Etiqueta: Human Rights

Justice for Nieves… for when?

(When bullying destroys a life)

One year and 5 months have passed since Nieves, victim for months of brutal bullying and cyberbullying, decided that she did not want to continue. That afternoon on 28 December 2021, everything stopped in Navas de San Juan, a small town in the Comarca de El Condado in the province of Jaén, in Andalusia (Spain). From that day until today, more than 500 days have passed and the family is still waiting for the Justice to give them the answer they are longing for: WHO DID IT?

Nieves and her family had done the right thing, what citizens are asked to do when they have a problem: to knock on the door of Justice and the Security Forces and Bodies to ask for help. Nieves did so on four occasions, writing down in four reports the nightmare she had been suffering for months and also the identity of the person she suspected. And the worst thing is that many people around her knew what was happening, but decided to leave her totally alone, isolated, humiliated and with an unjust feeling of guilt.

It is true, there were even those who questioned the veracity of her account. But there were also those who, although they could have provided information or their own testimony, which might have helped to put an end to Nieves’ nightmare, preferred to remain silent. The reasons are known only to those who are slaves to that same silence, as complicit as it is cowardly. And Nieves could bear it no longer.

Since then, despite the immense pain, her entire family has continued to fight tirelessly so that, hopefully, sooner rather than later, everything will be cleared up and whoever is behind all this senseless pain that destroyed the life of a girl of only 20 years of age will be held criminally accountable. However, to this day, they have been unable to do anything but wait patiently, wait until the despair that only perfect storms create.

The demands of those working for the Administration of Justice in the various Courts and Tribunals throughout the country who are affected by chronic congestion and work overload are understandable. No one disputes that the right to strike is a fundamental right recognised by the Spanish Constitution. But, equally, the family also has the right to have the justice system assist them and give them an answer as quickly as possible after the painful loss of Nieves. Despite the pain, they still believe in Justice and they need Justice to be able to answer that other question that torments them so much: WHY?

Meanwhile, those who believe themselves unpunished, or without any responsibility for what happened, continue with their lives totally oblivious to the pain of an entire family. A family that can barely stay afloat but only cling to the hope that, very soon, the time will come when they can freely say: «THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED».

When that time comes, whoever was behind the whole nightmare that Nieves suffered will answer without a shadow of a doubt. And those who could have prevented such a painful outcome and deliberately chose not to do so, leaving Nevis to her fate and subjected to the criminal mockery created at the hands of those who decided to destroy her entire life, will also be held accountable. Let there be no doubt, when the time comes, all those who acted and all those who decided to do nothing and remain vilely silent will be held accountable.

Until that day arrives, the family of Nieves will continue with admirable fortitude to vindicate the name of their daughter so that no one forgets it. They will draw the necessary strength from their yearning for Justice, never for revenge, and hoping that their pain will never be experienced again by any other family. They will do so out of deep love for that smile, now eternal, which illuminates them like the most beautiful star in the firmament.

And under the light of that star they ask themselves… FOR WHEN?

JUSTICE FOR NIEVES!

✨🕯️❤️🦋❤️🕯️✨

Deixemos de olhar para o outro lado

(Dia Mundial contra a Escravidão Infantil)

Embora alguns possam não querer reconhecê-lo, milhões de crianças em todo o mundo continuam a ser vítimas da escravatura em todas as suas formas. 

Neste dia, recordamos o assassinato de Iqbal Masih (1982-1995), cujo pai aceitou 600 rupias em pagamento para o seu filho trabalhar, acorrentado e sob as ordens do seu «senhor e mestre», 12 horas por dia num tear fazendo tapetes. Nessa altura, as autoridades e empregadores pouco se importavam com centenas de crianças que trabalhavam como escravos. Tudo o que importava era a qualidade do produto e o lucro económico, mesmo que as condições de trabalho fossem sub-humanas. 

Mas o Iqbal não aguentou mais e conseguiu escapar para expor o sofrimento de milhares de crianças em todo o país. Com a ajuda do sindicato Bhatta Mazdoor Mahaz, e apesar de muitas tentativas de suborno, o seu último «dono» viu a sua fábrica fechada e foi levado à justiça por todos os seus crimes. A partir desse momento, o pequeno Iqbal dedicou toda a sua vida a denunciar os abusos dos fabricantes de tapetes que obrigavam as crianças a trabalhar até à exaustão. A voz de Iqbal ecoou por todo o lado, apesar do seu pequeno corpo: “NÃO COMPREM NENHUM DESTES TAPETES! AS CRIANÇAS DEVEM TER LÁPIS NAS MÃOS E NÃO FERRAMENTAS!”.

Mas a enorme coragem de Iqbal custou-lhe muito caro. Pouco depois, foi brutalmente assassinado pelos tiros do Ashraf Hero, um homem de meia-idade viciado em heroína. Mas há quem diga que a morte do rapazinho foi planeada por um grupo de mercenários, a troco do pagamento da «Máfia do Tapete». Podemos nunca saber a verdade, mas o que sabemos é que a mensagem do menino ainda hoje está muito presente, e por esta razão, em homenagem ao Iqbal, celebramos o Dia Internacional contra a Escravatura Infantil. 

No 28º aniversário do assassinato do Iqbal, não podemos esquecer que quase 400 milhões de crianças, principalmente em áreas atingidas por pobreza extrema, conflitos armados ou desastres naturais, vivem sob o jugo da escravatura e em risco de serem capturadas por organizações criminosas envolvidas no tráfico de seres humanos, tráfico de órgãos, tráfico de droga ou exploração sexual de crianças. Para não falar dos milhares de «crianças-soldados» que são forçados a lutar em guerras esquecidas que pouco importam para o resto do mundo. 

Sabemos o que está acontecendo, sabemos onde está acontecendo e sabemos quais são os responsáveis por isso. Se não queremos ser cúmplices, devemos agir para proteger aqueles que são sem dúvida os mais inocentes dos inocentes de todas as formas de abuso, maus tratos, exploração e escravatura. 

Estamos a aceitar a destruição do futuro de milhões de crianças, espezinhando a sua inviolável dignidade humana e roubando-lhes os seus direitos mais básicos. 

E pelo nosso silêncio, estamos a negar-lhes o que eles são: Crianças inocentes. 

Deixemos de olhar para o outro lado.

Cessons de détourner le regard

(Journée mondiale contre l’esclavage des enfants)

Bien que certains ne veuillent pas le reconnaître, des millions d’enfants dans le monde continuent d’être victimes de l’esclavage sous toutes ses formes. 

En ce jour, nous nous souvenons du meurtre d’Iqbal Masih (1982-1995), dont le père avait accepté 600 roupies en guise de paiement pour que son fils travaille, enchaîné et sous les ordres de son «seigneur et maître», 12 heures par jour sur un métier à tisser fabriquant des tapis. À l’époque, les autorités et les employeurs se souciaient peu des centaines d’enfants qui travaillaient comme esclaves. Tout ce qui comptait, c’était la qualité du produit et le profit économique, même si les conditions de travail étaient inhumaines. 

Mais Iqbal n’en pouvait plus et a réussi à s’enfuir pour dénoncer la souffrance de milliers d’enfants à travers le pays. Avec l’aide du syndicat Bhatta Mazdoor Mahaz, et malgré de nombreuses tentatives de corruption, son dernier «propriétaire» a vu son usine fermée et a été traduit en justice pour tous ses crimes. Dès lors, le petit Iqbal a consacré toute sa vie à dénoncer les abus des fabricants de tapis qui forçaient les enfants à travailler jusqu’à l’épuisement. La voix d’Iqbal résonnait partout malgré sa petite taille : «N’ACHETEZ PAS CES DROGUES ! LES ENFANTS DOIVENT AVOIR DES PICS DANS LES MAINS, PAS DES OUTILS !”. 

Mais l’immense courage d’Iqbal lui a coûté cher. Peu après, il a été brutalement assassiné par Ashraf Hero, un homme d’âge mûr accro à l’héroïne. D’aucuns affirment que la mort du petit garçon a été planifiée par un groupe de mercenaires à la solde de la «mafia du tapis». Nous ne connaîtrons peut-être jamais la vérité, mais ce que nous savons, c’est que le message du petit garçon est toujours d’actualité. C’est pourquoi, en hommage à Iqbal, nous célébrons la Journée mondiales contre l’esclavage des enfants. 

En ce 28e anniversaire de l’assassinat d’Iqbal, nous ne pouvons oublier que près de 400 millions d’enfants, principalement dans des régions touchées par l’extrême pauvreté, les conflits armés ou les catastrophes naturelles, vivent sous le joug de l’esclavage et risquent d’être capturés par des organisations criminelles impliquées dans la traite des êtres humains, le trafic d’organes, le trafic de stupéfiants ou l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants. Sans parler des milliers d'»enfants soldats» qui sont contraints de combattre dans des guerres oubliées qui n’ont que peu d’importance pour le reste du monde. 

Nous savons ce qui se passe, nous savons où cela se passe et nous savons qui en est responsable. Si nous ne voulons pas être complices, nous devons agir pour protéger ceux qui sont sans aucun doute les plus innocents des innocents contre toutes les formes d’abus, de maltraitance, d’exploitation et d’esclavage. 

Nous cautionnons la destruction de l’avenir de millions d’enfants, en bafouant leur dignité humaine inviolable et en les privant de leurs droits les plus élémentaires. 

Et par notre silence, nous leur refusons ce qu’ils sont : Enfants innocents. 

Cessons de détourner le regard.