London: Human rights defenders from Nepal and Zimbabwe speak'

In this seventh 'Field notes' event held in conjunction with Human Rights Watch UK, frontline human rights defenders will discuss monitoring human rights violations in Nepal and Zimbabwe: their different personal experiences, methods of collecting and evaluating information and the ways in which they develop advocacy campaigns both locally and at an international level.

There will also be an opportunity to hear from Human Rights Watch staff:
Sam Zia-Zarifi (Washington Advocate) and Tiseke Kasambala (Zimbabwe Researcher).

Mandira Sharma is a lawyer and human rights activist battling for justice for the arbitrarily detained, tortured, and 'disappeared' in Nepal. She has publicised the abuses committed by both sides during the civil war, including the recruitment of children into armed conflict, and worked to press the government to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

Arnold Tsunga has been beaten and threatened at gunpoint as a result of his defense of those who risk their lives to promote human rights in Zimbabwe. He has secured the release of activists held in police detention, stood in court with outspoken government opponents, and spoken out against the abduction, harassment and arbitrary arrests of countless others.

Jenny Kuper is a Advisory Board member of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights and Research Fellow in the Department of Law. Dr Kuper has particular expertise in international law relating to children in armed conflict situations, humanitarian law and children's rights and special interest in both Nepal and Zimbabwe.

Diary dates: Wednesday 14 November, 6.30-8pm 'Iraq and the law: what went wrong' with Rabinder Singh QC Thursday 29 November, 1.15pm-2.30pm 'Intolerance in the Ivory Tower: the threat to free speech of scholars' Thursday 6 December, 6.30-8pm Human Rights Day lecture with Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch