by Nicolas David

08 December 2010

La Paz, Bolivia: Every 10th December the International Day of Human Rights is celebrated around the world to mark the adoption by the United Nations, in 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year the slogan "Speak up! Stop discrimination" pays tribute to the defenders of human rights around the world, and especially to those who devote their lives to fighting all forms of discrimination, be it racial, sexual or other.

Why dedicate this day to human rights defenders? Surely because even though all of them have conviction and passion, it is still not easy to say without risk: "I defend human rights."

My name is Nicolas David, I have been an international UNV volunteer specialist in Bolivia with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) since August 2009, serving as an Associate Human Rights Officer. Among my main responsibilities is to observe the situation of human rights defenders in the country. Lately they have not reported physical acts of aggression against them, but some have been victims of intimidation for their public denunciations or for the work they carry out to defend and promote human rights in the country.

Observing is the main part of my job as a UNV volunteer: I collect and analyze first-hand information, that is, statements from victims, witnesses, social and human rights organizations and authorities involved in possible violations of human rights in the country. Subsequently I submit all the information gathered to the Director’s Office, for them to alert the national authorities  if required or to take urgent actions such as issuing official statements, press releases, etc.

Besides the issue of the human rights defenders, I also observe the situation of freedom of expression in the country, in close collaboration with journalist organizations and the media. Within this scope, we organize training sessions about the international standards on freedom of expression and access to information, and also raise awareness about international denunciations of violations of these rights. From complaints received in our office, I have been able to work on other issues such as lynching, the excessive use of law enforcement, land disputes, forced disappearances during periods of dictatorship, among others.

Finally, I monitor two major court cases in the recent history of Bolivia: the hearing regarding the bloody events of October 2003 during the so-called Gas War (during which around 60 civilians lost their lives in El Alto and La Paz while demonstrating in favour of national gas against the government of that time); and the hearing about the incident of 24 May 2008 in Sucre, in which indigenous farmers were humiliated and beaten in the main square of the city.

My role is to meet with the different people involved in the hearings in order to follow the progress of these cases, make sure that the right to a proper defence in a fair trial is respected, as well the right of the victims to learn the truth, so that these serious events do not go unpunished and the victims can obtain fair compensation.

Personally, I am very proud to be a UNV volunteer and therefore to have the opportunity to be a part of this office, working with the Bolivian government for the consolidation and improvement of human rights in the country.  Moreover, through my responsibilities, I am connected to the main social, political and legal actors in Bolivia, which I highly value both personally and professionally.