Front Line Defenders
frontlinedefenders.bsky.social
Front Line Defenders
@frontlinedefenders.bsky.social
Security, protection, visibility + advocacy for human rights defenders at risk.
📣Front Line Defenders is recruiting a Global Security Lead.

The Global Security Lead will provide ongoing management and oversight of the safety and security of FLD operations, personnel, as well as premises and events.

More information and how to apply can be found here⬇️
zurl.co/FO5UI
February 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM
📍Honduras

🚨 The murder of Berta Cáceres was not an isolated crime. It was the result of a power structure in which business interests, state security forces and international financing converged to impose the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project.
📄 Read more and find the report: zurl.co/J5d1h
January 31, 2026 at 2:00 PM
📍Iran

🚨 Iran’s digital blackout for the last three weeks has made it impossible to document and report on human rights violations, including mass killings and arrests. Meanwhile, human rights defenders are being mass arrested.
🔗Read more: www.frontlinedefenders.org/e...
January 30, 2026 at 7:21 PM
📍 PAKISTAN

Joint Statement: We strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest and subsequent conviction of Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, and call for their immediate release and measures to ensure the conviction is set aside.
Read more: zurl.co/gMKg6
January 30, 2026 at 2:31 PM
📍 Kyrgyzstan

The Supreme Court will review a motion in the case WHRD Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy, citing an Opinion adopted by the UN WG on Arbitrary Detention calling for her release from arbitrary detention. We urge the Court to implement the Opinion and release Makhabat.

Read more: zurl.co/LN3NB
Supreme Court to review the unlawful sentencing of Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy
www.frontlinedefenders.org
January 30, 2026 at 1:56 PM
FLD is proud to be a partner of Lighthouse, the Global Protection Fund, launching today - a multi-donor fund committed to moving resources to HRDs who need it most - delivered through organisations who already support HRDs critical work.

Check out the website here: zurl.co/CAfoj?utm_source=blu...
January 30, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Front Line Defenders is recruiting for a Digital Protection Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa. See more details here: zurl.co/2V0sZ
January 29, 2026 at 12:09 PM
The Sakharov Fellowship provides:

🌍Insight into EU & international human rights mechanisms
💬 Advocacy and communication training
🛠️ Tools for security and safety, resilience, disinformation and documentation
🤝 Meeting with high-level EU stakeholders

And more. Apply here: zurl.co/wS9WD
January 28, 2026 at 10:31 AM
📍Western Sahara

Our 2025 MENA FLD Award laureate, Mhamed Hali, was interviewed by El País - Mhamed Hali, lawyer and human rights defender in Western Sahara: ‘Any proposed solution to the conflict that is not supported by the Sahrawi people is illegitimate.’

Read it [in Spanish]:
🔗 zurl.co/hufIW
LinkedIn
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lnkd.in
January 27, 2026 at 2:52 PM
📍Egypt

🚨Prominent Egyptian human rights defender, journalist, poet and writer, Ahmed Douma was arrested on 20 January without a warrant from his home in Cairo, interrogated for more than 12 hours and later released on bail.

🔗Read more: zurl.co/UuRlN
January 23, 2026 at 7:25 PM
📍Iran

In light of today's Special Session of the Human Rights Council to address the deteriorating human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Narges Foundation, PEN America, Reporters sans Frontières and Front Line Defenders call for urgent international action and accountability.
January 23, 2026 at 6:30 PM
📍Pakistan

🚨Front Line Defenders is extremely concerned for the safety of human rights defenders and lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha. They were arbitrarily arrested today without a warrant, and despite a court order granting them temporary relief from arrest.
🔗Read more: zurl.co/ESUqK
January 23, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Today, the United Nations Human Rights Council is holding a special session to address the worsening human rights situation in Iran. At the session, Front Line Defenders shared the dire situation for Iranian HRDs and called for various measures to support them.

Watch here: zurl.co/bku7W
January 23, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Last day to apply or nominate for the Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk 2026!

zurl.co/5wTYP
January 23, 2026 at 11:28 AM
📍 CHINA

On 18 January, WHRD Yang Li was on her way to seek urgent medical treatment when she was intercepted by police and detained.

We condemn the continued denial of medical care and restrictions on Yang Li's freedom of movement.

Read more: zurl.co/Yjo2z
January 23, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Front Line Defenders is recruiting for a fixed term Digital Protection Editor to review, update and further develop the digital protection guide ‘Security in-a-Box’.

See more details here: zurl.co/uGrFq
January 22, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Congratulations to WHRD Aziza Abdirasulova from #Kyrgyzstan on the recognition of her human rights work as the recipient of the 2026 Council of Europe Raoul Wallenberg prize 🎉.
January 22, 2026 at 12:14 PM
📍 BANGLADESH

WHRD Layeqa Bashir faces termination at the University of Asia Pacific, months after she investigated a case of sexual harassment and proposed disciplinary action.

The University must immediately restore her employment and investigate threats against her.

Read more: zurl.co/ZA31O
January 22, 2026 at 10:06 AM
📍IRAN

STATEMENT: Front Line Defenders is deeply alarmed by the targeting of human rights defenders as part of the brutal crackdown on protests in Iran.

Read more:
www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/statement...
January 21, 2026 at 3:07 PM
We've officially launched our Bluesky account!

Follow us here to catch the latest news, cases and trends on human rights defenders globally.

For now, you can still catch us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.
January 21, 2026 at 1:43 PM