Defenders' stories

Two years ago, not many people outside the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong would have heard the name Chow Hang-tung. Today, her name is on every Hongkonger’s lips.

Any country that claims to respect the rule of law, must establish a fair legal system. However, in a totalitarian regime, those in power refuse to be constrained by law or respect citizens' legal rights. They choose to persecute, suppress and arrest lawyers who persist in defending civil rights. One famous example in China is lawyer Yu Wensheng, who was sentenced to four years in prison for 'inciting subversion of State power.'

This is the first story in our new series of Chinese lawyers' profiles: read the inspiring story of Albert Ho, a pro-democracy leader who dedicated most of his lifetime to showing what it means to live by one's belief, walk one's talk, and give it all to preserve the truth.

'States have the obligation to respect defenders, to provide them with security, to heed their calls and to consider that we are people who support the most vulnerable sectors of society, and that this is a contribution to democratic life.'

'So I saw the need of engaging different activists and human rights defenders across the region to make sure that this kind of arrest should not happen to anybody because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.' Mauricio Ochieng' is a transgender activist and a SOGIESC human rights defender from the Western part of Kenya.

'We try to defend happiness from a principle of reality,' says Donovan Ortega, working at the Fray Francisco de Vitoria Human Rights Center in Mexico.

'What is needed from the international community in general, and from within the UN, is a concrete, coherent and unified voice in favour of the protection of human rights defenders, the safeguard of the fundamental liberties, the civic space and human dignity,' said Rosana Lezama Sanchez, a law student in Venezuela working with three national human rights organisations.

'The rights of migrant workers is a global problem, and actors in different jurisdictions have to come together to make a difference in this particular area,' says Barun Ghimire, a human rights lawyer based in Kathmandu, Nepal. 'And we need to create a collective narrative that is based on a rights-based approach of migrant workers.'

'After Covid, we will have learnt many things, and one of them is health: to take care of ourselves and value our body more, to find a way to take care of ourselves in a natural and organic manner'. 

Daniella Solano Morales, a committed advocate from Costa Rica, speaks about her efforts to promote respect for sexual diversity and protect LGBTI and HIV youth human rights through strategic engagement with UN mechanisms and educational projects.

I hope for a future built on compassion, unity and hope." Nicoline Nwenushi wazeh Tumasang, a courageous and inspiring human rights defender from Cameroon shares her story of hope, resilience and fight for gender equality.

'I remember to be hopeful, not because it feels good or because I am waiting for something to happen on its own, but because I believe in my own power and the magic we create when queer people, Black people, women come together to channel our rage, righteous and raw, into sustained action.' We were privileged to hear human rights defender Alicia Wallace's powerful message and would like to share her story with you below.