PBI in 2022
Redoubling our efforts to help human rights defenders make a change
2022 was a turbulent year for human rights around the world. Lingering restrictions to civic space related to the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events related to climate breakdown, and the outbreak of war in Ukraine, have contributed to political instability, financial uncertainty and an increase in civil unrest.
The UK government has echoed a worrying global trend with promises to roll back rights, legislation to crack down on protest, and reduced investment in an international development agenda from which human rights are absent. This marks a disappointing departure from previous commitments to champion democracy and protect civic space.
Amidst these global challenges, the role of human rights defenders is more important than ever. At a time when our rights and the environment are under renewed threat, front-line activists play a vital role in combating the climate crisis, advocating for gender justice, and strengthening the rule of law. Many are threatened, criminalised and attacked just for taking a stand. Peace Brigades International (PBI) supports the communities, movements and organisations standing up for rights so that they can continue their work in safety.
This year PBI UK welcomed a new Director, refreshed our strategy and redoubled our efforts to protect, support and empower human rights defenders. Whether organising training and legal support, facilitating access to decision-makers and support networks, or providing protection and solidarity, we worked with defenders in moments of increased risk so that they could mobilise safely and effectively.
Land, environmental and Indigenous rights defenders
November was busy for PBI UK, as we welcomed environmental defender Reynaldo Dominguez from Honduras and Indigenous journalist Carlos Choc from Guatemala. Both have faced threats, harassment and criminalisation for standing up to mining companies polluting vital water sources.
Just days ahead of a hearing that could have sent Carlos to jail on trumped-up charges designed to silence him, the defenders used meetings with MPs, the FCDO and civil society, to call for the UK government to take action to support criminalised defenders. Days later, following a statement by the UK Embassy, Carlos’s trial was put on hold after lawyers for the company taking him to court, Compania Procesadora de Niquel (ProNiCo), failed to appear. Now he is back out investigating and reporting on corruption and land grabs. The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions against Solway Investment Group and its subsidiaries, including ProNiCo.
Reynaldo’s visit followed the liberation of eight of his colleagues who had spent nearly three years in prison on trumped-up charges following their opposition to an iron oxide mine which was polluting the Guapinol river in northern Honduras. PBI accompanied the defenders throughout the legal proceedings and helped build momentum and draw international support to the campaigns for their freedom and for the stalling of the mine.
Our support for environmental defenders extends to the policy level too. During COP27, PBI provided a platform for defenders to voice their demands and share their visions for a greener, more just future. And we have joined human rights defenders, investors and civil society organisations to campaign for the UK to better regulate the behaviour of its businesses abroad by passing a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act.
Defenders of women’s rights and gender equality
To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ex-Honduras field volunteer Roslynn Beighton reflected on the women’s rights defenders transforming the country. Ten months into Xiomara Castro’s Presidency little has changed for women in Honduras: discrimination is rampant, emergency contraceptives and abortion remain illegal, and bills to prevent gender violence have stalled. PBI provides protective accompaniment to threatened women's rights and LGBTIQ+ rights defenders in Honduras, and continues to support the COPINH in their struggle for justice for Berta Cáceres - one of the world’s best-known women defenders, who founded their organisation.
In Kenya, PBI works closely with a network of women leaders in Nairobi’s urban settlements. Together, they provide training and resources on security, wellbeing, documentation and mobilisation. We also provide protective accompaniment and advocacy support to young activists working to tackle sexual and gender-based violence and denounce police abuses. One of them, Junia, has carried out a range of advocacy activities with us in the UK this year, including meeting with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, providing inputs to UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Mary Lawlor, and engaging with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in regards to their work on gender equality.
“We can only do so much as individuals.
Together, we can accomplish what we did not even know was possible”
- Njeri Migwi, Usikimye - Kenya
In November, we welcomed Mandira Sharma to London to attend the International Ministerial Conference on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, as well as galvanising diplomatic action on Nepal. Mandira is a lawyer, activist, and co-founder of Advocacy Forum - Nepal’s leading organisation of human rights lawyers. For over 20 years, she has represented victims of human rights violations in Nepal, and is a leading voice in the movement for transitional justice.
Defenders working for peace, justice and the rule of law
Mandira’s visit came in the middle of a precarious election period for Nepal that once again stalled the passing of the long-awaited transitional justice bill, and ahead of a number of delegations by the UK government and parliamentary officials to Nepal in the new year. Whilst in London, Mandira met with these delegates to guide the format and focus of these delegations, to remove the shroud of secrecy from the injustices of the conflict.
In May, PBI Honduras published a report on the first 100 days of Xiomara Castro’s new administration, weighing up the human rights advances and ongoing challenges of a government whose election had brought hope to many activists due to Castro’s promises to fight graft, empower women, and protect Indigenous land and culture. The report outlined obstacles including persistent corruption, a flawed national security strategy, and weaknesses in the National Protection System tasked with ensuring the safety of human rights defenders. Together with local activists, PBI briefed diplomats and international experts on the report’s recommendations.
May also saw Colombia elect its first left-wing President. Weeks beforehand, Sebastian Uribe - a human rights lawyer from the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyer’s Collective (CAJAR) - came to London to lay out what a new rights-based governmental agenda should look like. In meetings with MPs and the FCDO he discussed how the UK could leverage its role at the UN Security Council to support the full implementation of the Peace Accords.
PBI urged the Colombian government to protect defenders amidst an increase in pre-electoral violence against them, and increased its physical presence on the ground in light of an escalation in the murders of social leaders.
“PBI’s mission to raise the visibility of human rights violations has been indispensable to achieving solidarity on an international level and recognition on the international stage, creating an environment in which we at CAJAR are able to carry out this all-important work.”
– Sebastian Uribe, CAJAR - Colombia
Since the devastating electoral violence in Kenya in 2007, Social Justice Centres have played a vital role in improving relationships between the population and the police, while campaigning to eradicate State violence and discrimination. Before this year’s election, they implemented educational campaigns regarding democracy and aimed at reducing conflict.
PBI works closely to ensure these centres have the resources, safety and networks they need to implement their projects successfully. Ahead of the elections, we organised meetings between Social Justice Centre leaders Faith Kasina and Collince Maxx Odhiambo and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Human Rights. PBI also supported human rights defenders in Nairobi’s urban settlements to develop security and protection plans to ensure they could continue their work in safety during the electoral period. Defenders subsequently reported a general decrease in electoral violence compared to previous years.
Thank you for your support
PBI would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all those who have supported our work in 2022, and especially to the brave human rights defenders whose resilience and courage continue to inspire us and underpin our work. We will continue to stand alongside you.
How PBI works:
Leveraging international action to protect defenders in Mexico
This autumn, in light of a dramatic increase in attacks and smears against human rights defenders in Mexico, PBI implemented a multi-pronged strategy of international action to support activists there. With our field teams spreading their presence to new regions and hot-spots, PBI UK’s Director also travelled to the country to discuss what more can be done.
Mexican defender Diana Villalobos visited London for a range of activities, including a film screening of the documentary Cruz, which highlights the enforced displacements in the Sierra Tarahumara. She briefed MPs who subsequently travelled to Mexico and raised human rights issues - and the need for better protection of defenders - with their Mexican counterparts.
The UK Ambassador travelled to Diana’s region, Chihuahua, to meet with local NGOs and government officials. He has since published an op-ed in a national paper recognising the work of human rights defenders and expressing concern for their safety in light of an assassination attempt against environmental lawyer Juan Carlos Solis.
With the protective accompaniment of PBI, Diana continues to support Indigenous communities in the defence of their land and climate-crucial forests, and Juan Carlos is successfully documenting corruption and representing several communities in their demands for justice following the imposition of destructive extractive industries.
