Pierre Claver Mbonimpa-Activist

Pierre Claver Mbonimpa "...is a Burundian human rights activist often hailed as the only person willing to stand up for the rights of Hutu, Tutsi, and Batwa in a time of ruthless civil dispute. He served on the police force of Burundi until December of 1994, when he was imprisoned for two years due to false accusations. Upon his release, he founded the Burundian Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons. Despite government threats, Mbonimpa continues to campaign courageously against torture and to expose the mistreatment of detainees in holding cells in rural Burundi. He has addressed the plight of 9,000 prisoners awaiting trial in the country’s overcrowded prisons and organized events at which police and military representatives have had to face questions from human rights activists and victims. Mbonimpa has fearlessly denounced the harassment and imprisonment of members of civil society. He is a recipient of the 2007 Martin Ennals Award..."Oslo Freedom Forum