Natalia Estimerova: Courageous Chechen human rights defender and journalist

Peace Brigades International (PBI), the Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute (HRSJ) at London Metropolitan University, the All Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG), speakers and delegates from the ‘2009 Conference on Security and Protection for Human Rights Defenders’ strongly condemn the abduction and murder of Natalia Estimerova, human rights defender and freelance journalist.

Natasha (as she was known to her friends) started working for the Russian human rights organisation ‘Memorial Human Rights Centre’ at the beginning of the second Chechen war in 1999. Natasha helped document violations of human rights, including kidnappings, extra-judicial killings, torture, and disappearances, and helped victims at a time when few dared to speak out. Natasha’s work was fundamental to the struggle for justice and the rule of law in Russia.

Memorial, the largest and most renowned human rights organisation in Russia, is also one of the oldest.  It was established in 1989 as ‘Memorial Historical Education Society’, and in the 1990’s evolved into ‘Memorial Human Rights Centre’. Now Memorial has numerous offices throughout Russia, employing many human rights defenders committed to strengthening the position of civil society in Russia as an integral partner in securing the enjoyment and protection of human rights. As such, Natasha’s murder is not only an individual tragedy, but a great loss for Russia and Chechnya.
 
Natasha Estimerova was recognised internationally for her human rights activism, and worked with Memorial and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) in taking cases to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Natasha was awarded the Right Livelihood Award of the Swedish Parliament 2004 (known as the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize), the Robert Schuman Medal of the European Parliament (2005), the Anna Politkovskaya Award (2007), given by Raw in War (Reach all Women in War), and the Human Rights Watch Defender Award (2007).

As stated in a tribute to Natasha by Human Rights Watch:
“Fear was not part of her everyday agenda. …”

The 2009 conference recognised that human rights defenders are more than just exceptional individuals: their work is essential in establishing good governance, rule of law, a thriving civil society and sustainable development, and for the protection of human rights, in every country. 

Margaret Sekaggya, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders, made note of this courage and appreciation in her key note address at the conference:  “Let me state how privileged I feel to be addressing women and men who courageously arise for the promotion and protection of human rights despite the difficult circumstances they face. Recent events and developments have generated conditions that pose even greater challenges for the human rights community globally and demand a strong affirmation of the commitment to the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this regard the conference gains greater significance.”

Hina Jilani, previously the Special Representative of the UN General Secretary on Human Rights Defenders from 2000 to 2008, rightly stated: “Exposing human rights violations and seeking redress for them is largely dependent on the degree of security enjoyed by human rights defenders.”

The murder of Natasha Estimerova demonstrates the precarious circumstances in which human rights defenders undertake their work and the commitment needed by governments and the whole of the international community to join efforts in support of human rights defenders.

We call on the Russian Government, in line with their national and international commitments, to investigate and bring to justice the instigator(s) and perpetrator(s) of the kidnapping and murder of Natasha Estimerova.

We are deeply concerned with the escalation of human rights abuses in Chechnya and the dangers posed to human rights defenders in Russia. We call upon all governments to closely monitor this investigation and to do everything in their power to protect human rights defenders, to prosecute those who threaten or attack them, and to publicly support the legitimacy of their work.

Human rights defenders are part of an infrastructure the world cannot afford to lose; without their courageous work, human rights for all would be in peril.

Signed by organisers and delegates of the 2009 Conference on Security and Protection for Human Rights Defenders, London:

Susi Bascon, Peace Brigades International UK (PBI UK)
Nicole Piche, All Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group UK
Karen Bennett, HRSJ Research Institute, London Metropolitan University
Louise Winstanley, Peace Brigades International
Philip Leach, HRSJ Research Institute, London Metropolitan University
Tina Devadasan, EHRAC, London Metropolitan University
Leos Javurek, Human Rights & Transition Policy Dept. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
Dr. Nicolas J. Beger, Director Amnesty International EU Office
Liane Adler, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Hassan Shire, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project
Michael Ellman, FIDH and Solicitors International Human Rights Group
Mary Lawlor, Front Line -The International Foundation for the Protection of HRDs
Tanya Lokshina, Human Rights Watch
Mandira Sharma, Advocacy Forum
Sir Nigel Rodley, Chair of the University of Essex Human Rights Centre and member of the UN Human Rights Committee

Patrick Twomey, Director, International Human Rights Network
James Savage, Amnesty International UK Section
Teresa Elwes, The Bromley Trust
Natalia Prilutskaya, Amnesty International
Richard Solly
Andrew Whitmore
Mariana Katzarova, RAW in WAR (Reach all Women in War)
Miguel Puerto
Prof. Eileen O’Keefe, London Metropolitan University
Fernando Rebelo, International Politics Adviser
Lynn Carter
Lena Barrett, Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York
Jonathan Heawood, Director, English PEN
Prof. Bill Bowring, School of Law, Birkbeck College, University of  London