Front Line Defenders

Security, protection, visibility + advocacy for human rights defenders at risk.

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[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📣 Front Line Defenders is recruiting for a Head of Region (MENA).

More information and how to apply can be found here ⬇️
https://t.co/L36UTOmkgS

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍BANGLADESH

🚨WHRD Shampa Goswami faces imminent arrest after a sedition case was filed against her targeting her for her human rights work.

FLD calls on the authorities in Bangladesh to drop all criminal investigations against her and cease all forms of harassment against her.

🔗https://t.co/3OrxGGkM7o

[Andrea Bolaños Vargas @AndreaBV_SR_HRD]

📢 Today I present my first report as UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to the UN General Assembly.

It brings together the voices of more than 1,100 defenders from every region and sets out the priorities of my mandate:
🧠 Health and psychosocial wellbeing of HRDs
🌍 Defenders in contexts of human mobility, displacement and exile, and transnational repression
⚖️ The cycle of criminalization against those who defend human rights

🕙 10:00 New York | 16:00 Geneva
📺UN Web TV: https://t.co/tBjsHErt0W
🔗Report: https://t.co/M0GbHttQcD

_________
📢 Hoy presento en la Asamblea General de la ONU mi primer informe como Relatora Especial sobre la situación de las personas defensoras de derechos humanos.

Este informe recoge las voces de más de 1.100 personas defensoras de todas las regiones y define las prioridades de mi mandato:
🧠 Salud y bienestar psicosocial de las personas defensoras
🌍 Personas defensoras en contextos de movilidad humana, desplazamiento y exilio, y represión transnacional
⚖️ El ciclo de criminalización contra quienes defienden derechos humanos

🕙 10:00 Nueva York | 16:00 Ginebra
📺UN Web TV: https://t.co/tBjsHErt0W

🔗Informe: https://t.co/M0GbHttQcD

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍India

🚨The crackdown on peaceful protesters in New Delhi involved mass detention, unlawful force and targeting of journalists and HRDs.

We call on Indian authorities to release everyone arbitrarily detained and ensure accountability for abuses by security forces.

🔗https://t.co/QWt5m4HmNz

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍IRAN

🚨WHRD Pouran Nazemi faces imminent risk of imprisonment after an appeal against her prison sentences may not have been registered.

FLD believes her conviction is linked to her peaceful human rights work and calls for the convictions and sentences against her to be dropped.

🔗https://t.co/izROczcWke

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

🚨Environmental WHRDs Sara Tuševljak and Sunčica Kovačević, are due to appear in court for hearings in the SLAPP lawsuits filed against them in January 2022.

FLD reiterates its concern about the lawsuits and significant delays faced by both defenders.

🔗 https://t.co/xEUV1BLYHe

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

🔊 Front Line Defenders is recruiting for an Americas Officer. For more information and to apply, see here: https://t.co/608hS4yFDw

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍Bahrain

After being released on a royal pardon in 2024, HRD Naji Fateel was re-arrested in August 2026 and is being held in Jau Prison, where prisoners are protesting to demand improved detention conditions.

Naji spends 22 hours a day in a crowded cell.

Information received about the prison conditions indicate overcrowding, a lack of regular maintenance of toilet facilities, and inadequate arrangements for phone calls and outdoor exercise given the number of prisoners.

We call for Naji Fateel’s immediate release and for him to be allowed to complete his jaw and dental treatment plan to ensure he maintains his health. Until his release, we urge the authorities to review his classification, transfer him to another building and ensure his safety.

We also urge the authorities to address prisoners’ legitimate demands, ensure humane detention conditions and protect them from reprisals for their peaceful protest.

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍MOROCCO / WESTERN SAHARA

🚨Sahrawi HRD Hassana Eddouihi & 6 student activists were arrested after police violently dispersed a peaceful solidarity gathering for political prisoners.

FLD calls for their immediate & unconditional release.

🔗 https://t.co/oQNBTjaXkY

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍Occupied Palestinian Territory

Front Line Defenders stands in solidarity with Palestinian human rights organisations still under US sanctions, and calls for an immediate end to the sanctions:

Read more here: https://t.co/Htk4BO13Dn

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍ECUADOR

🚨 On 14 April 2026, 31 farming families from the Montubio village of Los Ángeles, in Guayas – who have been defending their land rights following decades of dispute with companies linked to the shrimp farming industry – were evicted. They lost their homes, crops and livelihoods. Among those affected are children, older people and people with disabilities.

In 2023, the land was awarded to one of their community associations and, a few weeks later, sold to a company that had been set up just days earlier. The families are challenging the legality of this sale and have taken the case to court. Since then, they have faced administrative and criminal complaints (both of which have been dismissed), an eviction order enforced by the National Police, threats, restrictions on access and the destruction of crops. Their appeal has been delayed for almost five months and the hearing has been rescheduled for 27 November.

Front Line Defenders urges the Ecuadorian authorities to guarantee access to justice, investigate the eviction and the reported threats, ensure full reparations, and facilitate a safe and dignified return to the land. Those who defend the land must be able to do so without fear of reprisals or criminalisation.

🔗Read the full statement: https://t.co/J2KtpKNR99

[ESP]

🚨 31 familias campesinas del pueblo Montubio de la comunidad Los Ángeles, en Guayas, que defienden sus derechos sobre el territorio tras décadas de disputa con empresas vinculadas a la actividad camaronera, fueron desalojadas el 14 de abril de 2026. Perdieron sus viviendas, cultivos y medios de subsistencia. Entre las personas afectadas hay niñas, niños, personas adultas mayores y personas con discapacidad.

En 2023 el predio fue adjudicado a una de sus asociaciones comunitarias y, pocas semanas después, vendido a una empresa creada días antes. Las familias cuestionan la legalidad de esa venta y llevan el caso a la justicia. Desde entonces se han enfrentado a denuncias administrativas y penales (ambas archivadas), una orden de desalojo ejecutada por la Policía Nacional, amenazas, restricción de acceso y destrucción de cultivos. Su apelación judicial lleva casi cinco meses de retraso y la audiencia fue reprogramada para el 27 de noviembre.

Front Line Defenders insta a las autoridades ecuatorianas a garantizar el acceso a la justicia, investigar el desalojo y las amenazas denunciadas, asegurar la reparación integral, y facilitar un retorno seguro y digno al territorio. Quienes defienden la tierra deben poder hacerlo sin temor a represalias ni criminalización.

🔗Lee el comunicado: https://t.co/hhv2IteQTS

[Sophie Wilmès @Sophie_Wilmes]

For over 30 years, Ljiljana Nešić has fought corruption and supported women facing violence in Serbia, despite threats and intimidation.

Honoured to meet this year’s Front Line Defenders Award laureate.

The @Europarl_EN stands with her.

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

As part of the Lighthouse consortium, Front Line Defenders welcomes the steady progress of the Lighthouse Fund, the Global Protection Fund providing rapid, flexible support to those on the front lines of human rights, enabling them to continue their vital work when it matters most.

Read more about the progress of the Fund since its inception in January this year: https://t.co/IRZZ0HKxJD

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍India

🚨FLD joins other human rights organisations in urging GANHRI to downgrade the NHRCI's “A” rating over its failure to comply with the Paris Principles and address India's deteriorating human rights situation.

🔗https://t.co/l0T09LKkqt

[PBI UK @PBIUK]

📍 In Dublin for the Arts and Human Rights Festival? Don't miss Pesta Babi: Colonialism in our Time — a documentary screening + panel on Indigenous communities in South Papua facing land loss to industrial mega-projects.
🗓 Oct 12, 7–9:30pm | 📍 Pearse Centre | Free

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍Singapore

🚨14 human rights defenders & activists have been charged in recent weeks over peaceful assemblies and vigils.

Front Line Defenders joins other organisations in calling on Singapore to drop the charges and end the criminalisation of peaceful assembly.

🔗 https://t.co/IwnSJBSHya

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📢 On World Day Against the Death Penalty, we highlight the 2026 Front Line Defenders Award MENA regional laureate: Iranian human rights defender Ahmadreza Haeri, one of the initiators of the prisoner-led "No to Death Penalty on Tuesdays" campaign.

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/7uyFPwdRsg

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

📍Bangladesh

🚨WHRD Shampa Goswami faces a travel ban, police investigation and ongoing harassment linked to her human rights work.

FLD calls on the authorities in Bangladesh to immediately lift the travel ban and end all harassment and intimidation against her.

🔗 https://t.co/0acuOew8oF

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

The five winners of the 2026 Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk pictured at Trinity College in Dublin, where a special ceremony was held in to honor them.

A recently freed anti-death penalty campaigner from Iran, a feminist pro-participatory democracy defender from Angola, a jailed student activist opposing anti-Muslim legislation in India, a trans Black quilombola woman leader from Brazil and a feminist peacebuilder from Serbia are this year's laureates.

Front Line Defenders is pleased to announce the five laureates of its prestigious 2026 Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk:

Africa: Laurinda Manuel Gouveia (Angola)
Americas: Adda Vyctoria Caetano (Brazil)
Asia and the Pacific: Umar Khalid (India) (represented by his father, Dr Ilyas) as he remains imprisoned.
Europe and Central Asia: Ljiljana Nešić (Serbia)
Middle East and North Africa: Ahmadreza Haeri (Iran) (represented by Afrooz Maghzi as Ahmadreza was unable to travel.

"There is a powerful wave of people who believe there is a better path despite the worrying state of affairs for human rights defenders (HRDs) around the world today; a wave of those who believe in a brighter future. This year's laureates are emblematic of this wave of positive change," said Alan Glasgow, CEO of Front Line Defenders.