Dear Members and Friends,
1° Drame Crans-Montana tragedy on New Year’s Eve
We are filled with immense sorrow and extend our deepest condolences and solidarity to the families of the direct and indirect victims.
Before sharing the latest updates on our work beyond our borders in particularly troubled regions, we feel it is our duty to express our grief for all the lives so brutally cut short in the horrific New Year’s tragedy in that beautiful setting of the Swiss Alps. Many of us have been deeply moved and shaken by this disaster. To those physically injured, to all those ravaged by the flames and still fighting, to the wounded souls near and far, to all whose hearts have been affected: our thoughts of solidarity and comfort are with you. May you find the strength and support you need to continue your life’s journey in the light.
Anne (member of Vivere)
2° The Trump administration is heading inexorably towards an era of setbacks and dangers for human rights
Rather than developing a lengthy analysis here, we invite you to consult the following articles, which shed light on the pitfalls of a deliberate policy of oppression:
- Full speed ahead, Donald Trump reshapes the world order
https://www.bluewin.ch/fr/infos/international/tambour-battant-donald-trump-bouleverse-lordre-mondial-3051064.html
- In the United States, authoritarian practices are eroding human rights
https://www.amnesty.be/infos/actualites/etats-unis-pratiques-autoritaires?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email-newsletter&utm_campaign=2026-newsletter-04
https://www.amnesty.be/IMG/pdf/ringing_the_alarm_bells.pdf
Authoritarianism and despotism are contagious among regimes in power here and elsewhere. In the countries where we operate—already severely tested before Trump’s return to office—we have observed an accelerated deterioration since his re-election last year. As a result, Vivere must adapt its work to new unfolding crises, organise urgent protection for our partners in the field, and manage unforeseen expenses required to save lives in rapidly shifting contexts.
Our friends at Amnesty International Belgium summarize the situation as follows:
“The situation is grave—more than it ever has been. We are at a crucial moment in history. The world is wavering. On all sides, the ideal of human rights is under attack. We are entering a new era of brutality, with attacks on civilians, war crimes, and dissenting voices silenced by emboldened authoritarian powers.”
We need to be aware and wake up to this!
3° Syria
Intercommunal violence continues to claim innocent victims every day.
In December, 18 new babies were added to those already under our care, followed by 17 more last month. With the rotation in the duration of support (from birth up to seven months of age), this now represents a total of 45 infants receiving nutritional supplements.
4° Defense of individuals accused of blasphemy facing the death penalty
For obvious security reasons, we cannot divulge the country and the individuals involved. However, please know that Vivere acts swiftly in response to each new case brought to our attention by the courageous lawyers who undertake these high-risk proceedings—both for the victims and for themselves.
Since January, we have been covering the legal defense of a woman in her thirties, imprisoned since May 2025, accused of having immersed pages of the Qur’an in a bucket of water. Under the penal code in force, she faces the death penalty.
5° Burundi: Launch of an expanded rehabilitation project for women seeking to leave sex work permanently
After five years of collaboration with our local partner, the SFBSP association—supporting ten women per year—this initiative now benefits from financial support from the French Embassy and from our friends at “Solidaires sans Frontières” (Lyon, France).
These contributions allow us to immediately expand the program to sixty women : 20 in Bujumbura and 40 in Kirundo.
This development fully aligns with one of Vivere’s core objectives since its creation: to initiate, on a modest scale, life-saving actions for people in intolerable situations; to carry out this work thoroughly and exemplarily; and then to engage additional actors who may eventually take over entirely. The effectiveness of our partner SFBSP, and of our project coordinator Annick—who volunteers her time—gives us hope that this goal can be achieved.
6° Protection and rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking
During 2025, our program enabled:
- The repatriation, from the Arabian Gulf to their respective countries of origin, of 232 victims who had been exploited there. Among them, two were under 18 at the time we identified them, and 178 were under 25.
- 148 victims had endured sexual slavery; most of the others had been subjected to forced domestic labor.
- To ensure their safety after liberation and before boarding repatriation flights, we provided 305 nights of secure shelter on site.
- In courts in Ukraine and Uzbekistan, we supported twenty trials against traffickers, assisting 24 victims who each had the courage to file a complaint.
This work also includes socio-professional support for repatriated victims requiring assistance with reintegration.
For example, in Transnistria, as reported by our partner Women’s Initiatives:
“In 2025, Natalia (a pseudonym) took an important step: she began training to become a hairdresser. This profession was chosen after consultation with a psychologist, taking into account her health and abilities. The necessary tools were purchased for her, enabling her to start training without financial obstacles. Mastering this profession gives Natalia the opportunity to earn a stable income, become independent, and gradually improve her quality of life. It is an important step in her journey, showing that with support and personal motivation, it is possible to regain control of one’s life and move forward.”
- In Uzbekhistan: :
To illustrate the ordeals endured by victims, here is the account of one case, translated from our permanent team in the Gulf, which assists around fifteen victims each month:
Two young Egyptian women were sent by their parents to the Gulf to support their family in a suburb of Cairo by sending part of their earnings home. Their contact in the Gulf was a relative named Mohammed. He ultimately acted as their exploiter and forced them into sexual slavery.
Initially, they were made to work once a day in his apartment. Later, he rented a villa. Realizing that their “work” was like a gold mine, Mohammed forced them to serve more and more clients each day—up to twelve. He earned approximately $1,290 (CHF 990) per day, while the young women received almost nothing. Once a month, he sent the equivalent of $650 (CHF 500) to their family in Egypt.
At the end of May, Mohammed brought a Saudi client willing to pay a very large sum for two young women. The next morning, when the client attempted to leave without paying, a loud fight broke out. A neighbor called the police, who arrived quickly. Both men and the two women were arrested.
The women were detained at a police station, while the men were sent to the central prison. As the women had not been involved in the fight but had overstayed their visas, immigration services decided to deport them, while the men would face further investigation. Rumors suggested that the Saudi client had over a thousand photos and videos related to child abuse on his phone.
During questioning, the two young women told investigators they had been physically forced into sexual acts with strangers. However, they were not classified as victims of human trafficking. It should be noted that the two women had no money at all. A female police officer therefore contacted us to request assistance.
Dear Members and Friends, we re-iterate our deep gratitude for your interest in Vivere’s work and for the trust you place in us—a trust that is immensely important to us.
The Vivere Committee