Defend International has joined over 2,000 NGOs from over 150 countries around the globe to mark the 16 Days of Activisim Against Gender Based Violence, which starts on November 25 and ends on December 10. Letters will be sent to MENA countries, expressing gratitude for their commitment undertaken upon the adoption in 1993 of the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, and urging them to act on these promises.
Iraq: Signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions
On 12 November 2009, Iraq signed the Cluster Munitions Convention and became the 103rd country to sign the Convention. Defend International, along with other stakeholders, had urged Iraq several times to sign without delay the Convention on Cluster Munitions. “Iraq sent a strong message to the world that cluster bombs are illegitimate weapons of warfare and should not be used anymore,” said DI member from Iraq Mr. Fadhel Abbas.
Iran: 1st Urgent Action: Halt Execution of 12 Kurdish Political Activists
After the execution of the political activist Ehsan Fatahiyan on November 11, 2009, 12 political activists are facing the same fate. Almost all of them have been accused of being a mohareb (“enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
Iran: Stop Execution of 12 Prisoners on Death Row
Defend International urges Iran to stop the execution of the political activist Mr. Shirkoh Moarefi and 11 others, and encourages the Iranian authorities to review death penalty in light of International Human Rights Law.