Thank Human Rights Defenders for Their Courageous Work

Abeer Pamuk had just started her sophomore year at the University of Aleppo when the Syrian civil war erupted. Her mother feared for Abeer's safety, so Abeer put her education on hold and went to live in Lebanon with her aunt. 



Then, in January 2013, a bomb went off at the University of Aleppo, killing 82 people. Although Abeer was safe, some of her friends were killed by the blast. This was a turning point for Abeer, who became determined to return to Syria as a human rights defender.



Abeer's brave decision started her on a path that eventually led to the Carter Center's 2017 Human Rights Defenders Forum, where she shared her experiences with more than 70 other activists.



Abeer's choice was not an easy one to make — becoming an activist often comes with a host of dangerous consequences and painful sacrifices. In fact, since 2015, more than 1,000 human rights defenders have been killed for their peaceful activism and political advocacy work that seeks to protect the most vulnerable members of their communities.



Human rights defenders often face death threats, harassment, and persecution from governments and corporate interests looking to silence them. The weight of this important, heroic work is heavier than we could ever imagine. It's up to us to lift their spirits with words of encouragement and sincere gratitude. 



To honor the bravery of those who put their lives on the line so that all of us can live in freedom, please join The Carter Center in sending a message of gratitude that will be shared with hundreds of human rights defenders all over the world.