Justitia et Pax stands for human rights and social justice. Worldwide and in the Netherlands. We work for lasting peace, a just world society and justice for all.


South Sudan
The Republic of South Sudan was established on July 9, 2011, as the final stage of a six year peace-agreement. Although formally the decades of civil war have ended with this independence, peace is not guaranteed. The major issues South Sudan is dealing with now, are border demarcation, inter-communal fighting, land/border conflict within the communities, corruption and in the south of the country the violence by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Read more »
At a Juba polling station on voting day in Southern Sudan referendum (photo: Siegfried Modola/IRIN).

Roma
The Roma are, estimated to comprise of 12 million persons, the biggest minority of Europe. They live in Romania, Bulgaria and the former USSR, but also all over Europe and of course in the Netherlands. Discrimination and poverty are great problems for the Roma community. They barely have access to health care, education and adequate housing. Read more »
©Copyright Joakim Eskildsen 2007 – The Roma Journeys

Burundi
Burundi saw some positive developments in 2011 with the creation of a National Independent Human Rights Commission and steps towards establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. However, political violence escalated in the aftermath of the 2010 elections, with scores of politically-motivated killings in 2011 by members of the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) and the former rebel group the National Liberation Forces (FNL). Impunity is widespread due to the weakness of the legal system. Read more »
Victims of sexual attacks fear coming forward to complain or accuse their attackers. This encourages impunity. Photo: IRIN.

Democratic Republic of Congo
The human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains grave. National elections in the end of 2011 were chaotic and marred by state security forces attacking opposition candidates, journalists and ordinary citizens. In the East, the military and armed groups continue attacks on civilians, including rape and killings. Women in particular are the victims of sexual violence on a large scale. Women are ashamed to report incidents. Human rights defenders and journalists are threatened and are often unsure of their lives. There is an extreme culture of impunity and political tensions are on the increase, especially in the Eastern provinces of North and South Kivu. Read more »
Refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo at a transit camp in Ishasha, Uganda prepare food for breakfast. November 2008

Shelter City: The Hague
Shelter City: The Hague is an initiative of Justitia et Pax, and has started in the autumn of 2012. Shelter City: The Hague is a program that supports human rights defenders who are threatened and under great pressure. Read more »

NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our digital newsletter:
Subscribe for Justitia et Pax newsletter

Shelter City

 

Shelter City: The Hague Initiative offers human rights defenders the possibility for rest and respite by letting them escape from a temporarily threatening situation. Shelter City is a last resort when shelter in the region is not possible and the safety of the human rights defender in question cannot be guaranteed. An important principle of the Shelter City Initiative is that human rights defenders continue their work, even if they are temporarily relocated.

 

www.sheltercity.org