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Unsung Anette Brolenius
In search of the unsung heroes of Congo – and beyond
The noise of the children playing in the room next door is deafening, making it difficult to hear the soft voice of one of their mothers as she talks about her life. I went to fetch water when I was caught by a group of armed men. They brought me to the forest. I spent eight months in the forest, as their wife. While pregnant, I managed to escape but could not return to my village and family. I am happy I ended up here, at the centre, where we can go to school. We have heard these stories many times before, horrific accounts of brutal sexual violence in a country torn apart by conflict and violence over two decades. In fact, we have heard it so many times that the violence has to be extreme, both in brutality and number of victims, before it even reaches the news, as the media’s attention has turned to other conflicts and threats closer to home. I study the faces of the group of young women sitting in a circle around me. At first, they appear shy, but they are keen on airing their anger about their lot and about the impunity of the perpetrators who destroyed their lives. One girl tells me that she was raped at the age of 12, gave birth at 13 and has had to fend for herself and her child since then. Another says that the person who attacked her was caught but bribed himself out of prison. In some faces, I see grief, in others defiance and determination. The faith of these and thousands of other women here and elsewhere, and the impunity that enables the violence to continue, is the context within which my story is set. At Panzi Hospital in South Kivu, survivors of sexual violence and women with difficult gynaecological problems get help and treatment. The youngest of the patients in the postoperations ward recovering from reparative gynaecological surgery is three years old. Out of respect for the patients and their integrity, many being minors, I have taken great care in not having them recognisable in the images. I have chosen to tell the story about the survivors of sexual violence by focusing on the work of the staff at Panzi Hospital. That is part one of this book – The Healers.
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During my time in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I also set out to find and portray those fighting for change, individuals who unselfishly put themselves in harm’s way to defend the rights of others. I found a myriad of individuals, initiatives and associations defending human rights, fighting the culture of impunity, teaching people about their rights and how to claim them. Some of these defenders are addressing a broad spectrum of human rights. Others focus on the rights of specific groups, be it women, children, minorities or mineworkers, to mention but a few examples. They are lawyers, journalists, grassroots activists, social workers, teachers, medical staff and entrepreneurs. Human rights defenders are in many cases the front-line recourse for victims of human rights violations, who do not dare report the crimes committed against them to the police for fear of reprisal or because the police itself is part of the problem. Many human rights defenders are subject to intimidation and death threats. And then there are those who have paid the ultimate price for their commitment and are no longer with us. Some defenders have had to stop their work or leave their country, but many refuse to be silenced. This has been documented by wellknown international human rights organisations. I have continued my quest to put the spotlight on those brave and dedicated individuals who defend and promote human rights, rights that so many of us enjoy and take for granted while being denied to many others. It has become a series of portraits of human rights defenders across the globe, photographed over a period of several years. You will find a small selection of these portraits in part two of this book, The Defenders. Space is shrinking for human rights activists to do their job. I hope that the individuals in this book can inspire you and others to step up to that challenge, to support them and ensure that they are empowered to continue their work to bring about change.
Anette Brolenius
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The Healers
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The Defenders
Cees Flinterman is Emeritus Professor of Human Rights at Utrecht University and Maastricht University. He was a member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (2003-2010) and the United Nations Human Rights Committee (2011-2014). From 1993 to 1994, he was the chair of the Dutch delegation to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and the Second World Conference on Human Rights in 1993. 58 |
Cees Flinterman The Netherlands
Defending Human Rights Cees Flinterman
“A common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations� is how the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948. The historical significance of this Declaration can hardly be overestimated. It called on every individual and every organ of society to constantly consider the Declaration and promote it by teaching respect for the rights and freedoms contained within: a long list of civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights. The Declaration marked the advent of a world in which human beings would enjoy freedom of speech and belief, and freedom from fear and want as the highest aspiration of the common people. More than 70 years have passed since its signing. The Declaration has been translated into more than 500 languages; 10 December is commemorated worldwide as International Human Rights Day. The Declaration has become the foundation of more detailed human rights norms, at both the international and regional level in the form of treaties, codes of conduct, guidelines, resolutions and other legally binding and non-binding instruments. Another spectacular development has been the establishment of regional and international supervisory procedures, such as courts, monitoring bodies and fact-finding missions, aimed at holding states accountable for their human rights performance. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights certainly constitutes a point of no return in the history of humankind. Yet at the same time, it cannot be said that respect for human rights is a living reality around the globe. Human rights and fundamental freedoms are violated worldwide on a daily basis. To mark the 50th anniversary of the Declaration in 1998, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, known as the Human Rights Defenders Declaration. It acknowledges the importance and valuable work of individuals, groups and associations in contributing to the elimination of all violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The role of (individual) human rights defenders in upholding human rights is indeed crucial. Such a role requires courage, commitment and perseverance. Human rights begin at home. If individuals did not have the courage to hold their governments accountable for the violation of these rights, such rights could easily become illusionary. This book contains the portraits of a number of these human rights defenders from different parts of the world. They give a face to the constant struggle by the many others who are determined to contribute to a world in which the freedom of speech and belief and the freedom from fear and want will be fully realised. They are a source of inspiration to us all and deserve our admiration and generous, full support.
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Having lived in an abusive relationship, I know all about gender-based violence. I know how violence affects the lives of girls and women. I got out, which met a lot of resistance, and I now need to do my part in ensuring that other girls and women get the same chance to take control over their own lives and bodies, and to make choices that make them happy. Fighting for women’s rights and human rights is a lonely journey, but it is something I and other grass roots activists simply have to do, together. Born and raised in the Mathare informal settlement in Nairobi, Rachael Mwikali is one of the co-founders of the social movement Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders Kenya. It was set up to fill the gap between grassroots activists and the established human rights organisations. The members of the network are based in grassroots communities all over the country. 61 |
Rachael Mwikali Kenya
We are unsafe, exposed to blackmail, eviction, denied access to education and healthcare, and are often rejected by our families. I have been physically attacked several times. It will take time to change attitudes towards LGBTI persons here, for several reasons – cultural, religious and sheer ignorance. I will continue working for acceptance and recognition. I am who I am, and I have to fight for all of us so that we can enjoy the same rights as other Ugandans, regardless of sexual orientation. We are joining forces with other organisations in increasing the awareness of human, women’s and LGBTI persons’ rights. Samuel Opio is leading the organisation Queer Youth Uganda, which was formed in 2006 to mobilise young LGBTI persons. The organisation arranges sensitisation workshops on human rights and HIV/AIDS, and training courses in economic empowerment skills and digital and personal security. It also offers counselling and advice to individuals. Through advocacy work, Samuel and his organisation are increasing the awareness of the situation of LGBTI persons, slowly changing attitudes. 62 |
Samuel Opio Uganda
Change comes from building an understanding that diversity in gender, sexuality and identity should be celebrated. We, as humans, have a basic right to be different. I firmly believe in equality and equity – by analysing our privileges, providing space and hearing each other out, we can build a better world where differences are celebrated and cherished. Tony Lashden is a journalist and youth educator on LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and related) rights and gender equality in Belarus. Tony joined the feminist queer movement at the age of 19 and has since been promoting women’s and LGBTQI+ rights by organising events, writing articles and fiction, blogging, making movies, and through art-projects. 63 |
Tony Lashden Belarus
I have never tolerated injustice and impunity. I want to improve unworthy psycho-socio-economic conditions where people live in distress, especially genocide survivors, genocide ex-prisoners and prisoners, marginalised single mothers and victims of gender-based violence. Jean Baptiste is the Coordinator of Association Modeste et Innocent (AMI), a Rwandan non-governmental organisation set up after the genocide to provide assistance and advocacy to communities and people in distress. He is also the Chairman of National Forum Against Domestic Violence in Rwanda -TURIHASHYE. 65 |
Jean Baptiste Bizimana Rwanda
The sound of gunshots is our alarm every morning. My current mission in the Central African Republic is difficult. I see many women become widows and children orphans. We are now raising awareness about women’s and children’s rights and have launched an income generation programme among refugee women to empower them through training in leadership and entrepreneurship. Amala Francis is a nun, social worker, programme manager and human rights defender. She has spent the last 25 years promoting human and women’s rights in India and in several African countries. As ethnic tensions made people vulnerable in the refugee camps in South Sudan, Amala and her organisation Help Humanity International intensified their peace building and reconciliation efforts in the camps. 67 |
Amala Francis India, Central African Republic, South Sudan