Álvaro Gómez del Valle

advocating for human rights defenders @frontlineHRD

[Alicia GarciaHerrero 艾西亞 @Aligarciaherrer]

I am a Spaniard, and I am European by conviction, not by accident. So let me say plainly what these days have cost me.

When tens of thousands crossed into Ceuta and sixty-seven people died on our breakwaters, my Prime Minister called it an attack on Spain's territorial integrity. He was right. And what did much of Europe do? Italy suspended free movement with us. Finland and Denmark backed it. Others demanded Spain's suspension from Schengen — as if the victims of a border surge were its perpetrators.

I have watched Spain shelter those who came through Belarus, those who reached Lampedusa. Solidarity, when it was ours to give, we gave. To be answered now with suspicion rather than support is not policy. It is abandonment dressed as prudence.

I do not pretend to know Rabat's full calculus. But I see Washington's drumbeat — congressional language reclassifying our cities, think tanks urging recognition of them as "occupied." And I see Morocco, a neighbour whose people deserve growth and welfare, drawn into a contest over Ceuta and Melilla that serves palaces and strategists, not families.

Europe, this is the test. Integrity is not a favour. It is the promise we made each other.

[Mary Lawlor @MaryLawlorhrds]

Dear HRDs, my time as UN Special Rapporteur comes to an end today. You have been the beating heart of this mandate. Thank you for sharing your stories, struggles & victories with me over the past 6 years. It has been a privilege to witness your unwavering perseverance despite the danger you face. Here’s a look back at the work of the mandate from 2020-2026.
With hope and solidarity, Mary

[Sarah Brooks @sarahmcneer]

Yesterday. Today. Every day.
#WeRemember64 and we won't stop until calls for #truth, justice and accountability for what happened in #TiananmenSquare #China are heard and honoured.

Why?
Because it's our duty. 🕯️

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

Front Line Defenders Award winner for Africa, @LucExpedit, who was honored for his work protecting the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community, being welcomed home in Benin after receiving the award in Dublin.

As #PrideMonth is upon us we honor and celebrate all those protecting the rights LGTBIQ+ communities worldwide.

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

As highlighted in the FLD Global Analysis 2024, the HRD Memorial documented the killings of 324 human rights defenders in 32 countries in 2024 - killed solely for their peaceful human rights work.

The families and communities of 19 HRDs killed in 2024 in 10 different countries were subjected to attacks and repression directly impacting their grieving processes. These include the imposition of restrictions to hold a funeral; denying access to the bodies, including the authorities’ withholding of the bodies.

To read more insights into these killings, check out the full report here: https://t.co/IAD0Dqf2Qg

[HRD Memorial @HRD_Memorial]

Lethal violence against human rights defenders is on the rise globally. 324 defenders were killed in 2024. We are making their names visible to keep their memory alive.

Find the #HRDMemorial24 data on killings in the Global Analysis of @FrontLineHRD: https://t.co/iWcqD0SRbB

[Eve Geddie @evegeddie]

The reality of off-shoring detention in today's @POLITICOEurope:

"It was torture what the government did to us. They said it was deterrence, but it never worked. It didn't stop people seeking protection because they have no choice. I hope no EU country ever adopts this policy"

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the unjust arrest of Danish-Bahraini HRD, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja.

Al-Khawaja, a former Front Line Defenders staff member, has been subjected to torture and long-term imprisonment for speaking up for human rights.

We call for Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja’s immediate release!

#FreeAlKhawaja

[Conor Fortune @WritesRights]

Dr. @MahrangBaloch_ is a brave woman human rights defender from Balochistan, honoured by @BBC100Women & @TIME #100next.

She is now being held in a prison in Quetta after Pakistani police arrested her for her peaceful activism.

#FreeMahrangBaloch!

https://t.co/6DykeLbSfj

[MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 @MFA_Ukraine]

603,628 km² 🇺🇦

[Mary Lawlor @MaryLawlorhrds]

Human rights defenders are at the heart of positive change in our societies. In 2024, I met hundreds of them, learning more about their work, successes & the risks they face. Here’s a 1-minute look back at the year.

[Vittorio @vittorioangelon]

Delighted to hear the World Cup will beheading to Saudi Arabia

[FLD Global Advocacy @FLDBrussels]

Courageous human rights defenders from around the world being honoured today in The Hague with the Tulip Human Rights Award of the @DutchMFA 🇳🇱

Great to see governments recognise the crucial work done by human rights defenders in challenging times 🏆

[Andrew Anderson @ettrick49]

Disgusted by the @FIFAcom decision to give the 2034 World Cup to brutal, corrupt, misogynist #SaudiArabia @ScottishFA should join Norway & come out clearly against

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

“Even if they do send me back to prison, I am not afraid of them. My fight is for freedom, for democracy, human rights and women's rights. And my fight is not just for Iran but for the Middle East.”

- Narges Mohammadi, speaking on the anniversary of her #NobelPeacePrize award with Front Line Defenders and other #FreeNarges Coalition steering committee members. We will continue to push for her full and unconditional release, along with that of all imprisoned HRDs in Iran.

#WomanLifeFreedom

[Mary Lawlor @MaryLawlorhrds]

Hearing disturbing news that #Türkiye has frozen the assets of migration rights NGO, Göç İzleme Derneği, & of 4 of its staff on counter-terrorism grounds, although they were fully acquitted of similar charges this year in a trial dating back to 2022 @TC_BMCenevreDT @IzlemeGoc
https://t.co/gSFwcPr0XL

[Front Line Defenders @FrontLineHRD]

🚨 FLD AWARD 2025 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN:

Submit a nomination of a courageous human rights defender, collective, organisation or community working on human rights and facing significant risk due to their work.

See more here:

https://t.co/d3VnUoim7w

[Nicole Lee Schroeder, PhD @Nicole_Lee_Sch]

Abolitionists, womens rights organizers, workers rights unions, disability rights orgs, and pro-immigration orgs did the work under far worse circumstances with very little global solidarity. We have better tools, connections, and resources. 7/8

[FLD Global Advocacy @FLDBrussels]

Pedimos a la Presidenta @XiomaraCastroZ que cumpla su palabra y se reúna públicamente con el Comité de Personas Trans. Deben estar en las mesas de trabajo para implementar la sentencia Vicky Hernández.

@EMBHONDURAS_BE @GobiernoHN @CancilleriaHN @hondurasnespana @HondurasGinebra