Tracking cases that protect freedom of expression, association, and assembly
Marielle Franco was a Black, bisexual, and feminist woman and a renowned human rights defender, who served as a councilwoman in Rio de Janeiro. She was assassinated in March 2018, alongside her driver Anderson Gomes. While her murderers have been sentenced to decades in prison, the intellectual authors of the crime remain unconvicted, demonstrating a…
Indigenous rights defender Minor Ortíz Delgado has been victim of several attacks, aggressions, threats and assassination attempts that have gone unpunished to this day, despite having many of its perpetrators identified. Additionally, there are currently four criminalization proceedings against Mainor and his family.
Milena Quiroz is an Afro-descendant leader and human rights defender. She is a legal representative of the Comisión de Interlocución del Sur de Bolívar, Centro y Sur del Cesar (CISBCSC) (Interlocution Commission of Sure de Bolívar, Centro, and Sur del Cesar), a member of the Cooperativa Multiactiva de Arenal (Comuarenal) (Arenal Multiactive Cooperative) and the…
Indigenous journalist Norma Sancir was detained and beaten when she was covering a demonstration in September 2014. More than eight years later, the criminal procedure against the four police agents responsible for the attack is still on-going, as a result of intentional delays caused by the agents’ defense.
Guapinol defenders have faced criminalization and attacks against them for years, in retaliation for their work as community leaders and human rights defenders. This case discusses the arbitrary detention of eight Guapinol defenders who were released in 2022, after a legal procedure full of human rights violations.
Berta Cáceres, an indigenous Lenca leader, was murdered in 2016, as a retaliation for her activism against the installation of the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project. Thanks to her family’s constant efforts, the men responsible for the crime were brought before justice. However, they are still seeking to clarify the responsibility of the family who owns…
Bernardo Caal is a Q’eqchi Mayan community leader, teacher, and defender of land rights and the environment in Guatemala. Bernardo was criminalized for his fight against the construction of a hydroelectric plant on the Cahabón River. After spending four years in prison, Bernardo was released on March 24, 2022.
Anastasía Mejía Tiriquiz, an indigenous journalist, and Petrona Siy Castro, an indigenous community leader, were arrested in the context of a protest that took place on August 24, 2020 in Joyabaj, against the local mayor. After facing a criminal proceeding for the crimes of sedition, arson and aggravated assault, they were released on September 3,…
Land defender Iris Argentina Álvarez Chávez was murdered on April 2, 2020, as a result of a violent and illegal eviction carried out by a private company. Even though two men were indicted a few days later, they have not been convicted.