, and waves of mass releases aimed at decongesting prisons to combat the spread of the virus, a large number of human rights defenders held in high-risk environments have not been released. While some have died in prison, states have used the health crisis as an excuse to postpone their trials or keep them in detention.<\/p>\n
There have been multiple reports of defenders affected by Covid-19 in detention across the world, sometimes leading to their death.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In India, Stan Swamy<\/strong>, who was incarcerated for nine months in the Bhima Koregaon case, which refers to the violences during the bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle in January 1, 2018, died in custody after contracting Covid-19 due to the lack of effective and timely treatment in jail and the routine denial of bail.<\/p>\n<\/div>
To learn more about Stan Swamy\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
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\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>Ma\u00e2ti Monjib<\/strong> is an example of the reinforcement of isolation for political prisoners in the context of Covid-19. On December 29, 2020, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib, historian, journalist, President of the \u201cFreedom Now\u201d association for freedom of expression in Morocco, founding member of the Moroccan Association for Investigative Journalism (Association marocaine pour le journalisme d\u2019investigation \u2013 AMJI), was arrested by plainclothes police officers without an arrest warrant. During his detention, Ma\u00e2ti Monjib has had access to his lawyers but was not able to see his family because of the quarantine imposed on all new arrivals in prison in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>
To learn more about Ma\u00e2ti Monjib\u2019s case, you can read section 3 of the report.
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\nDownload (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>4. Threats and killings of human rights defenders<\/h2>\n<\/div>
Confinement, curfews and the general context generated by Covid-19 have increased the vulnerability of human rights defenders already at risk. In countries such as Mexico and Venezuela, violence against defenders has increased significantly<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>In Venezuela, there was in 2020 a 157% increase in attacks on defenders and civil society organisations compared to the figures for 2019.<\/p>\n
Similarly in Mexico, data from the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists indicate that between March and June 2020, 141 attacks against human rights defenders and journalists were recorded. Overall, in 2020 a 67% increase in attacks against defenders was recorded.<\/p>\n
Four human rights defenders were killed as a reprisal for their human rights work in the few weeks following the beginning of the health crisis: Isaac Medardo Herrera Avil\u00e9s<\/strong> (on March 23, 2020), Benito Peralta Arias<\/strong> (on March 30, 2020), Juan Zamarron Torres<\/strong> (on April 1, 2020), Adan Vez Lira<\/strong> (on April 8, 2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>
- the adoption of legislation granting extensive powers to the authorities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n