International Service for Human Rights

In December 2008, Mr Edwin Legarda Vazquez, husband of prominent Colombian human rights defender, Ms Aída Quilcué, was killed. The murder followed Ms Quilcué’s participation in the review of Colombia under the universal periodic review process of the UN Human Rights Council (the Council) in Geneva. This is one of the cases highlighted in the Secretary-General’s most recent report on reprisals against defenders who cooperate with UN mechanisms. The Secretary-General’s report contains a compilation and analysis of alleged reprisals against persons cooperating with UN human rights mechanisms, including recommendations on how to address the issues of intimidation and reprisals.

Oscar Kamau Kingara, a Kenyan human rights defender, was killed in March 2009. Mr Kingara had provided information to the UN Special Rapporteur on extra judicial executions, Mr Philip Alston, during his recent official visit to the country. This case was discussed at the 11th session of the Council.

Both of these cases illustrate the serious risks faced by human rights defenders all over the world when sharing information with human rights bodies and mechanisms, including those of the UN. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is currently collecting information for the Secretary-General’s next report on alleged reprisals against persons cooperating with UN human rights mechanisms, as requested by the Council at the 12th session. If you have information about human rights defenders that have suffered retaliation for cooperating with a UN human rights mechanism, you can submit it by 22 February 2010 to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . OHCHR requests that you indicate if the reported cases have already been mentioned in a UN document or referred to by a UN human rights mechanism. If the alleged reprisals have not yet been referred to in any UN documents, please also indicate if the victim or her/his family agree to be mentioned in this report or has/have been informed accordingly. Attention should be given to the necessity to preserve the security of the persons concerned.