Human rights defenders are finding it increasingly difficult to make their message heard. They are subject to general restrictions on the freedom of speech and association because of the stringent application of security-related laws and the adoption of new, restrictive legislation. Also, many opportunistic political leaders are happy to find new reasons for criminalizing defenders and no longer have any hesitation in lumping together human rights defenders and terrorists.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe does not hesitate to designate human rights defenders as “writers and political wheelers and dealers who ultimately serve terrorism and who cowardly hide behind the human rights flag” (8 September 2003).
David Trimble, the leader of the Irish Unionist Party—and Nobel Peace Prize winner—stated: "One of the great curses of this world is the human rights industry (...). They justified terrorist acts and end up being complicit in the murder of innocent victims."(January 29 2003).
The new Annual Report of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders highlights the increasingly hostile situation confronted by defenders over the world because of the erosion of human rights standards. By presenting the situation of more than 550 human rights defenders and 80 NGOs facing repression in more than 80 countries, the Annual Report documents the violations of the rights of these men and women who strive, despite the difficulties, to create a world of fairness and justice. These violations are manifold: murder, threats, ill treatment, arbitrary arrest and detention, harassment, slander and libel, and restrictions of freedom of movements.
In 2003, trade unionists were murdered in Colombia. In Iran, lawyers and journalists were detained arbitrarily for having defended opposition politicians or for having denounced the role of the authorities in the assassination of intellectuals. In Cameroon, human rights defenders who denounced human rights violations committed by the authorities were constantly threatened and harassed.
At the same time, more and more security measures and laws are being adopted to restrict freedom of association so as to clamp down on civil society. There are obstacles to the registration of independent NGOs, as well as arbitrary termination and restrictions in the financing of NGOs.
Thus, in 2003, over 51 associations were disbanded in Belarus. In Tunisia, the authorities held back funds given by the European Union to the Tunisian League of Human rights.
Finally, the report bears witness to the great insecurity of those who try to denounce human rights violations during ongoing conflicts. This is particularly true of Chechnya, Indonesia, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire and the DRC.
