PHM-Exch> Human rights activists at growing risk

[Ravi Ram]

Solid report, but terrible news ...

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/mar/09/human-rights-activists-growing-risk-attacks-and-killings-study-claims

'Attacks and killings': human rights activists at growing risk, study claims

Research shows 34% rise in attacks against campaigners defending land,
environment and labour rights in the face of corporate activity

Annie Kelly <https://www.theguardian.com/profile/anniekelly>

Fri 9 Mar 2018 13.12 GMTLast modified on Fri 9 Mar 2018 22.01 GMT

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[image: A demonstrator in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, protests
following the murder of land rights activist Berta Cáceres]
<https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/mar/09/human-rights-activists-growing-risk-attacks-and-killings-study-claims#img-1>
 A demonstrator in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, protests following
the murder of Berta Cáceres, the land rights activist who was killed in
2016. Photograph: Orlando Sierra/AFP/Getty Images

Human rights <https://www.theguardian.com/law/human-rights> defenders who
challenge big corporations are being killed, assaulted, harassed and
suppressed in growing numbers, researchers have claimed.

A survey by the Business and Human Rights Resource Center
<https://www.business-humanrights.org/> recorded a 34% global rise in
attacks against human rights activists last year, including 120 alleged
murders and hundreds of other cases involving threats, assaults and
intimidation. The number of incidents were found to have risen sharply, with
 388
<https://business-humanrights.org/en/key-findings-from-the-database-of-attacks-on-human-rights-defenders-feb-2017>attacks
recorded in 2017 compared with 290 the previous year.

The research focused on attacks against activists involved in protests
against corporate activities. Victims included unionists, protests,
whistleblowers and indigenous communities.

Land rights <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/land-rights> defenders
and activists linked to the mining, agribusiness and renewable energy
sectors were found to be in greatest danger. The researchers also
highlighted an increased risk to lawyers, and to members of human rights
and environmental civil society organisations working for corporate
accountability.

In 42% of harassment cases, judicial intimidation was used in an attempt to
suppress protests against business activities. This included arbitrary
detention, criminalisation and aggressive lawsuits.

The Business and Human Rights Center found that companies involved in
mining, agriculture, energy and construction – particularly those
headquartered in the UK, US, China, Canada and France – were the most
likely to use legal means in an attempt to prevent human rights protests.

“Our research highlights that companies do play a significant role in
attacks on human rights defenders – the first time that this data has been
systematically collected,” said Ana Zbona from the Business and Human
Rights Resource Center.

The researchers found that human rights defenders raising concerns about
business operations are often criminalised on fabricated charges.
Documented cases include activists accused of being involved in
assassinations in Guatemala, arson attacks in Chile, and fraud and tax
evasion in Turkmenistan, Russia and Azerbaijan.
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“Judicial harassment deters communities, workers and activists from
speaking out against corporate abuse. Legal harassment often forms part of
a broader campaign which can include physical attacks and killings,” said
Zbona.

“Impunity from the state and the declining strength of unions has a big
role to play, as well as a growing competition for natural resources that
is only gaining pace.”

Although attacks occurred in every region across the world, Brazil, Mexico,
Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala and the Philippines – which collectively
accounted for 212 of all incidents – were identified as the countries where
attacks were most probable.

Last week, the International Council on Mining and Metals
<https://www.icmm.com/en-gb> acknowledged that attacks on human rights
defenders were on the increase and called on relevant government
authorities to take action.

“Defenders continue to face harassment and fear for their safety when they
speak out,” the council said in a statement. “This is deeply concerning for
companies that are committed to human rights, openness and transparency.
While we may not always agree with positions taken by human rights
defenders, ICMM recognises freedom of expression and assembly as
fundamental human rights.”

Last month, a report by Frontline Defenders said that in 2017 there was a
“well resourced and coordinated strategy of defamation, criminalisation and
violence deployed to intimidate, marginalise and silence human rights
defenders”.

The group received reports on the murder of 312 rights defenders in 27
countries.

“In 2017 the alarming rise in attacks is just a continuation of what has
become a very open and very aggressive attack on civil society and anyone
who advocates against or challenges corporate power,” said Katie Redford,
director of EarthRights International, a civil society group that provides
legal assistance to human and environmental rights activists.
‘We lost a great leader’: Berta Cáceres still inspires as murder case takes
fresh twist

Read more
<https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/nov/17/berta-caceres-murder-case-honduras-land-rights>
Case studies

   - On 24 January 2018, Quintin Salgado
   <https://business-humanrights.org/en/mexico-labour-activist-quint%C3%ADn-salgado-killed-amidst-workers%E2%80%99-strike-at-torex-gold-mine-company-comments>,
   a labour activist and leader of the Los Mineros workers union, was attacked
   and killed by unknown assailants. Salgado had been working with striking
   miners at the Media Luna mine in Guerrero, Mexico, owned by Canadian mining
   company Torex Gold <https://www.torexgold.com/>. Workers have been
   striking since November 2017 in an effort to secure better working
   conditions and the right to freedom of association. Salgado, a former
   worker at the mine, was the third person involved in the strikes to be
   killed. In a statement following the murder, Torex Gold said: “The Company
   has no way of knowing who was behind the killing. It is our understanding
   that Mr Salgado was well known to authorities and that the investigation
   continues. It is truly sad that Los Mineros and their supporting unions
   have chosen to exploit these human tragedies to further their political
   agendas.”
   - On 9 January, Ronald David Barillas, a member of the Xinca indigenous
   parliament, was killed in Santa Rosa, Guatemala. Barillas, a vocal critic
   of the sugar agroindustry, had opposed the Escobal mining project, owned by
   Canadian firm Tahoe Resources <http://www.tahoeresources.com/>. In a
   statement, the mining company said: “As an open, transparent and law
   abiding company, we will cooperate with authorities as requested. We are
   committed to the search for truth, strengthening the rule of law, and the
   fight against impunity in Guatemala … We recognise human rights activists
   are particularly vulnerable to violence and persecution. We denounce any
   attempts by others to threaten, frighten, or attack members of community
   activism groups or human rights organisations.”
   - Prosecutors in Cambodia are seeking criminal charges and pre-trial
   detention for three prominent human rights defenders, Moeun Tola, Pa Nguon
   Teang and Buddhist monk Venerable But Buntenh. If convicted, they face up
   to three years in prison.
   - Last month, palm oil company Socfin  <http://www.socfin.com/en>and its
   Cameroonian subsidiary Socapalm began defamation proceedings in Paris
   against two NGOs, Sherpa and ReAct, and French media outlets Mediapart,
   L’Obs and Le Point, over reporting of protests by farmers living near
   plantations run by the two companies. Socfin is part-owned by French
   conglomerate Bolloré, one of the world’s largest companies. Sherpa claims
   <https://www.asso-sherpa.org/op-ed-we-wont-be-silenced-by-bollore-gag-suits>that,
   collectively, Socfin and Bolloré have launched more than 20 defamation
   suits against 40 journalists, NGOs and media organisations since 2009.
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