I’m hearing disturbing news that on 12 January the Bostandyk District Court of Almaty, in #Kazakhstan, will hear a disbarment case against lawyer & HRD Murat Adam. (1/2)

2025 was a year of sustained engagement with human rights defenders and relentless advocacy for protection & accountability. As we move into the final year of my mandate, I thank all those who engaged with me & continue to drive this crucial work forward.

En octobre dernier, j'ai écrit au gouvernement de la #Guinée à propos de la tentative de disparition forcée visant le défenseur des droits humains Alseny Farinta Camara, le contraignant à fuir le pays, ainsi que de la surveillance dont il ferait toujours l’objet. srdefenders.org/guinee-menac...

Very disturbed by the most recent denial of bail to human rights defenders Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in #India. They have now been detained without trial for more than five years. They must be released. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Shocking news out of Minnesota. On my recent trip there I met with numerous human rights defenders who told me of the violence they faced from law enforcement officers, and the legacy of law enforcement killings in the city. (1/2)

Now public: I wrote to the #US Government & several universities about the reported violence, arrests, surveillance, suspensions, criminal charges & other measures taken against students who peacefully protested & spoke about the conflict in Gaza. srdefenders.org/usa-physical...

Receiving more extremely concerning news about new threats by armed men against Antônio Francisco de Sousa Araujo in the Vergel community in #Maranhão, #Brazil. (1/2) @itamaratygovbr.bsky.social

Now public: communication to #Sudan about the death sentence issued against HRD Abubakr Mansour Mohamed Hamza & the arbitrary arrest of his defense counsel Abubakr Elmahi in Oct 2025. A reply from the Government was received & is being translated. srdefenders.org/sudan-death-...

Hearing disturbing news that detained Turkish lawyer & HRD Selçuk Kozağaçlı, sentenced to 10 years in prison on spurious charges has for a 2nd time been arbitrarily barred from conditional release.

Now public: communications to #Italy & #FoxPetroli on the defamation lawsuit filed by the fossil fuel company against environmental HRDs Roberto Malini & Lisetta Sperindei, which strongly resembles a SLAPP. Sadly, I did not receive a response. I’ll be following closely tomorrow’s court hearing.

#Uganda: UN experts urge human rights safeguards ahead of 2026 elections, remind authorities of obligations to ensure participation in public affairs without violence & discrimination. "Closing space for dissent risks sparking further electoral violence." www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Now public: communications to #Libya, #Italy & the #EU on the attack on the Ocean Viking by the Libyan Coast Guard in August 2025, along with responses from Italy & the EU. I remain gravely concerned by the attack & will continue to follow the case. srdefenders.org/libya-gunfir...

#Colombia Me alegra saber que el defensor indígena Reynaldo Quebrada Quilcue ha sido liberado tras 1.071 días de detención injusta. No obstante, su criminalización por mediar durante una incursión militar en territorio indígena constituye una grave violación y es inaceptable. [1/2]

Delighted to hear that Tunisian WHRD Sherifa Riahi has been released with a suspended sentence after many months in detention and can now join her young family; she and all HRDs working on migrant rights should never have been criminalised. spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBas...

I'm receiving alarming news from a woman human rights defender in East #DRC: "Rattling of bullets and bombs in #Uvira. The situation remains unclear and all activities are paralysed." Authorities must take immediate steps to protect civilians and human rights defenders and prevent further harm.

Recibiendo noticias preocupantes de que aún no hay información oficial sobre el paradero de la defensora y investigadora María de los Ángeles Valenzuela, dos meses después de que fuera privada de su libertad por sujetos armados en #Sinaloa en #México.

@theintercept.com reported on the allegations I raised in communications to the US Government & several universities earlier this year, urging them to prevent reprisals against students who stand in solidarity with Palestine. theintercept.com/2025/12/16/u...

Seven years in arbitrary detention. Over 40 days on hunger strike. I am now seriously concerned for the life of human rights defender Abdoul Aziz Goma and urge the Togolese authorities to release him before it is too late.

Je reste préoccupée par la détention prolongée du DDH Moussa Tchangari au #Niger. Il est détenu depuis plus d'un an, uniquement pour avoir exercé pacifiquement ses droits humains. Je demande que toutes les charges retenues contre lui soient abandonnées et qu'il soit immédiatement libéré.

Hearing disturbing news about the Young LGBTI+ Association in Izmir’s dissolution on obscenity charges in a 1st court-ordered dissolution of an LGBT rights organisation in the last 25 years; I strongly urge the Turkish authorities to allow it to continue its peaceful HRD work.

Great to meet with the Rebel Mums in Stockholm last week. Mothers everywhere stand up for human rights, inspired by the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo in Argentina.

Now public: communication to #Georgia on the criminalisation & arbitrary pre-trial detention of woman human rights defender Nino Datashvili. I'm relieved to hear Nino has been released on bail, but remain highly concerned that the case remains open. srdefenders.org/georgia-arre...

Ya pública: carta al Gobierno de #Nicaragua sobre la vida y la integridad personal de las personas indígenas, guardabosques y defensores de los derechos humanos en el Territorio Mayangna Sauni As. Lamento no haber recibido una respuesta. srdefenders.org/nicaragua-vi...

Hearing disturbing news about worsening harassment & attacks December 10 against Western Saharan HRD Sidi Mohamed Daddach & other HRDs who were violently prevented by Moroccan security forces from attending a meeting; they were dragged away, beaten, kicked & insulted.

Congratulations to my friend & former colleague Brian Dooley @dooleydooley.bsky.social on this well-deserved Human Rights Award from the University of Oslo. Brian’s work has helped protect & amplify human rights defenders for decades. Couldn’t happen to a better person. www.uio.no/english/abou...

I’m hearing disturbing news from #Crimea that the office of human rights lawyers Lilia Hemedzhy, Rustem Kyamilev, Edem Semedlyayev, Nazim Sheikhmambetov & Emil Kurbedinov were raided, confidential material reviewed & some seized. [1/2]

Hearing disturbing news about the criminalisation of WHRDs Claire Namara, Aloikin Praise Opoloje & Norah Kobusinge for their involvement in peaceful protests in #Uganda. I'll be closely following their hearing on 15 December, and I call on the Ugandan authorities to drop the charges against them.

Now public: I wrote to the Government of #Thailand about the escalating death threats against HRDs Jorn Naowa-opas and Sumet Rianpongnam, and the wider pattern of reprisals against those opposing harmful corporate practices in the Eastern Economic Corridor. srdefenders.org/thailand-esc...

I share the serious concern of @srenvironment.bsky.social about this attempt to roll back the rights of Indigenous peoples in #Brazil. Implementation of the marco temporal thesis would gravely violate their rights & expose Indigenous peoples & HRDs to further attacks. It should be abandoned.

Thanks to the Swedish Institute for Human Rights for inviting me to speak on Human Rights Day at MR-dagarna 2025 in Stockholm. It was invaluable to hear from human rights defenders about how the growing rollback on rights in Sweden, Europe and beyond is impacting them and their work.

As I said in the #UNGA80 report, time is running out. Climate change is a human rights crisis, and human rights defenders protecting the climate deserve to be heard. Urgently. www.linkedin.com/posts/vitser...

Great to see this piece by Irish Ambassador Emma Hickey and Dutch Ambassador Marielle Geraedts on why human rights defenders must be supported, in the Philippines and around the world. opinion.inquirer.net/188112/defen...

I welcome and echo these calls by @chrdnet.bsky.social for the Chinese government to release all those serving long term prison sentences as a result of exercising their internationally recognised right to defend human rights.

Sigo de cerca el juicio de los defensores de derechos humanos Edwar Brandon Quispe Ccuno y Javier Mamani Coaquira, quienes están detenidos y criminalizados por proteger pacíficamente su tierra y sus derechos frente al proyecto minero Las Bambas en Apurímac, #Perú.

Special Procedures are an ‘indispensable pillar’ of global rights protection: Facing attacks, threats and sanctions, independent human rights experts appointed by UN Human Rights Council call on Member States to resist efforts to dilute the system. www.ohchr.org/en/statement...

Receiving very disturbing news of shots fired this morning at the home of HRD Antônio Francisco de Sousa Araujo in the Vergel community in #Maranhão, #Brazil. I alerted the govt to threats & attacks he was facing in 2024 & now call on them to offer him urgent protection. @itamaratygovbr.bsky.social

Six years have passed since HRD Idris Khattak was abducted in #Pakistan. He remains unjustly imprisoned after grave violations including enforced disappearance & torture. As his family persists in seeking justice, I again urge the authorities to release him. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXBe...

International Human Rights Defenders Day is a reminder that progress on human rights doesn't happen by accident. Each step forward happens because HRDs persevere, year after year, choosing to be lighthouses instead of hurricanes. We owe them an eternity of gratitude. #HRDday

Recibo noticias muy preocupantes sobre la ampliación de 6 meses de la detención preventiva de la defensora de derechos humanos Ruth López en #ElSalvador. La Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos otorgó medidas cautelares en su favor en septiembre. Debe ser liberada.

On #HumanRightsDefendersDay, UN Special Rapporteur @marylawlorhrds.bsky.social shares powerful stories of human rights defenders and why every person, everywhere, can help keep hope alive. 🎥 Watch the interview: youtu.be/yhPIO6CnfNQ

Kenia Hernández has been imprisoned since 2020. She has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison. #FreeKenia #FreeWHRDs #SpreadingTheEcho #LibertadParaKeniaYA More here 👉https://t.ly/jMZed

#Tanzania 🇹🇿: UN experts condemn post-election lethal crackdown & digital blackout, urge investigations & accountability for alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances & arbitrary detentions targeting protesters, opposition & civil society. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

I wrote to the Government of #Indonesia about the physical attacks & intimidation against Indigenous WHRD Dewi Anakoda. As she & HRD Ngigoro Batawi are set to return home from an advocacy trip abroad, Indonesian authorities must guarantee their safety. srdefenders.org/indonesia-vi...

Press Release: I strongly condemn the extradition of Vietnamese Montagnard human rights defender Y Quynh Bdăp from Thailand to Viet Nam. His return exposes him to a serious risk of torture, arbitrary detention and other grave violations. srdefenders.org/un-experts-a...