OBS Annual Report 2013: Violations of the right of NGOs to funding - from harassment to criminalisation

Publication of the Annual Report 2013 of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

EMBARGO until February 28, 2013, 12.01 am GMT

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In its newly published Annual Report, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders focuses on a new setback impeding the work of human rights defenders. Access to funding, in particular foreign funding, is increasingly being hindered by governments, whose primary intentions are to silence human rights defenders. Faced increasingly by human rights defenders around the world, this obstacle not only violates universally recognised human rights standards but seriously impacts efforts by civil society to promote and protect human rights and ensure that the voice of victims of human rights violations is heard.

The Annual Report 2013 of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), provides a global review of the violations of NGOs’ right to funding via various forms of restrictions imposed by States. It provides a detailed picture of this as yet insufficiently studied problem. This analysis is illustrated by concrete cases in 35 countries.

We want to protect NGOs. This is now an urgent problem because there is a pattern emerging, a global backlash, attacking and identifying human rights defenders as illegitimate because of their international connections. This new argument against international support, specifically funding, restricts the actions of NGOs. This is unacceptable. With this year’s Report, we want to reframe the debate concerning universally recognised human rights work”, said Gerald Staberock, Secretary General of OMCT.

Barriers to funding are often erected in the context of a pervasive climate of repression in which restrictive laws combined with smearing campaigns and judicial harassment against human rights defenders create a hostile environment towards their activities. These barriers to NGO funding imposed by States represent one of the most serious institutional problems facing defenders today”, added Souhayr Belhassen, President of FIDH.

As also highlighted by Maina Kiai, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, in the Foreword to the Report, “The topic of this year’s Report is most pertinent as lately we have witnessed increased stigmatization and undue restrictions in relation to access to funding and resources for civil society organizations, in an attempt to stifle any forms of criticism [...]”.

The right of NGOs to access funding is an integral part of the right to freedom of association. Access to funds and resources is essential and without it the daily work of NGOs is highly jeopardised. In some countries, the consequences of such laws and practices are debilitating. In Ethiopia, regulations on foreign funding forced NGOs to reduce their activities and dismiss part of their staff or stop human rights related activities. In the Russian Federation, NGOs receiving foreign funds face criminal liability if they fail to add the mention “foreign agent” on all official documents. In Belarus, “Viasna” Human Rights Centre President, Ales Bialiatski, is serving a prison term for using foreign funding and his colleagues were evicted from their offices. Some States also use the technique of “restriction by omission” to prevent human rights NGOs’ access to funding. By not applying the procedure laid down by their own laws and regulations, the authorities deny NGOs the ability to carry out projects funded by organisations or foreign countries, as in Bangladesh.

Based on the legal framework surrounding the right to access to funding and the embryonic jurisprudence on this subject, the Report seeks to foster an in-depth analysis of the negative impacts of these restrictive measures, and addresses recommendations to all stakeholders - beneficiaries, donors, governments and intergovernmental organisations.

Click below to download the Report:

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders is the leading global programme on the protection of human rights defenders. In 2012, the Observatory covered more than 50 country situations, notably through 336 urgent and follow-up interventions concerning over 500 human rights defenders. This book is the first theme-based Annual Report issued by the Observatory.

Acknowledgments / Partner organisations and contributors


Acknowledgments

FIDH and OMCT would like to thank the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Fondation de France, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF), the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Paris City Hall, the Sigrid Rausing Trust and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) for making the publication of the Annual Report 2013 of the Observatory possible. Its content is the sole responsibility of FIDH and OMCT and should in no way be interpreted as reflecting the view(s) of the supporting institutions.

++++International NGOs

Action Against Hunger
Agir ensemble pour les droits de l’Homme
Amnesty International
Article 19
Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT)
Centre de conseils et d’appui pour les jeunes en droits de l’Homme (CODAP)
Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ)
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)
Conectas
Conférence internationale des barreaux
Defence for Children International (DCI)
Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
Foundation Martin Ennals
Freedom House
Freedom Now
Front Line
Human Rights First
Human Rights House Network
Human Rights Information and Documentation System (HURIDOCS)
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)
Inter LGBT
International Centre for Trade Union Rights (ICTUR)
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
International Crisis Group (ICG)
International Federation for Actions by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT)
International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
International Union of Food Workers (IUF)
Ligue internationale pour les droits et la libération des peuples (LIDLIP)
Minority Rights Group International (MRG)
Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC)
Observatoire international des avocats (OIA)
Open Society Institute (OSI)
Pax Christi International
Peace Brigades International (PBI)
Physicians International
Protection International (PI)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Solidarité internationale gay lesbiennes, gay bi et trans (SI-LGBT)
Tjenbé Red
Union internationale des avocats (UIA)
Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition
World Movement for Democracy

++++ Regional NGOs

Africa
African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS)
East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP)
Ligue des droits de la personne dans la région des Grands lacs (LGDL)
Réseau des défenseurs des droits humains en Afrique centrale (REDHAC)
Réseau ouest-africain des défenseurs des droits humains (ROADHH)

Americas
Asociadas por lo Justo (JASS-Mesoamérica)
Central Latinoamericana de Trabajadores (CLAT)
Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (CEJIL)
Comisión Latinoamericana por los Derechos Humanos y Libertades de los Trabajadores y Pueblos (CLADEHLT)
Comisión para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos en Centroamérica (CODEHUCA)
Comité de América Latina y el Caribe para la Defensa de los Derechos de la Mujer (CLADEM)
Enlace Mapuche Internacional
Federación Latinoamericana de Asociaciones de Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos (FEDEFAM)
Federación Luterana Mundial
Organización Regional Interamericana de Trabajadores (ORIT)
Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo (PIDHDD)

Asia
Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR)
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia)
Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC)
Human Rights in Central Asia
South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC)

Europe and CIS
Association européenne pour la défense des droits de l’Homme (AEDH)
Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD)
Internet-Agency Caucasian Knot
South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders

North Africa / Middle East
Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI)
Arab Programme for Human Rights Activists (APHRA)
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
Coordination maghrébine des organisations des droits humains (CMODH)
EuroMed Non-Governmental Platform
Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF)
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN)

++++National NGOs

Afghanistan
Armanshahr Foundation - OPEN ASIA

Albania
Albanian Human Rights Groups (AHRG)
Albanian Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma and Torture (ARCT)

Algeria
Association Djazairouna des victimes du terrorisme
Collectif des familles de disparus en Algérie (CFDA)
Coordination nationale des familles de disparus (CNFD)
Ligue algérienne de défense des droits de l’Homme (LADDH)
SOS Disparu(e)s

Angola
Associação Justiça, Paz e Democracia (AJPD)
Central General de Sindicatos Independentes e Livres de Angola (CGSILA)

Argentina
Abuelas de la Plaza de Mayo
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)
Comité de Acción Jurídica (CAJ)
Comité para la Defensa de la Salud, la Ética Profesional y los Derechos (CODESEDH)
Derechos Human Rights - United-States
Equipo Argentino de Antropologia Forense - United-States
Fundación Servicio de Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ)
Hijas e Hijos por la Identidad y la Justicia contra el Olvido y el Silencio (HIJOS)
Liga Argentina por los Derechos del Hombre (LADH)

Armenia
Civil Society Institute (CSI)

Australia
Pax Christi Australia
Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance (STTARS)

Austria
Osterreichische Liga für Menschenrechte (OLFM)
Pax Christi Austria

Azerbaijan
Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan (HRCA)
Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS)
Institute of Peace and Democracy (IPD)
Democracy and NGO Development Resource Centre

Bahrain
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR)
Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS)
Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR)

Bangladesh
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK)
Bangladesh Human Rights Commission (BHRC)
Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT)
Hotline Human Rights - Bangladesh (HHRB)
ODIKHAR

Barbados
Caribbean Rights / Human Rights Network

Belarus
Belarusian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (BHC)
Human Rights Centre “VIASNA”

Belgium
Actions by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) - Belgique francophone
ACAT - Belgique Vlaanderen
Association fraternelle internationale (AFI)
Justice et paix
Liga Voor Menschenrechten (LVM)
Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDHB)
Pax Christi Vlaanderen
Pax Christi Wallonie-Bruxelles

Benin
ACAT - Benin
Enfants solidaires d’Afrique et du monde (ESAM)
Ligue béninoise pour la défense des droits de l’Homme (LBDH)
Tomorrow Children

Bolivia
Asamblea Permanente de los Derechos Humanos de Bolivia (APDHB)
Centro de Estudios Jurídicos e Investigación Social (CEJIS)
Instituto de Terapia e Investigación sobre las Secuelas de la Tortura y la Violencia Estatal (ITEI)

Botswana
The Botswana Centre for Human Rights (DITSHWANELO)

Brazil
ACAT - Brazil
Agencia de Noticias Direitos da Infancia (ANDI)
Centre for the Study of Violence (CSV)
Centro de Defesa da Criança e do Adolescente Yves de Roussan (CEDECA/BA)
Centro de Justiça Global (JC)
Comissão Pastoral da Tierra (CPT)
Conectas Direitos Humanos
Conselho Indigenista Missionário (CIMI)
Departamento Nacional dos Trabalhadores da CUT (DNTR-CUT)
Justiça e Paz
Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST)
Movimento Nacional de Meninos et Meninas de Rua (MNMMR)
Movimento Nacional dos Direitos Humanos (MNDH)
Sociedad Paraense de Defesa dos Direitos Humanos (SDDH)
Tortura Nunca Mais - RJ

Bulgaria
Assistance Centre for Torture Survivors (ACET)

Burkina Faso
ACAT - Burkina Faso
Mouvement burkinabé des droits de l’Homme et des peuples (MBDHP)

Burma
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN)
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma (AAPPB)
Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC)
The Burma Campaign UK
US Campaign for Burma

Burundi
ACAT-Burundi
Association burundaise pour la protection des droits humains et des personnes détenues (APRODH)
Association des femmes juristes du Burundi (AFJB)
Centre indépendant de recherches et d’initiatives pour le dialogue (CIRID) - Switzerland
Forum pour le renforcement de la société civile (FORSC)
Ligue burundaise des droits de l’Homme (ITEKA)
Observatoire de lutte contre la corruption et les malversations économiques (OLUCOME)

Cambodia
Cambodian Association for Development and Human Rights (ADHOC)
Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR)
Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Community Legal Education Centre (CLEC)

Cameroon
ACAT - Cameroon
ACAT - Littoral
Association for the Reconstruction of the Moko-Oh People (AFTRADEMOP)
Maison des droits de l’Homme du Cameroun (MDHC)
Mouvement pour la défense des droits de l’Homme et des libertés (MDDHL)

Canada
ACAT - Canada
Human Rights Internet (HRI)
Ligue des droits et des libertés du Québec (LDL)

Central African Republic
ACAT - Central African Republic
Ligue centrafricaine des droits de l’Homme (LCDH)
Organisation pour la compassion et le développement des familles en détresse (OCODEFAD)

Chad
Association jeunesse anti-clivage (AJAC)
Association tchadienne pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l’Homme (ATPDH)
Collectif des associations de défense des droits de l’Homme (CADH)
Ligue tchadienne des droits de l’Homme (LTDH)

Chile
Centro de Salud Mental y Derechos Humanos (CINTRAS)
Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos y Justicia de Género
Corporación de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos del Pueblo (CODEPU)
Fundación de Ayuda Social de Las Iglesias Cristianas (FASIC)
Fundación de Protección a la Infancia Dañada por los Estados de Emergencia (PIDEE)
Observatorio Ciudadano

China
Asian Centre for the Progress of Peoples
Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD)
Human Rights in China (HRIC)
International Campaign for Tibet (ICT)
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) - India

Colombia
Asamblea Permanente de la Sociedad Civil por la Paz
Asociación de Abogados Laboralistas al Servicio de los Trabajadores
Asociación Campesinas de Arauca (ACA)
Asociación Nacional de Ayuda Solidaria (ANDAS)
Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT)
Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular (CINEP)
Comisión Colombiana de Juristas (CCJ)
Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz (CIJP)
Comité Permanente por la Defensa de Derechos Humanos (CPDH)
Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó
Consultoría para los Derechos Humanos y el Desplazamiento (CODHES)
Coordinación Colombia - Europa - Estados Unidos
Corporación Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” (CCAJAR)
Corporación Jurídica Libertad (CJL)
Corporación Jurídica “Yira Castro”
Corporación para la Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (REINICIAR)
Corporación Regional para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (CREDHOS)
Escuela Nacional Sindical de Colombia (ENS)
Federación Nacional Sindical Unitaria Agropecuaria (FENSUAGRO - CUT)
Fundación Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos (FCSPP)
Fundación Comité Regional de Derechos Humanos “Joel Sierra”
Fundación Desarrollo y Paz (FUNDEPAZ)
Instituto Latino Americano de Servicios Legales Alternativos (ILSA)
Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado (MOVICE)
Organización Femenina Popular (OFP)
Organización Internacional de Derechos Humanos - Acción Colombia (OIDHACO)
Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de las Industrias de Alimentos (SINALTRAINAL)
Unión Sindical Obrera (USO)

Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Action contre l’impunité pour les droits humains (ACIDH)
Association africaine de défense des droits de l’Homme (ASADHO)
Centre des droits de l’Homme et du droit humanitaire (CDH)
Comité d’action pour le développement intégral (CADI) - Burundi
Comité des observateurs des droits de l’Homme (CODHO) 
Comité pour le développement et les droits de l’Homme (CDDH)
Femmes chrétiennes pour la démocratie et le développement (FCDD)
Groupe Lotus (GL)
Haki Za Binadamu-Maniema (HBM)
Journalistes en danger (JED)
Justice Plus
Les amis de Nelson Mandela pour les droits de l’Homme (ANMDH)
Ligue congolaise des droits de l’Homme (LDH)
Ligue des électeurs (LE)
Ligue de la zone Afrique pour la défense des droits des enfants et des élèves (LIZADEEL)
Observatoire congolais des droits humains (OCDH)
Observatoire national des droits de l’Homme (ONDH)
Solidarité pour la promotion et la paix (SOPROP)
Voix des sans voix pour les droits de l’Homme (VSV)

Congo (Republic of)
Association pour les droits de l’Homme et l’univers carcéral (ADHUC)
Coalition congolaise publiez ce que vous payez
Femmes congolaises chefs de famille et éducatrices (FCFE)
Observatoire congolais des droits de l’Homme (OCDH)
Rencontre pour la paix et les droits de l’Homme (RPDH)

Costa Rica
Asociación Centroamericana de Familiares (ACAFADE)
Asociación Servicios de Promoción Laboral (ASEPROLA)

Côte d’Ivoire
ACAT - Côte d’Ivoire
Femme et développement durable (FDD)
Femmes actives de Côte d’Ivoire (OFACI)
Ligue ivoirienne des droits de l’Homme (LIDHO)
Mouvement ivoirien des droits humains (MIDH)

Croatia
Civic Committee for Human Rights (CCHR)

Cuba
Coalición de Mujeres Cubano-Americanas
Comisión Cubana de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliación Nacional (CCDHRN)
Consejo de Relatores de Derechos Humanos de Cuba (CRDHC)
Damas de Blanco
Directorio Democrático Cubano

Cyprus
Action for Support, Equality and Anti-Racism (KISA)

Czech Republic
Human Rights League

Denmark
Treatment and Counselling for Refugees (OASIS)

Djibouti
Ligue djiboutienne des droits de l’Homme (LDDH)
Union djiboutienne du travail (UDT)
Union des travailleurs du port (UTP)

Dominican Republic
Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (CNDH)

Ecuador
Asamblea Permanente de Derechos Humanos del Ecuador (APDH)
Centro de Derechos Económicos y Sociales (CDES)
Centro de Documentación de Derechos Humanos “Segundo Montes Mozo” (CSMM)
Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos (CEDHU)
Comité de Familiares de Presos Políticos de Ecuador (COFPPE)
Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador (CONAIE)
Frente de Mujeres Defensoras de la Pachamama
Fundación Regional de Asesoría en Derechos Humanos (INREDH)

Egypt
Arab Centre for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP)
Arab Lawyers’ Union (ALU)
Association for Human Rights and Legal Aid (AHRLA)
Centre for Economic and Social Rights (CESR)
Centre for Trade-Unions and Workers’ Services (CTUWS)
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR)
Hisham Mubarak Law Centre (HMLC)
Human Rights Centre for the Assistance of Prisoners (HRCAP)
Land Centre for Human Rights (LCHR)
Nadeem Centre

El Salvador
Comisión de Derechos Humanos de El Salvador (CDHES)

Ethiopia
Action Aid Ethiopia
Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association (EFJA)
Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO)
Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA)

Finland
Finnish League for Human Rights (FLHR)

France
ACAT - France
Justice et paix
Ligue des droits de l’Homme et du citoyen (LDH)
Observatoire international des prisons (OIP)
Pax Christi France
Pax Romana - Mouvement international des juristes catholiques
Réseau d’alerte et d’intervention pour les droits de l’Homme (RAIDH)
Santé, éthique et libertés (SEL)
Service œcuménique d’entraide (CIMADE)

Gambia
International Society for Human Rights (ISHR)
The Gambian Press Union (GPU)

Georgia
Georgian Association to Facilitate Women’s Employment (AMAGDARI)
Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)
Human Rights Centre (HRIDC)
Public Health and Medicine Development Fund (PHMDF)

Germany
ACAT - Germany
Diakonisches Werk der EKD - Human Rights Desk
European Centre for European and Human Rights
Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte (ILMR)
Pax Christi Germany

Greece
Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM)
Hellenic League for Human Rights
Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights
Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (RCTVI)

Guatemala
Casa Alianza
Central General de Trabajadores de Guatemala (CGTG)
Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos (CALDH)
Comisiatura de los Derechos Humanos de Guatemala
Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala (CDHG)
Coordinadora Nacional de Organizaciones Campesinas (CNOC)
Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo (GAM)
Hijos e Hijas por la Identidad y la Justicia contra el Olvido y el Silencio (HIJOS - Guatemala)
Justicia y Paz - United States
Movimiento Nacional de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala (MNDH)
Unidad de Protección de Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos - Guatemala (UDEFEGUA-Guatemala)

Guinea - Bissau
Liga Guineense dos Direitos Humanos (LGDH)

Guinea Conakry
Organisation guinéenne des droits de l’Homme (OGDH)

Haiti
Centre œcuménique pour les droits humains (CEDH)
Comité des avocats pour le respect des libertés individuelles (CARLI)
Justice et paix (JILAP)
Réseau national de défense des droits de l’Homme (RNDDH)

Honduras
Asociación ANDAR
Asociación LGBTI Arcoiris
Asociación para una Ciudadanía Participativa (ACI-Participa)
Centro de Investigación y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (CIPRODEH)
Centro para la Prevención, el Tratamiento y la Rehabilitación de las Víctimas de la Tortura (CPTRT)
Comité de Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos en Honduras (COFADEH)
Comité para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos en Honduras (CODEH)

India
Association internationale des juristes démocrates (AIJD)
Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE)
Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR)
Committee on Human Rights - Manipur
Human Rights Initiative - Manipur
India Centre for Human Rights and the Law (ICHRL)
Jeevan Rekha Parishad (JRP)
Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM)
NGO Forum Combating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children
People’s Initiative for Human Rights (JANANEETHI)
People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)
People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR)
People’s Watch
Rural People’s Sangam (RPS)
Society for Rural Education and Development

Indonesia
The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS)
Imparsial - The Indonesian Human Rights Monitor
TAPOL - The Indonesia Human Rights Campaign - United-Kindgom

Iran
Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC)
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran - United States of America
Ligue pour la défense des droits de l’Homme en Iran (LDDHI) - France

Iraq
Iraqi Network for Human Rights Culture and Development (INHRCD)

Ireland
Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC)
Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)
Law Society of Ireland
Pax Christi Ireland

Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
Addameer
Al-Haq
Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights
Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI)
B’Tselem
DCI - Palestine
HaMoked - Centre for the Defence of the Individual
Jerusalem Centre for Human Rights
Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (Adalah)
Palestine Human Rights Information Centre (PHRIC)
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG)
Physicians for Human Rights - Israel
Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI)
Ramallah Centre for Human Rights Studies (RCHRS)
The Association of Forty
Palestinian Human Rights Organisation (PHRO)

Italy
ACAT - Italy
Liga Italiana dei Diritti dell’Uomo (LIDU)
Pax Christi Italy
Unione Forense per la Tutela dei Diritti dell’Uomo (UFTDU)

Japan
Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute
Centre on Prisoner’s Rights (CPR)

Jordan
Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS)

Kazakhstan
International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (IBHRRL)

Kenya
Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU)
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) - Kenya
Kenyan Human Rights Commission (KHRC)

Kyrgyzstan
Human Rights Centre “Citizens Against Corruption” (CAC)
Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights (KCHR)
Legal Clinic “Adilet”
Social Found “Kylym Chamy”

Kosovo
Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF)

Kuwait
Kuwait Human Rights Society (KHRS)

Latvia
Alliance of LGBT and their friends “Mozaika”
Latvian Human Rights Committee (LHRC)

Lebanon
Association libanaise des droits de l’Homme (ALDHOM)
Centre libanais des droits de l’Homme (CLDH)
Fondation libanaise pour la paix civile permanente
Frontiers Center
Khiam Rehabilitation Centre
National Association for Lebanese Detainees in Israeli Prisons (NALDIP)
Soutien aux Libanais détenus arbitrairement (SOLIDA)

Liberia
Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy (FOHRD)
Liberia Watch for Human Rights

Libya
Libyan League for Human Rights (LLHR)

Lithuania
Lithuanian Human Rights Association (LHRA)

Luxembourg
ACAT - Luxembourg
Pax Christi Luxembourg - Entraide d’église

Madagascar
ACAT- Madagascar

Malaysia
ALIRAN
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

Mali
Association malienne des droits de l’Homme (AMDH)
Association pour le progrès et la défense des droits des femmes (APDF)
Comité d’action pour les droits de l’enfant et de la femme (CADEF)
LAKANA SO

Malta
Malta Association of Human Rights (MAHR)

Mauritania
Association des femmes chefs de familles (AFCF)
Association mauritanienne des droits de l’Homme (AMDH)
SOS esclaves

Mexico
Academia Mexicana de Derechos Humanos (AMDH)
ACAT - Mexico
Asociación de Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos y Victimas (AFADEM-FEDEFAM)
Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña “Tlachinollan”
Centro de Derechos Humanos “Fray Bartolomé de las Casas”
Centro de Derechos Humanos “Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez” (PRODH)
Centro de Derechos Humanos y Asesoría a Pueblos Indígenas
Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos “Bartolomé Carrasco Briseño”
Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (CMDPDH)
Comisión de Solidaridad y Defensa de Derechos Humanos (COSYDDHAC)
Comité Cerezo
Fomento Cultural y Educativo AC
Liga Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (LIMEDDH)
Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa
Red Nacional de Organismos Civiles de Derechos Humanos “Todos los Derechos para Todas y Todos”
Servicio Internacional para la Paz (SIPAZ)
Sin Fronteras

Moldova
League for the Defence of Human Rights of Moldova (LADOM)
Moldova Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (MHC)

Morocco and Western Sahara
Annassir
Association marocaine des droits humains (AMDH)
Association sahraouie des victimes de violations graves des droits de l’Homme commises par l’Etat marocain (ASVDH)
Centre marocain des droits de l’Homme
Forum marocain vérité et justice (FMVJ)
Organisation marocaine des droits humains (OMDH)

Mozambique
Liga Mocanbicana dos Direitos Humanos

Nepal
Advocacy Forum Nepal (AF)
Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO)
Forum for the Protection of Human Rights (FOPHUR)
Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC)
Institute of Human Rights and Democracy (IHRD)
International Institute for Human Rights, Environment and Development (INHURED)
Group for International Solidarity (GRINSO)
Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC)

Netherlands
ACAT - Netherlands
Global Initiative on Psychiatry
Liga Voor de Rechter Van de Mens (LVRM)
Pax Christi Netherlands
Studie-en Informatiecentrum Mensenrechten (SIM)

Nicaragua
Centro Nicaragüense de Derechos Humanos (CENIDH)

Niger
Association nigérienne de défense des droits de l’Homme (ANDDH)
Collectif des organisations de défense des droits de l’Homme et de la démocratie (CODDHD)
Comité de réflexion et d’orientation indépendant pour la sauvegarde des acquis démocratiques (CROISADE)
Comité national de coordination de la Coalition équité / qualité contre la vie chère au Niger
Ligue nigérienne de défense des droits de l’Homme (LNDH)

Nigeria
Centre for Law Enforcement Education (CLEEN)
Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO)
Consulting Centre for Constitutional Rights and Justice (C3RJ)
DCI - Nigeria
Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA)

Pakistan
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
Umeed Welfare Organisation
Voice Against Torture (VAT)
World Peace Forum (WPF)

Peru
Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos (APRODEH)
Centro de Asesoría Laboral (CEDAL)
Centro de Estudios y Acción para la Paz (CEAPAZ)
Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos (CNDDHH)
Federación Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros, Metalúrgicos y Siderúrgicos del Perú (FNTMMSP)
Instituto de Defensa Legal (IDL)

Philippines
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN)
Episcopal Commission on Tribal Filipinos
Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)
Kababaihan Laban sa Karahasan Foundation (KALAKASAN)
KAIBIGAN
Kilusang Mayo Uno Labour Centre (KMU)
Medical Action Group (MAG)
National Alliance of Women’s Organisation in the Philippines (GABRIELA)
National Secretary of Social Action Justice
Pax Christi Philippines
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
Regional Council on Human Rights in Asia
SELDA
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)

Poland
Helsinki Watch Committee

Portugal
Civitas
Comissão para los Direitos do Povo Maubere
Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses
Pax Christi Portugal

Puerto Rico
Pax Christi Puerto Rico

Republic of Korea
MINBYUN - Lawyers for a Democratic Society
Sarangbang Group for Human Rights

Romania
The League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADO)

Russian Federation
All-Russia Public Movement “For Human Rights”
Anti-Discrimination Centre “Memorial”, Saint-Petersburg
Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights
Centre Sova
Citizens’ Watch
“Demos” Centre
Human Rights Centre “Memorial”, Moscow
Mothers of Dagestan for Human Rights
Moscow Helsinki Group
Nizhny Novgorod Foundation for the Promotion of Tolerance
Research Centre “Memorial”, Saint-Petersburg
Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS)
Russian Research Centre for Human Rights
Soldiers’ Mothers of Saint-Petersburg

Rwanda
Association pour la défense des droits de l’Homme et libertés publiques (ADL)
Collectif des ligues pour la défense des droits de l’Homme (CLADHO)
Forum des activistes contre la torture (FACT)
Ligue rwandaise pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l’Homme (LIPRODHOR)
Réseau international pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l’Homme au Rwanda (RIPRODHOR)

Senegal
Ligue sénégalaise des droits de l’Homme (LSDH)
Organisation nationale des droits de l’Homme (ONDH)
Rencontre africaine des droits de l’Homme (RADDHO)

Serbia
Anti Sex Trafficking Action (ASTRA)
Centre for Peace and Democracy Development (CPDD)
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
Humanitarian Law Centre (HLC)
LABRIS
Queeria

Sierra Leone
Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR)
DCI - Sierra Leone
Forum of Conscience (FOC)

South Africa
Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR)

Spain
ACAT - Spain / Cataluña
Asociación pro Derechos Humanos de España (APDHE)
Federación de Asociaciones de Defensa y de Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (FADPDH)
Justicia i Pau
Pax Romana / Grupo Juristas Roda Ventura
Taula Catalana por la Paz y los Derechos Humanos en Colombia

Sri Lanka
Centre for Rule of Law
Home for Human Rights (HHR)
Law and Society Trust (LST)

Sudan
African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)
Amel Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture
Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre (DHRC)
Khartoum Centre for Human Rights and Environment Development (KCHRED)
Save Darfur Coalition
The Darfur Consortium

Switzerland
ACAT - Switzerland
Action de carême catholique suisse / Fastenopfer
Antenna International
Justice et paix - Commission nationale suisse
Ligue suisse des droits de l’Homme (LSDH)
Pax Christi Switzerland
Pax Romana Switzerland

Syria
Arab Organisation for Human Rights in Syria (AOHRS)
Comités de défense des libertés démocratiques et des droits de l’Homme en Syrie (CDF)
Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS)
Human Rights Association in Syria (HRAS)
Human Rights Organisation in Syria (MAF)
Kurdish Committee for Human Rights in Syria (al-Rased)
Kurdish Organisation for Defending Human Rights and Public Freedoms in Syria (DAD)
National Organisation for Human Rights in Syria (NOHR-S)
Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)
Syrian Human Rights Organisation “Swasiah” (SHRO)
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR)

Tajikistan
Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law
International Centre of Non Commercial Law

Tanzania
Centre pour l’éducation et la défense des droits de l’Homme (CEDH)
Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC)

Thailand
Union for Civil Liberty (UCL)
Working Group on Justice for Peace (WGJP)

Togo
ACAT-Togo
Association togolaise de lutte contre la torture (ATLT)
Ligue togolaise des droits de l’Homme (LTDH)

Tunisia
Association de lutte contre la torture en Tunisie (ALTT)
Association tunisienne des femmes démocrates (ATFD)
Centre d’information et de documentation sur la torture en Tunisie - France
Comité pour le respect des libertés et des droits de l’Homme en Tunisie (CRLDHT)
Conseil national pour les libertés en Tunisie (CNLT)
Ligue tunisienne des droits de l’Homme (LTDH)

Turkey
Centre d’action sociale, de réhabilitation et d’adaptation (SOHRAM)
Human Rights Agenda Association (HRAA)
Human Rights Association (IHD)
Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT)
Legal Research Foundation (TOHAV)

Turkmenistan
Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR)

Uganda
Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)
Human Rights and Development Torch
Sexual Minorities in Uganda (SMUG)

Ukraine
Kharkiv Human Rights Group
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union

United Kingdom
ACAT - UK
Anti-Slavery Society for the Protection of Human Rights
Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ)
Justice
Justice for Victims of Human Rights Violations in Armed and Civil Conflicts
Liberty
Pax Christi - UK
Quaker Peace and Service Abolition of Torture

United States
Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR)
Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law
Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA)
Human Rights Advocates
National Council of Churches - Human Rights Office
Pax Christi USA
World Organization for Human Rights

Uruguay
Instituto de Estudios Legales y Sociales del Uruguay (IELSUR)
Servicio Paz y Justicia - Uruguay

Uzbekistan
“Ezgulik”
Independent Human Rights Society in Uzbekistan
Human Rights in Central Asia
Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU)
Legal Aid Society (LAS)
“Mazlum” Human Rights Centre
Uzbekistan Human Rights Alliance (PAU)

Venezuela
Comité de Familiares de Víctimas de los sucesos ocurridos entre el 27 de febrero y los primeros días de marzo de 1989 (COFAVIC)
Comisión Latinoamericana por los Derechos y Libertades de Trabajadores y Pueblos (CLADEHLT)
Espacio Público
Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones (OVP)
Programa Venezolano de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos (PROVEA)
Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz (REDAPOYO)

Viet Nam
Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR)

Yemen
Human Rights Information and Training Centre (HRITC)
National Organisation for Defending Rights and Freedoms (Hood)
Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights (SAF)
Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC)
Yemen Centre for Human Rights Studies (YCHRS)
Yemen Observatory for Human Rights (YOHR)
Yemeni Organisation for the Defence of Democratic Rights and Freedoms (Hurryat)

Zimbabwe
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace
Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ)
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)

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