Human rights defenders under attack

Human rights lobby group Amnesty international is urging governments across the region to fulfil their obligations to protect human rights defenders and victims of human rights abuses in their countries.

The latest report by the London-based international human rights group, said human rights defenders across the Americas, including the Caribbean, are facing escalating levels of intimidation, harassment and attacks.

The report noted that the attacks are often at the hands of state security forces, paramilitary groups and organised criminals.

The report also raises concern about the attacks and threats against homosexuals, highlighting the case of Jamaican attorney Maurice Tomlinson, who is living in another country because of fears for his safety.

Amnesty International also noted that in March 21, people were killed in Jamaica in what it described as a wave of police shootings over six days, bringing the total to 45 since the beginning of the year.

Amnesty said its report is based on around 300 cases of intimidation, harassment, attacks and killings of human rights defenders in more than a dozen countries primarily between January 2010 and September 2012.

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