Defenders Around the World

We work primarily on our focus countries, but we also take action when human rights defenders in other countries or regions of the world are targeted as part of a broader crisis or in an egregious way, and if we think we can have some impact.  When this happens, we will respond to support the work of these activists.  Examples of such situations include:

• The electoral crisis in Kenya beginning in December 2007, in which human rights activists were targeted for attack by political forces.
• The crackdown and harsh sentences meted out to human rights and democracy activists in Burma in late 2008.
• The declaration of martial law and imprisonment of lawyers and judges in Pakistan beginning in late 2007.