Committee on Human Rights: Annual Report 2022 (2023)
Chapter: Advocacy for Colleagues Under Threat
Advocacy for Colleagues Under Threat
In 2022, the CHR followed 116 cases involving colleagues around the world. Efforts to support these colleagues have included issuing action alerts to Academy members and academies in the IHRN and submitting case briefs to UNESCO and U.N. experts using human rights complaint mechanisms.
Cases by Region
| 39 Americas |
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9 Asia-Pacific |
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| 30 Europe & Eurasia |
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38 Middle East & North Africa |
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Cases by Status
| 32 | Under Investigation | 3 | Released Conditionally |
| 27 | Imprisoned | 3 | Travel/Work Ban |
| 20 | Ongoing Judicial Proceedings | 2 | Stateless/Deported/in Exile |
| 13 | Convicted (not jailed) | 2 | Threatened/Harassed |
| 7 | Detained | 1 | Travel Ban Lifted |
| 4 | Disappeared | 1 | Released |
| 1 | Case Dismissed |
Spotlight on Released Colleagues
Several colleagues saw positive case developments in 2022, from the dropping of charges to the lifting of travel bans. Highlighted below are the cases of two colleagues released from prison in 2022.
Khalil al-Halwachi
Bahraini electrical engineer Khalil al-Halwachi was released from prison on February 2, after having served 7 years of a 10-year sentence received for his peaceful human rights and prodemocracy activities. He was released as a result of criminal sentencing reforms that allow prisoners to be considered for alternative sentencing in non-custodial settings. Mr. al-Halwachi was held under extremely difficult conditions of confinement and routinely denied access to needed medical care. Learn more about Mr. al-Halwachi’s case.
Khursanai Ismatullaeva
On December 12, 2022, Turkmen pediatrician Khursanai Ismatullaeva was released from prison as part of a government pardon. Dr. Ismatullaeva had been serving a nine-year sentence based on charges of alleged fraud. She was arrested the day after her dismissal from a medical clinic (believed to stem from her refusal to engage in behavior that violates medical ethics) was discussed during an event organized by the European Parliament on the human rights situation in Central Asia. Read more about Dr. Ismatullaeva’s case.
Advocacy Overview
Since its inception in 1976, the CHR has worked on 1113 cases spanning 83 countries. Visit our website to learn more about the Committee’s advocacy program.
Cases by Region
Cases by Profession
It means a great deal to those who are oppressed to know that they are not alone. Never let anyone tell you that what you are doing is insignificant.
-DESMOND TUTU
