June 2020

International Observatory for Lawyers draws attention to situation of CCAJAR lawyer Sebastián Escobar Uribe

The Paris-based International Observatory for Lawyers (OIAD) has highlighted the case of José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective (CCAJAR) lawyer Sebastián Escobar Uribe. The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project accompanies CCAJAR. The OIAD explains: “CCAJAR has actively participated in the documentation of crimes involving state actors to be presented through reports. …Sebastián Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

RCMP patrol cultural site with assault rifles on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory

The Wet’suwet’en Access Point on Gidimt’en Territory has posted: “Photographs taken on Wet’suwet’en territory show RCMP armed with assault weapons conducting foot patrols of a cultural site belonging to Hereditary Chief Woos of Cas Yikh (Grizzly House).” “Security cameras belonging to the Gidimt’en clan recorded images of heavily armed police Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Spanish State and Mundubat initiate the Voces defensoras (Defending Voices) solidarity network

The Defending Voices Platform is a joint initiative of Peace Brigades International-Spanish State and Mundubat, “an NGO of men and women from various social realities committed to a change in the world order.” The website explains: “Many of the people who defend fundamental rights, as well as their organizations and Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Canada’s support for the June 28, 2009 coup in Honduras and its implications for the environment and human rights

Photo: On October 17, 2019, PBI-Honduras accompanied CEHPRODEC at this march in defence of water against mining. The Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project has posted: “Since the coup d’état took place in Honduras on June 28, 2009, PBI has followed with growing concern the serious deterioration of space for the defence Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Guatemala observes extractivist violence against the Maya C’horti’ people during the pandemic

On June 26, the Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project posted an article in Spanish on their website that states: “In Iximulew, called Guatemala from colonial times, indigenous peoples have spent years claiming the right to decide on their economic, social and cultural development and on the territory they inhabit.” That article Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

On deepening our collective understanding of human rights, peace and right relations

The United Nations defines human rights as: “Rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.” Key articulations of human rights can be found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago