Our featured image above shows a montage of human rights defenders. Women human rights defenders are women who raise their voices, risking their own safety to continue to protect and preserve human rights for all.

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)

 

CHARITY CORNER

This week we turn our attention to the Global Fund for Women. The mission statement:

“The Global Fund for Women is a global champion for the human rights of women and girls. We use our powerful networks to find, fund, and amplify the courageous work of women who are building social movements and challenging the status quo. We are committed to getting money and attention where it will make the biggest difference in the fight for gender equality. Since 1987, Global Fund for Women has invested in nearly 5,000 grassroots organizations in 175 countries, helping to win rights for millions of women and girls.”

This charity is highly rated by Charity Navigator.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming. They are the best conservationists--help that fact go viral.

A major calamity for indigenous people is land theft. Help oppose it by calling out the responsible governments.

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Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places. We invite you to join Freedom United        and lend your voice to the call to free girls and women from trafficking.

GOOD NEWS

Iranian education union leader Esmail Abdi released on furlough

Education International has been notified that Tehran teacher union leader Esmail Abdi was released on furlough from Evin prison on 9 January, a temporary reprieve from his six-year sentence.  Eric Lee has been pushing this case for a long time and has called for help from all of us. We shall continue to watch Esmail’s status.

URGENT ACTION CASES

KENYA

Urgent Action: Indigenous Community Forcibly Evicted

Kenyan authorities are forcibly evicting the Sengwer Indigenous community from their ancestral home, the Embobut forest. The evictions have been carried out by the authorities in violation of the Constitution, a High Court injunction and international human rights law, through a conservation project funded by the European Union.

TAKE ACTION

ECUADOR

Urgent Action: Attack Against Indigenous Defender

Patricia Gualinga, Indigenous human rights defender, reported that on 5 January an unknown man attacked her home in Puyo, Pastaza province, throwing stones at the windows while yelling death threats against her.

TAKE ACTION

 

MYANMAR

Urgent Action: Two Journalists Face Up to 14 Years in Prison

Two Reuters journalists have been formally charged with offenses under the Official Secrets Act in Myanmar. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested on 12 December after meeting police. Both men must be immediately and unconditionally released and the charges against them dropped.

TAKE ACTION

FIJI

Hundreds march in support of Nadi airport workers

Workers at Fiji’s international airport have been locked out since before Christmas because they dared to challenge management.  Labourstart calls for continued support-please join the protest.