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An Urgent Call to Release Human Rights Defenders in Honour of Nelson Mandela Day

Dear World Leaders,

On Nelson Mandela Day, civil society organisations across the globe call on you to release imprisoned human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience.

Like Nelson Mandela who spent 27 years in prison for his opposition to apartheid, there are thousands of human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience wrongfully accused and in jail around the world. They have been imprisoned for seeking gender, social, political, economic and environmental justice, for defending excluded people, and for promoting democratic values.

Many of these human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience are serving sentences for crimes they never committed, after being convicted in unfair trials. Our organisations have for several years documented the unlawful jail terms handed down to human rights defenders in several countries.

We are particularly concerned that the authorities in many countries continue to detain human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience during the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognise the governments of Iran, Ethiopia, Turkey, Bahrain and Cameroon for releasing prisoners as part of their response to this unprecedented health crisis. However, not many human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience were included, and it is now more urgent than ever to release them.

There are also hundreds of human rights defenders who remain in pretrial detention who have not been charged or tried. Overcrowding and poor sanitation in jails increase the risk of COVID-19 infection and should be strong factors for the reduction of prison populations.

We also urge you to stop the arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists in jail solely for reporting on human rights violations during the pandemic. Although COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted in some parts of the world, some countries have used the pandemic as a pretext to restrict civic freedoms. Journalists and human rights defenders have been physically assaulted and subjected to arbitrary detention and judicial persecution for reporting on the virus.

We need human rights defenders now more than ever. It is their duty to hold governments to account, to ensure states respect international human rights laws during the pandemic, and to tackle environmental degradation and inequalities that have accelerated the impact of COVID-19.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, recently said:

"Governments are facing huge demands on resources in this crisis and are having to take difficult decisions. But I urge them not to forget those behind bars, or those confined in places such as closed mental health facilities, nursing homes and orphanages, because the consequences of neglecting them are potentially catastrophic."

Sadly, some imprisoned human rights defenders have died under suspicious circumstances in various countries during the pandemic.

As we commemorate Nelson Mandela Day on 18 July, we remember that Mr. Mandela urged all of us to take on the burden of leadership in addressing social injustices. We call on you to give millions of families, friends and colleagues of human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience around the world a reason to renew their hope for a better future during these unprecedented times.

We urge you to:

  • Immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience in jail solely for their peaceful human rights activities, and stop all judicial persecution against them.
  • Prioritise and release detainees who have not been charged, and those held in pretrial detention.
  • Stop carrying out new arrests and detentions, particularly on journalists and activists reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic, and those accused of breaking lockdown regulations.

Endorsed by:

  1. A Common Future
  2. A.C. Reforma Judicial
  3. Abraham's Children Foundation
  4. ACPDH
  5. ACSIS
  6. Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture
  7. Action D'urgence pour Toute Détresse
  8. Action for Humanity and Social Progress
  9. Action pour la Lutte Contre l'Injustice Sociale
  10. Action pour le Développement
  11. Action To Heal Foundation Sierra Leone
  12. Actions pour la Protection des Femmes
  13. Active Vision
  14. Admiral development organization
  15. Adolescents Initiatives Support Organization
  16. Afghanistan Democracy and Development Organization
  17. Africa Intercultural Development Support Trust
  18. Africa Rise Foundation
  19. African Center for Solidarity and mutual Aid between the Communities CASEC - ACSAC
  20. AFRICAN FOUNDATION FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT - AFED
  21. African Holocaust
  22. African Observatory Of Civic Freedoms And Fundamental Rights OCFFR-AFRICA
  23. AJBDEM DURABLE
  24. ALUCHOTO
  25. Amis des Étrangers au Togo
  26. Amnesty International
  27. Asia Pacific Forum on Families International
  28. Association des blogueurs pour une citoyennetà active
  29. Association Femmes et Enfants
  30. Association for Advocacy and Legal Initiatives Trust
  31. Association for Health, Safety and Environmental Awareness International
  32. Association pour les droits de l'Homme et l'Univers Carcéral
  33. Association pour les victimes du monde
  34. Association pour l'Integration et le Developpement Durable Durable au Burundi, AIDB
  35. ASUTIC Senegal
  36. Avenir Jeune de l'Ouest
  37. AWHES
  38. Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights
  39. Banjul Youth in Community Services
  40. Banlieues Du Monde Mauritanie
  41. Bareedo Platform Somalia
  42. Bella Foundation for Child and Maternal Care
  43. Bousla Organisation
  44. BRIGHTER FUTURE FOUNDATION
  45. Burundi Child Rights Coalition
  46. CAHURAST-Nepal
  47. Campaign Against Ignorance and Illiteracy
  48. Capellanes conacce
  49. CAPTE - Uruguay Silvia FLORES MOSQUERA
  50. CareMe E-clinic
  51. CEAMUJER
  52. Center for the Development of Civil Society
  53. Centre d'Initiatives et d'Actions pour le Développement durable au Burundi
  54. Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement CEFSAN
  55. Centre Oecuméniquepour la Promotion du Monde Rural
  56. Centro para la Acción Noviolenta y Cultura de Paz en CentroamÃrica
  57. CESPHA
  58. ChildHelp Sierra Leone
  59. Circles of Hope Community Support Group for PLHIVAIDS
  60. CIVICUS
  61. Commonwealth Society of Nigeria
  62. Cooperation for Peace and Development
  63. Corporacion Regional Yariguies GEAM
  64. COSAD BENIN
  65. Differentabilities
  66. DISCOURAGE YOUTHS FROM POVERTY
  67. Domestic Workers Union
  68. DreamBoat Theatre for Development Foundation
  69. Droits de l'homme sans frontières
  70. Edmund Rice International
  71. Edo Civil society organisations
  72. EIP
  73. Fater Bibi Technologies
  74. FCPEEP
  75. FEDERATION DES FEMMES POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT INTEGRAL AU CONGO
  76. FINESTE
  77. Formidable Initiatives for Women and Girls
  78. Foundation for Democracy and Accountable Governance
  79. Fraternity Foundation for Human Rights-Birati
  80. Free political prisoners
  81. FUNDACION SIMAS
  82. Fundación T.E.A. Trabajo - Educación - Ambiente
  83. FUTURE LEADERS SOCIETY
  84. Global Witness
  85. Give Hope Uganda
  86. Governance and Forest Initiatives
  87. GreenLight Initiative
  88. Hadejia youth movement for social cohesion
  89. Health NGO's Network
  90. Healthy Choices Ic.,
  91. Human Rights Committee
  92. Humanitarian Care for Displaced Persons
  93. IFAN
  94. INSPIRIT Creatives UG NGO
  95. Institute for Public Policy Analysis and Implementation
  96. Integrated Agricultural Association-I,A,A
  97. International Dalit Solidarity Network
  98. International Falcon Movement - Socialist Educational International
  99. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
  100. Iraqi journalists right deafenc association
  101. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
  102. Justice Acess Point
  103. JusticeMakers Bangladesh
  104. Key Populations Alliance of Zambia
  105. Khpal Kore Organization
  106. Kibera Joy Initiative
  107. Kumakomo Community Radio
  108. Le Réseau Nigérien des Défenseurs des Droits Humains
  109. Leadership initiative network for the Advancement of women and youth
  110. Local Community Development Association
  111. Lumiere Synergie Developpement
  112. Maecenata Foundation
  113. MAMAS FOR BURUNDI ASSOCIATION
  114. Manna Development AGency
  115. Marketplace 247
  116. MFFPS
  117. Millennium Sistahs Trinidad and Tobago Inc
  118. Missing Link Uganda
  119. Mouvement des Femmes et Filles pour la Paix et la Sécurité au Burundi
  120. Mouvement Populaire pour la Santé au Gay
  121. Movement for Social Justice MSJ-4
  122. National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda
  123. Network of Civil Society Organisations for Election Observation and Monitoring - ROSE
  124. Network of NGOs of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women
  125. New Owerri Youth Organisation
  126. NGO Collective for Food Security and Rural Development - COSADER
  127. NGO CONSTRUISONS ENSEMBLE LE MONDE
  128. NGO Defensoria Ambiental
  129. NGOs Council ASDGC Kenya
  130. Nipe Fagio
  131. Nouveaux Droits de l'homme Congo Brazzaville
  132. ONG ASSAUVET
  133. ONG BAL'LAME
  134. ONG Programa sociocultural CRP
  135. Palestinian Non Governmental Organizations Network
  136. PAMOJATWASIMAMA
  137. Partenariat pour la Protection Integree
  138. PAYNCOP
  139. Peace and Life Enhancement Initiative International
  140. PHY ORG
  141. Plan international
  142. Princegnf
  143. Prisma European Network
  144. Psychologues du Monde Afrique
  145. Reacción Climática
  146. Real Agenda For Youth Transformation Trust
  147. REDHNNA-Red por los Derechos Humanos de los niños, niñas y adolescentes
  148. REPONGAC
  149. Research and Advocacy Unit
  150. Root Change
  151. Ruheso Tanzania
  152. RUKIGA FORUM FOR DEVELOPMENT
  153. Safety and Risk Mitigation Organization
  154. Save Our Continent, Save Nigeria.
  155. Save the Climate
  156. Secours de la Femme Rurale au Developpement, Safrd
  157. SHAKHI 'Friends of Women'
  158. Shanduko Yeupenyu Child Care
  159. She's Writes
  160. Sierra Leone School Green Clubs
  161. Social Justice Forum
  162. Social Mission Catalysts LLC
  163. Solidarity health Foundation
  164. Solidarity Youth Voluntary Organisation
  165. SOS Jeunesse et Enfance en Détresse - SOS JED
  166. South Sudan Civil Society Forum
  167. Sustainable Develipment and Peace Building Initiatives
  168. Tanzania Development Trust
  169. Tanzania Peace Legal Aid and Justice Center PLAJC
  170. Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
  171. the Wuhan election campaign
  172. The Angelic Ladies Society
  173. Transitional Justice Working Group
  174. Tsoro-o-tso San Dev Trust
  175. Ugonma Foundation
  176. Ukana West 2 Community Based Health Initiative
  177. Unión Nacional de Instituciones para el Trabajo de Acción Social- UNITAS
  178. Unique Foundation The Gambia
  179. Vijana Corps
  180. Wacare Organization
  181. Welfare Association for Development Alternative -WADA
  182. Women Against Violence and Expediency Handling Initiative
  183. Women Friendly
  184. Women Working for Social Progress
  185. World Federalist Movement Canada
  186. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
  187. WORLDLITE
  188. Young Professional Development Society Nepal
  189. Your Health Your Responsibility
  190. Youth Alliance for Rural Development in Liberia Inc.
  191. YOUTH AND ENVIRONMENT VISION
  192. Youth Arm Organization
  193. Youth For The Mission
  194. Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana
  195. YOUTHAID-LIBERIA
  196. Zambian Governance Foundation
  197. Zimbabwe We Want Poetry Campaign