Coalition for Human Rights in Development

#Kenya: Swiss-owned cement company Holcim & US-owned security company G4S, working alongside a special police unit, have been accused of torture, rape, and assault against local villagers in Denyenye, Kwale county. In this powerful and hard-hitting investigation, journalists Ruth Hopkins & Edwin Okoth report harrowing violations, reveal the financial flows behind these abuses, and show how the local community (with the support of some of our partners who collaborate with the #CommunityResourceExchange) is fighting back. ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/edAyqfWW ?? Edwin Okoth This story was published by?Edwin Okoth?and?Ruth Hopkins, with support from the?Pulitzer Center?and the?Fund for Special Journalistic Projects in the Netherlands.?The consortium that investigated this case, focusing on different angles from the situation in Kenya to the multinationals involved to the money flows from various countries are:?Follow the Money (Netherlands);?WOZ Magazine (Switzerland); The Nation (Kenya);?ZAM Magazine?and?The Africa Report. All partners published simultaneously on 14 November 2024.

At the #COP29 climate negotiations in #Baku, the powerful voices of many environmental defenders were missing. Some of them have been killed as a result of their activism, others have been unjustly criminalized and they are still behind bars. One of them is Debendra Swain, one of the leaders of the Anti-POSCO and Anti-Jindal movement, who advocates for the rights of Dalit and Adivasi communities in #India. Together with other community leaders, he has been criminalized because of the opposition to a private steel company, that has been illegally taking away their land to build a massive plant and related infrastructure. Earlier this year Debendra was released from a two year prison term, but now he is facing new charge. The voices of many environmental defenders from #Azerbaijan were also missing from #COP29. One of them is Gubad Ibadoghlu, criminalized after exposing corruption in the country’s oil and gas sector. On December 4th, join us at the launch event of our new report #FinancingRepression to learn more about his case and to hear the testimony of his daughter Zhala Bayramova (For info & registration: https://lnkd.in/gzhUgt9x) Join us in calling the authorities to #FreeGubad, #FreeDebendra and free all the environmental activists who are unjustly in jail! Read more > https://lnkd.in/ecGuFUnD

JOIN US next Wednesday, Dec 4th for the launch of our new report in collaboration with International Accountability Project and the Early Warning System database Around the world, development finance institutions (DFIs) are heavily investing in highly repressive contexts, where people cannot publicly voice their concerns and civil society groups are unable to operate freely. “Financing Repression: Why development banks must rethink finance in countries blocking civic freedoms” combines quantitative analysis of DFI investments and case studies to: ? reveal the extent to which development banks are funding projects in countries with closed civic space; ? explain why civic space restrictions should be a critical concern for development banks; ? outline a series of recommendations that development banks should follow before approving projects in such contexts.

???Nuevo #RecursoDeLaSemana! ?? El recurso “Guía para Contar Historias” de 350.org (disponible en 9 idiomas) ayuda a los defensores/as a crear historias impactantes sobre la acción por el clima y los derechos humanos. La guía te lleva a través de la elaboración de historias personales y comunitarias utilizando una variedad de medios creativos, con un enfoque en la narración ética e impactante que inspira a otros a participar. Incluye: ??? Ejercicios interactivos que te ayudarán a descubrir tu historia. ??? Secciones orientativas sobre herramientas creativas como texto, fotos y vídeos. ??? Consejos sobre cómo editar y publicar historias con eficacia. ??? Recomendaciones sobre diferentes plataformas y estrategias de campa?a. Refuerza tus habilidades para contar historias digitales aquí ?? bit.ly/350ContarHistorias?

This week, together with many of our members and partners, we're at the UN Forum on Business & HumanRights (#UNForumBHR)! Don't miss our session tomorrow at 9 am, an interactive discussion on what #DevelopmentBanks should do to protect #HumanRights in the context of their investments: https://lnkd.in/eKkD2XPN And come & meet us at the #marketplace to have a sneak peak at the new report of the #DefendersInDevelopment campaign #FinancingRepression. The report will be officially launched on December 4th, register here & save the date! https://lnkd.in/gzhUgt9x

?? New #ResourceOfTheWeek! ?? The 350.org “Storytelling Toolkit” (available in 9 languages) helps defenders create powerful stories on climate and human rights action. The guide takes you through the crafting of personal and community stories using an assortment of creative mediums, with a focus on ethical and impactful storytelling that inspires others to engage. It includes:? ??? Interactive exercises to help you discover your story.? ??? Guiding sections on creative tools such as text, photos and videos.? ??? Tips on how to effectively edit and publish stories.? ??? Recommendations on different platforms and campaign strategies. Strengthen your digital storytelling skills here ?? bit.ly/350StorytellingKit?

?? We're very excited to announce that on December 4th we'll launch #FinancingRepression, the new report of the #DefendersInDevelopment campaign! Join us to find out how development banks are fueling repressive regimes by heavily investing in countries that are restricting civic freedoms, and to discuss what they should do to promote an open civic space. We're very honoured that Mary Lawlor (UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders) and Umida Nayazova (Uzbek Forum on Human Rights) will join us at the launch, and additional panelists will be confirmed soon. When: Wednesday December 4th, 1 pm UTC - local time here: bit.ly/FR-Launch-time Zoom - register here: https://lnkd.in/gas4y9im Language: the report is currently being translated in French, Spanish and Russian. Please indicate if you require interpretation from English to any of these languages when you register, but please note we will only be able to ensure interpretation if there are at least five requests for it by Nov 28. The report is co-authored by the Coalition for Human Rights in Development, International Accountability Project and Early Warning System, and endorsed by 37 organizations. Start having a sneak peak at the report here & join us at the launch! https://lnkd.in/gzhUgt9x

If you are in #Geneva for the UN Forum on Business & Human Rights next week, don't miss our interactive session! On Tuesday 26 (9.00 - 9.40 am) we will be discussing about the role of #DevelopmentFinanceInstitutions in ensuring respect for #HumanRights and providing remedy when rights are violated. The interactive discussion will be moderated by our Coalition members Anabella Sibrian (Protection International Mesoamerica) and Nina LESIKHINA (CEE Bankwatch Network). Don't miss it, and get in touch if you'd like to meet in #Geneva! #BizHumanRights #UNForumBizHR

From #Nigeria to #Uganda, communities impacted by oil & gas activities are standing up for #climatejustice. Their voices are often excluded from key decision-making spaces. But they are the ones that truly deserve to be heard. As the #COP29 in #Baku draws to an end, check out this beautiful blog written by our partner - the Ugandan community group East African Crude Oil Pipeline Host Communities (EACOP HC)?- who shares about their experience at the Niger Delta #ClimateChange conference (organized by Lekeh Development Foundation) & how communities impacted by oil activities are fighting for a better future. https://lnkd.in/eawJ9gjs #StopEacop #MakePollutersPay #JustEnergyTransition

?? Are you attending the UN Forum on Business & Human Rights in Geneva next week? OECD Watch will be there and would love to connect with you! You can easily stop by our marketplace booth outside Room XX for a chat ?? Event highlights include: No mHREDD, no smart mix: Developing effective legal frameworks in East Asia ?? Tuesday, Nov 26, 13:30 CET, The CAV Enforcing effective remedy and a smart mix of measures ?? Tuesday, Nov 26, 16:40 CET, Room XX To find out more about the events we are participating in, as well as events that other OECD Watch members are involved in, check out our latest newsletter ?? https://lnkd.in/eMQnprB7 #BizHumanRights #BHR #UNBHR UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights?Swedwatch?Business & Human Rights Resource Centre?SOMO?World Benchmarking Alliance?Polski Instytut Praw Cz?owieka i Biznesu (Polish Institute for Human Rights and Business)