KENYA: The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders – Kenya (NCHRD-K) and DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) are outraged by the killing of human rights defender John Waweru on Monday 11 April 2016 in Zimmerman, Nairobi. John Waweru was the director of Githunguri Constituency Ranching Company and an avid and committed human rights defender working towards the promotion and protection of economic and social rights. NCHRD-K and DefendDefenders are alarmed at the trend of attacks against human rights defenders in Kenya related to their work on land and environmental rights. Mr Waweru was at the forefront of advocacy against forced evictions of individuals residing on contested land in Kiambu County. The killing of John Waweru, which is believed to be due to his human rights work, comes shortly after the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on the protection of human rights defenders addressing economic, social and cultural rights (A/HRC/31/L.28) in March 2016. The NCHRD-K and DefendDefenders express grave concern about the lack of accountability for perpetrators of harassment, intimidation, and physical and sometimes lethal attacks against human rights defenders in Kenya. Joel Ogada, a human rights defender in Kilifi County who has been a leading advocate for land rights against the neighbouring Salt farms has faced three criminal charges, one of which resulted in him being sentenced to two years in prison after appeal. He was released in September 2015 and barely six months after his release, in March 2016, he was rearrested and charged with attempting to kill. In 2013, Hassan Guyo, the Programme Director for Strategies for Northern Development (SND), an organisation that promotes human rights for women and children and works on refugee and human trafficking issues in Moyale was killed by security forces. In 2009, HRDs Oscar Kingara and Paul Oulu of Oscar Foundation were shot dead in Nairobi. In all of these matters, no one has been held to account and police investigations have been inconclusive. The protection and promotion of the work of HRDs is anchored in international human rights norms. In 1998, a UN General Assembly resolution adopted the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders that codifies the international standards protecting the activities of HRDs around the world. Though not binding, the provisions within this document are echoed in the Kenyan constitution. Despite these international standards, HRDs in Kenya are still operating in a hostile environment. The NCHRDK and DefendDefenders call on: The Inspector General of Police and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to launch a comprehensive, impartial and independent investigation into the killing of John Waweru without delay; The Kenyan Government to put in place mechanisms, including a legal framework, for the protection of human rights defenders in Kenya and ensure a conducive working environment for HRDs; and The international community to strongly condemn the killing of John Waweru, whose human rights work greatly contributed the livelihoods of his constituents. Kamau Ngugi Executive Director, National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders – Kenya Hassan Shire Executive Director, DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)

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Internship at African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights: The purpose of the Internship is to support the work of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders at the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR).

It is a 12 month position based in Banjul, the Gambia.

Candidates should be able to work in English and French. Front Line will prioritise the recruitment of interns who have experience as a human rights defender in Africa.

Basic terms of reference:

• Gather information on the situation of human rights defenders in Africa (with a particular focus on themes of concern identified bythe SR);
• In coordination with other thematic mechanisms and with geographic desk officers, draft urgent appeals and communications to Governments concerning human rights violations against human rights defenders;
• Support follow-up of cases;
• Analyse replies received from Governments and prepare summaries for inclusion in the annual report;
• Assist in the preparation of background materials for official missions by the Special Rapporteur;
• Assist in liasing with non-governmental organizations for the smooth implementation of the mandate, as needed.

Honorarium: 850USD per month.

Applications comprising a cover letter and CV should be sent to Tara Madden, Program Manager.

Applications can be sent by email to: recruit [at] frontlinedefenders.org or by post to: Front Line 81 Main St. Blackrock Co. Dublin Ireland by 15th October for internships starting in January the following year.

For further details, and application materials, contact: Internship at African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights

Internship at African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights: The purpose of the Internship is to support the work of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders at the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR).

It is a 12 month position based in Banjul, the Gambia.

Candidates should be able to work in English and French. Front Line will prioritise the recruitment of interns who have experience as a human rights defender in Africa.

Basic terms of reference:

• Gather information on the situation of human rights defenders in Africa (with a particular focus on themes of concern identified bythe SR);
• In coordination with other thematic mechanisms and with geographic desk officers, draft urgent appeals and communications to Governments concerning human rights violations against human rights defenders;
• Support follow-up of cases;
• Analyse replies received from Governments and prepare summaries for inclusion in the annual report;
• Assist in the preparation of background materials for official missions by the Special Rapporteur;
• Assist in liasing with non-governmental organizations for the smooth implementation of the mandate, as needed.

Honorarium: 850USD per month.

Applications comprising a cover letter and CV should be sent to Tara Madden, Program Manager.

Applications can be sent by email to: recruit [at] frontlinedefenders.org or by post to: Front Line 81 Main St. Blackrock Co. Dublin Ireland by 15th October for internships starting in January the following year.

For further details, and application materials, contact: Internship at African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights

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Human Rights Defenders Tulip Award: Nominations are now being accepted for the Human Rights Defenders Tulip award.

Anyone can nominate a candidate for the human rights defenders award.

The award, an initiative of the Dutch Government, will be presented by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs on 9 November.

The Human Rights Defenders Tulip is an expression of appreciation intended to acknowledge persons who have shown exceptional moral courage in protecting and promoting the rights of fellow citizens.

Only individuals can be nominated for the award; organisations are not eligible for consideration.

They should be human rights defenders who work full-time to promote or protect human rights.

They should have faced or be at risk of facing negative personal consequences as a result of their work.

The individual nominees are activists who could benefit from the recognition and visibility associated with winning the award.

The winner receives an official commemorative statuette, the Human Rights Defenders Tulip, and an individual cash award of EUR 10,000.

He or she also has the opportunity to submit a proposal for a project to the value of up to EUR 100,000, to be used to intensify the winner’s work as a human rights defender.

Deadline: 23rd August.

For more information and application , visit: Human Rights Defenders Tulip Award Website

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Front Line Fellowship for Human Rights Defenders: Each year Front Line recruits two human rights defenders at risk to take part in a 6 month fellowship and training program.

The locations could include Dublin, Brussels etc.

Selected participants work on a specific project related to the international protection of human rights defenders as well as engage in a range of training appropriate to their needs.

Such training could include: security training, security of information management and electronic communications, international human rights mechanisms, English language, financial management and fundraising.

The human rights defender would also be involved in promoting work for the protection of human rights defenders to relevant audiences in Ireland through talks, involvement in human rights education and media work.

Applicants should submit a letter addressing the following topics:

• the candidate’s experience as a human rights defender and details of their current role;
• details of any threats, harassment, detention, ill-treatment or other negative consequences faced as a result of the candidate’s human rights work;
• a proposal of a project to work on and topics the candidate would particularly like to study as part of the fellowship;
• how the candidate’s participation in the fellowship would contribute to the strengthened protection of human rights defenders internationally.

Successful applicants will receive an honorarium of €850 per month for six months together with the use of a single room in a shared apartment in Dublin.

Applications comprising a cover letter and CV should be sent to Andrew Anderson, Deputy Director, by email to recruit[at]frontlinedefenders.org or by post to: Front Line, 81 Main St. Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

For further details, and application materials, contact: Front Line Fellowship for Human Rights Defenders

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