Around the world, human rights defenders are making significant strides in their pursuit of justice—for themselves, their communities and the planet. The protective accompaniment and multi-level advocacy of PBI can help to provide the security these defenders need to do their work, to catalyze meaningful progress, and to contribute to a more just world. Here’s a brief look at some inspiring recent wins from those we accompany.
Empowering Women Defenders to Win Landmark Cases on Sexual Violence
In Kilifi County, Kenya, Patricia Loko Mutua stands as a symbol of resilience. She played a key role in securing a landmark 10-year prison sentence in 2024, in a case involving the prolonged sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl.
In a country where impunity for sexual violence is widespread, the 10-year sentence marked a rare and powerful victory - creating a judicial precedent, hope and momentum.
A survivor herself, Patricia channels her experience into grassroots activism - supporting women and girls, advancing sustainable livelihoods, and challenging harmful gender norms. She ensured the survivor in this case received counselling, safe shelter, and protection from media exposure, while personally guiding the family through the justice system. Her work is courageous and high-risk, and Patricia implements a security strategy to avoid retaliation. Her work with various groups has rescued many women from sexual violence and child marriages. Patricia is a member of PBI Kenya’s Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Toolkit Organizers’ Network.
The Network launched in 2016 to connect and strengthen women defenders. Grassroots activists were already doing vital work to combat violence against women and girls but were often isolated, facing attacks, under resourced, and unsupported. The network created a trusted space for solidarity, peer learning, and collective action - enabling women defenders to share strategies, create community-based support systems, build their capacity, manage security risks, document threats, and seek redress for violations.
What began with 15 women in Nairobi has now expanded to Kilifi County and beyond, growing into a powerful movement of local trainers and leaders who are driving change from the ground up. Through this network, defenders like Patricia have gained contacts, skills, credibility, and the strength of collective support.
PBI supports women defenders across the world, who, like Patricia, create real change in their communities and seminal results in the courts in favor of gender justice and women’s rights.
READ MORE ABOUT TOOLKIT ORGANIZERS
Justice for Indigenous Women in Guatemala: a Landmark Victory against Wartime Sexual Violence
PBI Guatemala field volunteers observe the hearing of the Achi case.
In June 2025, a Guatemalan court sentenced three former members of the Civil Self-Defense Patrols to 40 years in prison each for the wartime rape of six Indigenous Maya Achi women during the country’s brutal internal armed conflict. This marks a huge win for Guatemala and is thanks to the survivors who have endured decades of injustice, stigma and delay in their pursuit of justice.
The court recognized sexual violence as a weapon of war used under the counterinsurgency doctrine, acknowledging the deep physical and psychological harm inflicted on the women, their families and their communities. This ruling paves the way for reparations and the non-repetition of such atrocious crimes. Over the course of the conflict more than 200,000 people were killed and another 43,000 were forcibly disappeared. More than 80% of the victims were Indigenous Maya people.
PBI Guatemala has observed the hearings and has provided protective accompaniment to war crimes victims searching for justice since 1983.
Colombian President Issues Public Apology to the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó for Human Rights Violations
The community’s legal representative and human rights defender Germán Graciano spoke at the ceremony.
In June 2025, the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó received a long-awaited public apology from the president of Colombia for human rights violations committed between 1997 and 2007. This has been a central demand of the community for years and is a significant milestone in the community’s long struggle for truth, justice and recognition. Founded in 1997, the Peace Community has endured more than 300 killings, massacres and ongoing violence. Yet it has remained firmly committed to non-violence, standing as a powerful symbol of grassroots resistance and peacebuilding amid Colombia’s armed conflict.
PBI has accompanied the community since 1999, helping to mitigate the threats community members face from paramilitary groups, the military and others seeking control over their resource-rich land. The community’s refusal to yield to fear and violence is both courageous and an affront to those who benefit from the conflict. This apology, although long overdue, is a hard-won achievement—and a vital step towards justice and the prevention of future atrocities.
These victories are not PBI’s: they belong to the courageous defenders and communities who tirelessly strive for justice, peace and human rights in the face of ever-increasing attacks and threats.
Change is a gradual process, often marked by challenges and setbacks. However, these cases underscore the vital significance of PBI’s long-term, local and holistic protective accompaniment in catalyzing victories for human rights and justice globally. PBI stands in solidarity with communities and human rights defenders in their darkest moments, and we stand by their side in their victories, celebrating together the power of international solidarity.
We can really only do this with your support. Together, we are so much stronger.