On March 8, 2024, PBI-accompanied groups around the world mobilized to commemorate International Women’s Day, now in its 114th year. Women human rights defenders advocate and lobby for human rights within their community and are not only targeted for their activism, but also face gender-specific rights violations. At Peace Brigades International, we stand alongside these women, supporting them to continue their vital work even amidst repression and violence.

Around the world, human rights defenders are winning their struggles for justice and rights - for them, and their communities. We take a quick look at six examples from the year so far.

PBI calls for respect for international law, protection of human rights defenders and an immediate cease-fire

Peace Brigades International (PBI), an organization that seeks to create space for peace and participate in the protection of human rights, shares the words of the UN Secretary General that “only a negotiated peace that satisfies the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis alike … can bring long-term stability to the people of this land and the broader Middle East region.“

Spanish RTVE radio-television recently interviewed Donald Hernández, the executive director of CEHPRODEC.

Below is an excerpt from that full interview.

QUESTION: Have you ever suffered threats?

A closer look at what a new presidency might mean for Indigenous human rights defenders

By Christina Challis, PBI UK Advocacy Officer

As the New Year rang in, the world awaited the successful transfer of power to anti-corruption President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, following death threats and smear campaigns against him in an attempt to delegitimize his election win, amidst growing fears about the fragile state of democracy in Guatemala.

PBI-Honduras observes trial of student activist accused of arson at US Embassy during national strike protests

On January 26, PBI-Honduras posted:

“We observe the trial of Henry Bonilla [Acevedo] for the burning of [tires in front of] the US embassy in a protest on [May 31^st, 2019]. The @defencofadeh [Committee of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras/COFADEH] denounces the criminalization of the national strike. We highlight the work of the #DDHH [human rights] of COFADEH and their work to respect the right to demonstrate.”

The Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project is seeking field volunteers to accompany human rights defenders.

The deadline to apply is January 7, 2024.

The training and final selection week will then take place from May 19-25 in Spain.

Requirements to apply include: a good level of Spanish – spoken, written and reading; ability to commit to a minimum of 12 months’ work in the field; experience of teamwork and group living, especially in high-stress situations; and minimum age of 22 years.

PBI-Mexico has posted:

“Last Sunday, December 17, PBI accompanied the 39 Assembly in the municipality of Hueyapan, Sierra Norte de Puebla, in the framework of the Defense of the Territory and Construction of Life Plans. Representatives of the Masewal, Tutunakú and Mestizo villages raised their voices against the Atextaco [Atexcaco] Hydroelectric Project which would use more than 12 million cubic meters of water for the operation of 3 mines.

Photo: Indigenous environmental defender Quinto Inuma Alvarado was shot and killed in Peru on the eve of COP28.

The United Nations COP28 climate change conference will take place from November 30 to December 12, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It is expected that a “global stocktake” will take place at COP28. This will be the first assessment since the promises made at COP21 in Paris in 2015.

Last month, Global Witness highlighted: