Human Rights First and Carter Center Team Up to Address New Challenges Facing Human Rights Defenders: 15 Leading Activists at Risk

Human Rights First and the Carter Center have embarked on a long term collaboration to support the work of human rights defenders working in trouble spots around the world.

“We are fortunate to have leading human rights activists from thirteen countries – from Indonesia and Uzbekistan, to Colombia and Zimbabwe – who can share their insight about what it means to be on the frontlines defending human rights,” said Neil Hicks, Director of International Programs for Human Rights First. “This is an important opportunity for these activists to bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality by telling leaders from the United States and the United Nations what the reality on the ground is in the new atmosphere of heightened global security.”

The new environment in the global “war against terrorism” is having very damaging consequences for human rights activists working in countries where even peaceful dissent against government policies is often labeled as “terrorism”. Many of these human rights defenders are traveling to the U.S. at risk of reprisal when they return home. Some of them have been imprisoned and tortured in their home countries, and many have lost colleagues and relatives. Leading human rights activists from the following countries will be available to speak to the press on the dates listed below: Burma, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Thailand, United States, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe.

• June 6-7th: Human rights defenders from 15 countries will gather in Atlanta to Advance Security and Rule of Law at the 2005 Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum titled: Human Rights Defenders on the Frontlines of Freedom: Advancing Security and Rule of Law. President Carter will be giving the key note address.
  
• June 8-9th: Many of the defenders will be visiting DC to meet with members of Congress.
  
• June 8th: Roundtable at Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars. Featured human rights defenders: Yuri Dzhibladze from Russia, Gustavo Gallón from Colombia, Nozima Kamalova from Uzbekistan, and Chibli Mallat from Lebanon.

For information about the Conference and attendees in Atlanta on June 6-7:
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/defenders/hrd_global/hrd_global_03.htm
http://cartercenter.org/doc2105.htm

The following defenders will be visiting DC and available for interviews June 8-9:
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/defenders/pdf/carter-dc-060205.pdf