Dear Members and Friends,
1. Iran: Risk of Executions
An Iranian lawyer close to Vivere, a former university professor dismissed for raising awareness among her students about the need for greater respect for human rights in her country, was summoned to court last February on charges of dissent, an offence that may result in a death sentence.
She and her child have been living in complete hiding for several months. Their home and all their possessions were seized by the Revolutionary Guards.
We are therefore particularly attentive to the campaign launched by our friends at Amnesty International Belgium, calling on everyone to send a letter of protest to the Head of the Judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, in order to help prevent the execution of dozens of Iranian dissidents.
A sample letter is available at:
We encourage you to take action.
2. Defending Individuals Accused of Blasphemy and Facing the Death Penalty
For obvious security reasons, we cannot disclose the country concerned or the individuals involved. However, please know that Vivere remains constantly vigilant and acts as quickly as possible, whenever resources permit, to assist each new case brought to our attention by the courageous lawyers who accept the considerable risks associated with such proceedings, both for the victims and for themselves.
Last month brought the very welcome news that two women facing the death penalty had been acquitted.
One was accused of insulting a sacred book during a telephone argument with a stranger. The other was accused of burning a page from a sacred book while crouching in a cemetery.
In most contexts such accusations would be considered absurd and ridiculous. Yet in certain parts of the world they can lead to hanging, stoning, or even being burned alive.
Through our support mechanism, such lives can often be saved at a cost of approximately CHF 1,280 (€1,400), covering legal and court expenses.
3. Mauritania: Fighting Slavery
Our courageous local partner, the IRA association, reports the appalling abuse inflicted upon a young girl:
“On Friday, 30 January 2026, Ms. Rachida mint Essalek witnessed the ordeal of an 11-year-old girl, dressed in rags and barefoot, performing domestic work for an Arab-Berber family in Toujounine, a district of the capital, Nouakchott.
Thanks to her vigilance and concern regarding the arduous tasks imposed upon the child, Nouhe mint Mohamed, activists from the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA) were able to observe and document a clear case of exploitation.
The child was not attending school, and the evidence collected showed, among other things, that she was carrying heavy water containers and performing daily labour amounting to exploitation.
In accordance with Law 031-2015 criminalising slavery and slavery-like practices, the competent authorities were informed, leading to the opening of what appeared to be an investigation. However, instead of being commended for her civic courage, Rachida mint Essalek immediately found herself targeted by those seeking to preserve the existing system of domination.”
On 17 February, the Sahelian Network Against Slavery published the following statement:
“We are deeply concerned by the Public Prosecutor’s decision to dismiss the case involving an 11-year-old girl who was the victim of practices amounting to slavery.
This decision is all the more incomprehensible given that the investigation ordered by the Prosecutor reportedly uncovered serious factual elements that should have led to a reclassification of the offence and the opening of appropriate legal proceedings rather than dismissal.
The Mauritanian State is bound by its national, regional and international commitments in the fight against slavery and the protection of children’s rights. It has a legal obligation to protect the child’s fundamental and social rights, prosecute and punish those responsible, and ensure redress for victims.
Dismissing the case under these circumstances sends a deeply troubling signal in the fight against impunity.”
4. Syria
Our team on the ground continues to report widespread despair.
People face a severe shortage of money and unaffordable prices. Many struggle simply to obtain enough food. Violence and intercommunal reprisals persist, alongside acts of revenge, looting, and even bodies left in the streets.
Throughout March and April, our partners reported numerous cases of fathers who had previously worked as civil servants being dismissed because of their membership in the Alawite community.
In March, 19 newborn babies joined the project, in addition to the 26 infants already receiving support.
In April, 14 new children and their families entered the programme, while support continued for 31 previously assisted families.
More than half of the newly assisted families had been displaced and, hoping that calm had returned, attempted to cross the country again in order to return home.
The European Union is seeking to revive cooperation with Syria, as stability in the country remains a key condition for the return of Syrian refugees currently living in EU member states.
EU Foreign Ministers are expected to meet Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani in order to launch a high-level political dialogue, one and a half years after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
The aim is to support reconstruction efforts in a country devastated by fifteen years of civil war, where conditions on the ground remain, according to an EU official in Brussels, “appalling”.
Approximately 13 million Syrians — nearly half the population — require food assistance. (Le Temps 11.05.2026).
5. Pakistan: Advancing Juvenile Justice – Efforts to Abolish the Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment for Minors
This initiative, implemented by our experienced legal partners across six provinces of Pakistan, seeks both the abolition of extreme punishments imposed on children in conflict with the law and broader improvements to the juvenile justice system.
Over the past twelve months, numerous training activities have been conducted for lawyers and other judicial professionals, alongside press conferences aimed at raising public awareness and encouraging action by authorities and law enforcement agencies.
As every year, one of our team members spent two weeks in Pakistan last April to support our partners, provide methodological guidance, meet with local authorities, and review the use of resources entrusted by Vivere, always with a strong commitment to efficiency and responsible spending.
For the first time, we were able to conduct training sessions in the semi-autonomous region of Kashmir, which represents a significant achievement.
The photographs below illustrate many of the recent sessions organised throughout the country.
Since the launch of this initiative in 2019, several hundred professionals have been trained and sensitised. Today, across Pakistan, they are able to take concrete action to reduce injustice and mistreatment affecting girls and boys in conflict with the law.
We are particularly encouraged by the participation of many women — police officers, lawyers, probation officers and judges — who have chosen to take part in our activities despite cultural traditions that often confine women to less visible roles.
Pākpattan April 25
Haripur April 25
Manshera April 25
Manshera April 25
Gilgit June 25
Hunza June 25
Dear Members and Friends,
We would like once again to express our sincere gratitude for your interest in Vivere’s work, for your trust, which means so much to us, and for your attentiveness to human rights alerts and urgent situations, whether they come from us or from others.
With our warmest regards,
The Vivere Committee