Issues

2,000+ students arrested at protests calling for divestment from companies implicated in human rights violations

Video still of University of Ottawa encampment by CTV. Encampments are being organized on campuses across the United States and Canada in response to the Israeli military assault in which at least 34,596 Palestinians have been killed and 77,816 more injured. The encampments have highlighted divestment as a demand. The Columbia Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Guatemala accompanies Famdegua at #CasoDiarioMilitar hearing on alternative measures, next date set for May 7

PBI-Guatemala has posted: “Last Friday [April 26], #PBI accompanied Famdegua [the Association of Relatives of the Detained-Disappeared of Guatemala] to the hearing of revocation of alternative measures of Jacobo Salán Sánchez and Malfred Pérez Lorenzo, both accused in the #MilitaryDiaryCase, for which they should return to pre-trial detention. Malfred Pérez Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Colombia accompanies CREDHOS and ACVC on humanitarian mission in Cerro Azul and Alto San Juan

PBI-Colombia has posted: “We accompanied @Credhos_Paz [Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights] on a humanitarian mission with @ACVCRAN [Small-Scale Farmer Association of the Cimitarra River Valley] and government institutions to listen to the needs and stories of violations of their rights expressed by the community of Cerro Azul, Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Honduras concerned by arbitrary detention of CNTC El Progreso general secretary Lilian Borjas

Photo: Lilian Borjas. PBI-Honduras has posted: “From PBI, we show concern about the arrest of Lilian Borjas, general secretary of the CNTC in El Progreso. We recommend that the international community speak out in solidarity with her. At PBI, we are very aware of your safety and well-being.”     Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Canada visits University of Ottawa encampment that calls for divestment from weapons companies

Photo: PBI-Canada visits the encampment at the University of Ottawa, May 1, 2024. The Ottawa Citizen reports: “Protesters at the University of Ottawa [uOttawa] began their second day of pro-Palestinian sit-ins Tuesday [April 30] on the rain-soaked lawn outside Tabaret Hall. The goal is to get the university to ‘disclose Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Guatemala accompanies FAMDEGUA and survivors at commemoration of the Los Josefinos massacre

PBI-Guatemala has posted: “Today and tomorrow (April 29 and 30) #PBI accompanies the annual commemoration of the massacre that occurred in the village Los Josefinos, Petén, Guatemala on April 29 and 30, 1982 during the internal armed conflict (CAI). We accompanied the members of the Famdegua [the Association of Relatives Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Reflections on the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa and community organizing to stop global human rights violations

News clipping from ARMX ’89. The international weapons trade has been implicated for many years in multiple violations of human rights and in aggressions against human rights defenders. Amnesty International recently highlighted their concern about Canadian arms exports and the implications on human rights in Saudi Arabia/Yemen, Peru and Israel/Palestine. Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Guatemala accompanies Famdegua at hearing on Inter-American Court ruling and acquittal of three soldiers in Dos Erres massacre

Update On May 4, PBI-Guatemala posted: “#PBI accompanies relatives of Famdegua Guatemala and the Human Rights Law Firm [BDH] to the hearing on the appeal of the #CasoDosErres. Last November, three Kaibiles accused of crimes against the duties of humanity and murder in the 1982 massacre were acquitted. The hearing Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Guatemala accompanies the trial of General Benedicto Lucas accused of genocide against the Maya Ixil people

Photo by PBI-Guatemala. PBI-Guatemala is accompanying the trial of General Manuel Benedicto Lucas Garcia who is accused of committing genocide against the Maya Ixil people between August 1981 and March 1982 during the Internal Armed Conflict. He stands accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, forced disappearances and sexual violence. Now Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Mexico accompanies Peoples’ Front in Defence of Land and Water at march against San Pedro Cholula landfill

On April 22, PBI-Mexico posted: “Today, on International Mother Earth Day, we are accompanying the FPDTA-MPT [Peoples’ Front in Defence of Land and Water- Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala] in the March for Water and against the San Pedro Cholula landfill. At PBI Mexico we recognise the fundamental role that communities play Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago