The Latest Breaking News from Mary Lawlor

Five face trial in Peru in rare prosecution over the killing of an Amazon defender

Five men are set to stand trial in Peru over the 2023 killing of an Indigenous Amazon defender

The Independent UK · Jan 19

‘It’s a road to destruction’: climate defenders facing surge in reprisals, says UN expert

Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur for human rights defenders, accuses US, UK and other governments of paying lip service to climate goals while criminalizing activists

The Guardian - US · Oct 13, 2025

From the US to Uganda, how climate activism has been criminalised in 2024

In this week’s Down To Earth newsletter: The global crackdown against climate activists and groups is clearly part of the fossil fuel industry’s strategy to crush dissent and keep burning the planet• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up here to get the newsletter in full

The Guardian - UK · Dec 13, 2024

‘Joyful but afraid’: Disabled Indian academic Saibaba’s family on acquittal

Wheelchair-bound ex-Delhi University professor is acquitted after 10 years of imprisonment over alleged Maoist links.

Al Jazeera · Mar 6, 2024

How criminalisation is being used to silence climate activists across the world

Guardian investigation finds growing number of countries passing anti-protest laws as part of playbook of tactics to intimidate people peacefully raising the alarm

The Guardian - UK · Oct 12, 2023

Bahrain activist Maryam al-Khawaja denied boarding on UK to Manama flight

Activist says she wants to meet her jailed father Abdulhadi al-Khawaja who is currently on hunger strike.

Al Jazeera · Sep 15, 2023

India must end ‘inhumane’ detention of activist GN Saibaba, says UN expert

Alarm over nearly decade-long detention of former English professor who is 90 percent disabled and bound to wheelchair.

Al Jazeera · Aug 22, 2023

Al Jazeera slams naming of its journalists on Egypt ‘terror’ list

Al Jazeera Media Network denounces the Egyptian move to reinstate a number of its journalists on ‘terror’ list.

Al Jazeera · Jul 25, 2023

India arrests Kashmir journalist Irfan Mehraj on ‘terror’ charges

Irfan Mehraj, who worked with a prominent human rights organisation, was accused of funding ‘terror’ activities.

Al Jazeera · Mar 21, 2023

UN envoy calls for release of jailed journalist on hunger strike in Senegal

Concerns raised over health of Pape Alé Niang, detained since 20 December on charges of revealing confidential government information

The Guardian - UK · Jan 6, 2023