L4L and Amnesty request the Dutch government to call upon the Chinese authorities and insist on honouring the promises made, an investigation into accusations of Chen having been tortured in prison and Chen’s and his wife’s alleged mistreatment during their house arrest and effective measures to guarantee that human rights defenders can exercise their peaceful activities in freedom and without hindrance.

The blind Chinese human rights lawyer escaped from his heavily guarded home where he had been under house arrest since he was released from prison in September 2010 on 22 April 2012. After his escape, he stayed at the US Embassy in Beijing for six days. He left the embassy and indicated he wanted to stay in China after the authorities promised to guarantee his safety. One day later, he had reconsidered this point of view because he still fears for the security of his family.

On 4 July 2011, he was given a nine-year prison term and barred from working as a lawyer for ten years. He was charged with attempting to overthrow the regime. The charges are related to his representation of arrested protesters. His prosecution could also be the result of his involvement in the foundation of the DHRC, since other founders have been prosecuted for the same reason. The sentence given in July 2011 was now upheld by Judge Salavati of Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolution Court in Teheran.  

His ‘action against the Islamic regime’ was defending a political prisoner, and after being sentenced Dadkhah was immediately denied the capacity to assist his client, who was facing a charge that could possibly carry the death sentence.

Mr. Dadkhah declared that he has to report himself to prison on May 5 to serve his nine-year sentence. The conviction of Ali Dadkhah is connected to his work as a lawyer of political activists and his commitment to human rights, and is part of the continuing repression of lawyers in the country.

The blind Chinese human rights lawyer escaped from his heavily guarded home where he had been under house arrest since he was released from prison in September 2010 on 22 April 2012. After his escape, he stayed at the US Embassy in Beijing for six days. He left the embassy and indicated he wanted to stay in China after the authorities promised to guarantee his safety. One day later, he had reconsidered this point of view because he still fears for the security of his family.

In a video message that was posted online after his alleged escape, Guangcheng complains about the way he and his family have been treated over the past years (see below).

In February 2012, L4L organised a letter writing campaign to ask attention for his case.

A year earlier, in February 2011, Guangcheng had a video published to share his and his family’s harsh living conditions with the world (watch it here). In response to Guangcheng’s publication of this video, he and his wife were severely beat up.

Here you can see the video that was posted after Chen’s alleged escape.

The press release reads:
“Nasrin Sotoudeh, a woman lawyer from Iran, is currently serving a prison sentence on charges of ‘spreading propaganda against the State’, ‘collusion and gathering with the aim of acting against national security’ and ‘membership in an illegal organization’. She is the former lawyer and member of the organization of the now-exiled Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, who declares Sotoudeh is ‘one of the last remaining courageous human rights lawyers who has accepted all risks for defending the victims of human rights violations in Iran’.”

The two other nominees are Venerable Luon Sovath from Cambodia and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR).

On 2 October 2012, the Laureate will be announced during the annual ceremony in Geneva.

Here is a short video which introduces the three nominees:

For more information, photos and videos regarding this year’s nominees please visit  http://www.martinennalsaward.org  or contact  info@martinennalsaward.org or via +41 22 809 49 25.

L4L also urged the Mexican authorities to provide all the resources required for the successful implementation of the bill, and urgently requested the Mexican authorities to ensure that the legislative and executive powers jointly promote the mechanism and make sure it will be complied with by the various state authorities of the Mexican Federation.

On the 26^th of April it became apparent that the bill was adopted unanimously by the Senate. The Senate had a minute of silence in remembrance of the Human Rights Defenders and journalists killed in the past.

Click here to see the letter that was sent.

As seen on the picture, the letters of the writing campaign were to be returned ‘as not requested information’.

Mr Torres is a recognized human rights lawyer, working in the north of Colombia. As a lawyer, he has acted in legal proceedings including relating to attacks on human rights activists and trade union leaders in the north of Colombia.

Presumably the death threats are related to the fact that José Humberto Torres is currently spokesman for the National Platform for Human Rights in Colombia and his involvement in legal cases against state officials. Torres was involved in the lawsuit against former Director of Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS), Jorge Noguera, for his alleged involvement in the murder of human rights activist Alfredo Correa de Andreis. In addition, he was involved in proceedings against paramilitary leaders and cases related to extra-judicial killings involving members of the Fuerza Pública (Public Force). Recently, Torres called for a criminal investigation to be launched into links between members of Congress and paramilitary groups.

Torres has been subjected to threats in the past. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights ordered the provision of protection measures in favor of the human rights defender.  Nevertheless the security program subsequently put in place by the Ministry of Interior, it is believed, has been inadequate to guarantee his protection.

L4L organized a letter writing campaign order to express concerns with these threats and in order to call for the authorities to carry out adequate protective measures. To participate, click here.

Neelapaijit defended suspects of terrorism in the turbulent south of Thailand. He disappeared on 12 March 2004, shortly after having publicly for accusing the police of torturing his clients in prison. Nothing has been heard of him since. His car was found empty. Despite pressure from Somchai’s family, Thai society and the international community, those responsible have still not been held accountable.

Shortly after Somchai’s disappearance, five police officers were arrested and prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the disappearance. Although there were serious suspicions concerning all suspects, only one of the officers received a three-year prison sentence, while the four others were acquitted. National and international human rights organisations concluded that the outcome was the result of an utter failure of the judicial apparatus.

The judgment on appeal, on 11 March 2011, confirmed that the Thai authorities are as yet unable to answer the question of who was responsible for Somchai’s disappearance. The Court acquitted all of the five suspects. It also ruled that Somchai’s wife and children were not eligible to exercise their rights as an aggrieved party and, in that capacity, to uncover the truth of this matter.

Together with Avocats Européens Democrats (AED), L4L sent letters to the Thai authorities to remind them of their obligation to continue investigating the disappearance of Mr. Neelapaijit fully and objectively, and to keep drawing attention to his case. Click here to view the letters that were sent.

For individual lawyers it is also possible to support Somchai Neelapaijit. Join the letter writing campaign organized on his behalf.

The website of ‘the Fastest lawyer’, can be found here.

In February 2011 Guangcheng had published a video to share his and his family’s living conditions with the world. This video can be watched on the  L4L YouTube channel. In response to the publication of this video, he and his wife were severely beaten.

Guangcheng and his family have not been allowed to leave home since his release, even to buy food. Mr Chen Guangcheng is kept a prisoner in his own home and suffers from intimidation and interference. L4L is now organizing a letter writing campaign to keep the attention on Guangcheng and keep the pressure on the Chinese authorities high to discontinue the house arrest of Guangcheng and his family.

Other organizations also have given renewed attention to the continued house arrest of Guangcheng. Front Line Defenders made a video on the situation of Guangcheng. Click here to view this video.