From September 29 to October 9, 2015 we collaborate as interpreters in the Projecte de les Ciutats Defensores dels Drets Humans, organized by the Catalan Commisió d’Ajuda al Refugiat (CCAR), together with the Town Halls of Sant Boi, Viladecans, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Gavà, Castelldefels, Sant Just Desvern and Barberà del Vallès.
Six human rights defenders who work in six different regions of the world were invited, often jeopardizing their freedom and security through their activism, including their lives. These defenders were Maryam AlKhawaja, Ruth Mumbi, Yolanda Oquelin, Father Pedro Pantoja, Helena Maleno and Andrés Krakenberger. Two more defenders from Rwanda and Morocco, also invited, were unable to attend because they were imprisoned in their countries because of their activism in defense of human rights.
They were a few days full of energy and emotion, with the joy of being able to participate and collaborate in raising awareness of the role that our Western governments play in promoting and defending human rights, to realize that we cannot keep the arms crossed in front of human catastrophes such as migrants who die every day trying to cross borders, or who are tortured or killed by organized mafias. Or to denounce that the Spanish government currently supports the sale of weapons to countries such as Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, which commit flagrant violations of the most elementary human rights.
