RCMP to deploy Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin Black Hawk helicopters on border as early as January 17

Photo: A Black Hawk helicopter on display at the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa. Photo: Le Droit, Patrick Duquette/Le Droit, Patrick Duquette. CBC reports: “With U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration just days away, the federal government announced it is sending [60 new] drones and two leased Black Hawk helicopters to Read more…

Ceasefire in Gaza could begin on January 19, an estimated 1,422 human rights defenders among those killed

Photo: “Relatives of Palestinian journalist Ahmed Al-Shayah mourn next to his body after he was killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, 16 January. Photograph: Haitham Imad/EPA.” The Guardian reports: “Hamas and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire deal, Qatar announced on Read more…

PBI-Guatemala accompanies the Peaceful Resistance of the Poqomam People in Chinautla as Ministry of Environment visits

On January 15, PBI-Guatemala posted on Instagram: “A week ago PBI accompanied the Peaceful Resistance of the Poqomam People in Chinautla. They received a visit from the Ministry of Environment to review 7 water sources that are contaminated, mainly due to the activities of sand mining companies in the territory Read more…

PBI-Honduras observes COFADEH press conference following the arrest of former General Romeo Vásquez Velásquez

On January 7, PBI-Honduras posted on X: “Yesterday we observed the press conference convened by @defencofadeh [the Committee of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras -COFADEH] following the arrest of the former head of the Armed Forces, Romeo Vásquez Velásquez, and two other high-ranking military officers accused of Read more…

PBI-Mexico accompanies Peoples Front in Defence of Land and Water at meeting with Municipal President about landfill

PBI-Mexico has posted on Facebook: “Today, Friday, January 10, PBI accompanies the People’s Front in Defence of Land and Water (FPDTA-MPT) to a dialogue with municipal authorities and the municipal presidency of San Pedro Cholula in the context of their struggle against the intermunicipal landfill. The project that, according to Read more…

PBI-Colombia accompanied CREDHOS threatened as “military target” by EGC/AGC

Video still: CREDHOS president Ivan Madero, January 4, 2025. Infobae reports: “On January 1, the Regional Corporation for the Defense of Human Rights (CREDHOS) received a text message with a threatening pamphlet that pointed to social leaders and human rights defenders as new military targets. The threat was not only Read more…

Land defenders oppose Toronto-based developer removing trees in the Lemay Forest in Winnipeg

Photo: “A Manitoba judge extended an injunction ordering protesters opposed to a planned development in the Lemay Forest not to block access to the site.” (CBC, January 6, 2025) On January 8, APTN News reported: “Land defenders opposing tree removal in the Lemay Forest will not vacate an entry point Read more…

PBI accompanied defenders from Guatemala and Honduras meet with the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights

Photo: PBI accompanied defenders with Working Group chairperson Fernanda Hopenhaym. PBI-Switzerland has noted: “Four PBI-supported human rights defenders participated in the UN Forum on Business & Human Rights in Geneva, as part of an international delegation representing environmental and social rights struggles.” They add: “Among the defenders supported by PBI Read more…

Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) annual report provides brief update on systemic investigation into the C-IRG

Dramatic Video Shows Militarized Canadian Police Raid Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders & Journalists (Democracy Now!, November 24, 2021). The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP has released its Annual Report 2023-2024. On page 8, the CRCC provides its first formal public communication on the status of the investigation into the Read more…