We, the undersigned civil society organizations, stand in solidarity with Mongolian human rights defender Sukhgerel Dugersuren and strongly condemn the criminalization and smear campaigns against her, which we identify as an attempt to prevent her from conducting her crucial work in defense of human rights and the environment.

We urge the Mongolian government to ensure Sukhgerel can safely defend human rights without fearing reprisals and that all charges against her are dismissed.

We call on all the international institutions and actors active in the country – including development banks, UN bodies and experts, EU member states and institutions, international embassies, international investors or private companies – to publicly speak out in support of Sukhgerel, use their leverage to strongly condemn reprisals, and take any action they can to ensure Sukhgerel can continue to safely carry out her work.

Who is Sukhgerel Dugersuren?

Sukhgerel Dugersuren is an internationally renowned human rights defender and the Executive Director of the Mongolian organizations Oyu Tolgoi Watch and Rivers without Boundaries Mongolia. She has a long trajectory of exposing human rights abuses and defending the rights of herder and rural communities in Mongolia. Her courageous and inspirational work is admired by scores of international and local civil society organizations, as well as UN Special Rapporteurs and experts, who have closely worked with her.

In the past decades, Sukhgerel has supported dozens of communities negatively affected by large-scale projects, such as mines and hydropower dams. She has helped these communities in denouncing the harmful impacts of these activities and bringing their grievances to the attention of the Mongolian government, development banks, and international organizations. For example, she supported complaints to the independent accountability mechanisms of the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank.

What happened and why is she being criminalized?

According to Front Line Defenders, on 2 August 2022, Mongolia’s General Intelligence Agency informed Sukhgerel that she is under investigation for committing crimes under the Mongolian Criminal Code Article 19.4, which prohibits the “illegal cooperation with foreign intelligence agency, agent.” Although no other details around the investigations have been shared, we fear Sukhgerel might be at risk of imminent arrest and we are deeply concerned for her safety.

Sukhgerel is being subject to a clear criminalisation process, where the law is used to limit civic freedoms and punish human rights defenders. The undersigned human rights organizations consider these accusations false and baseless, as they appear to be related to Sukhgerel’s support to the communities impacted by the Erdeneburen hydropower plant, funded by China’s EXIM Bank, and her legitimate requests for access to environmental information, public participation in environmental decision-making and transparency.

On 3 August 2022, during a government briefing, Mongolia’s Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, H. Nyambaatar, stated that the construction of the Erdeneburen hydro plant had been suspended for two years, as a result of a letter from the local communities to the Chinese authorities. He also said that when development projects are interrupted by a civil society organization or person, then a task force should be established to investigate these cases as ‘sabotage’ under Criminal Code Article 19.6 and that the government could claim compensation for the lost economic opportunity. This concerning statement was shared just a few days before the visit by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, to Ulan Bator on 7 and 8 August to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries and who specifically mentioned the Erdeneburen hydropower plant in his remarks.

The Mongolian Minister’s statement could be construed as a direct threat of reprisal against human rights defenders like Sukhgerel. It also sends a very chilling message to all individuals and communities peacefully raising concerns or opposing harmful projects, especially in a context where several environmental activists have already been threatened and criminalized.

Sukhgerel is also facing a worrying and orchestrated smear campaign in online media and social media. We are deeply worried about the criminalization and smear campaign against Sukhgerel, which puts her at additional risk and constitutes a threat to all human rights defenders and civil society groups in the country. We fear that as a result of these online actions other human rights defenders, and in particular the communities protesting against the harmful impacts of the Erdeneburen dam or other foreign-funded projects, might also be at risk of being criminalized.

We stand in solidarity with Sukhgerel and other human rights defenders in Mongolia, and we call on all the relevant international institutions and actors that defend international law and human rights to intervene promptly in support of their important and legitimate struggles. Sustainable development is not possible where civil society is repressed and criminalized.

What are we asking?

We call on the government and other relevant authorities in Mongolia to:

1. Immediately investigate and unconditionally cease all attempts to target and criminalize Sukhgerel Dugersuren, as well as other human rights defenders and individuals expressing their opinion or raising concerns about development projects in the country;
2. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Mongolia are able to carry out their human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, in line with Mongolia’s international human rights obligations and commitments, including its recently approved law on human rights defenders;^[1]
3. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Publicly recognise the importance of freedom of expression, meaningful participation, unimpeded access to information on development projects and environmental impacts, and a safe environment for human rights defenders, to help ensure development projects are truly sustainable for Mongolia.

We call on all the international institutions and actors active in the country – including development banks^[2], UN bodies and experts^[3], EU member states and institutions^[4], international embassies, international investors and private companies – to:

1. Urge Mongolian authorities to immediately halt and dismiss all the charges against Sukhgerel Dugersuren.
2. Urge Mongolian authorities to investigate and stop all attempts to target, criminalize and stigmatize individuals expressing concerns or their views about development projects, including Sukhgerel Dugersuren.
3. Express serious concern about the statements made by Mongolian government officials, who publicly remarked that those opposing the Erdeneburen hydropower plant will be investigated and criminalized, and denounce the smear campaign Sukhgerel Dugersuren is facing.
4. Publicly recognise the importance of freedom of expression, meaningful participation, unimpeded access to information on development projects and environmental impacts, and the need to ensure a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders, by publicly stating that communities must be able to defend their right to a healthy environment and that human rights defenders are indispensable allies who should be supported.

^[1] On 1st April 2021, the Mongolian parliament adopted a new law for human rights defenders, making it the first country in Asia to provide a framework of protection for people who speak out on human rights concerns and violations. This protection includes ensuring an environment in which human rights defenders are not persecuted for their work.

^[2] In their policies, including the environmental and social safeguards, all the main development financial institutions (DFIs) are committed to ensure stakeholders engagement and participation. Some DFIs (including the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) have also adopted commitments of zero tolerance for reprisals against those who share their views about DFI-funded projects, while other banks – such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank – have committed to address reprisals. DFIs should also comply with the recommendations of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

^[3] The UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights, based on international law and human rights standards, affirm that States should ensure “that the legitimate and peaceful activities of human rights defenders are not obstructed”.

^[4] The 2008 EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders state that HRDs are natural and indispensable “allies” in the promotion of human rights and democratization in their countries, and call on member States to take concrete actions to support human rights defenders.

Signatories: 

1. Abibinsroma Foundation – Ghana
2. Accountability Counsel – United States
3. AJI/GAPK – Brazil
4. All African Women’s Group – United Kingdom
5. ALTSEAN=Burma – Burma
6. AMATE El Salvador – El Salvador
7. Amnesty International – Sierra Leone
8. Andrew Lees Trust – United Kingdom
9. APIT – Portugal
10. Arab Watch Coalition – MENA
11. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) – Thailand
12. Asociacion Ambiente y Sociedad – Colombia
13. Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany – Germany
14. Balkani Wildlife Society – Bulgaria
15. Bank Information Center – United States
16. Black Wimen for Wages for Housework – United States
17. Both ENDS – Netherlands
18. Building and Wood Workers International – Asia Pacific
19. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre – Global
20. Campaign of Campaigns – Mexico
21. CEE Bankwatch Network – Czech Republic
22. Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) – United States
23. Center for New Environmentally Safe Technologies – Kazakhstan
24. Centre de Défense des Droits de l’homme et Démocratie – DRC
25. Centre for Environmental Justice – Sri Lanka
26. Centre for Financial Accountability – India
27. Centre for Human Rights and Development – Mongolia
28. Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos “Segundo Montes Mozo S.J.” (CSMM) – Ecuador
29. Chirapaq/ECMIA – Peru
30. Christian Aid – UK
31. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation – South Africa/Global
32. Coalition for Human Rights in Development – Global
33. Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) – Indonesia
34. Colectivo sobre Financiamiento e Inversiones Chinas Derechos Humanos y Ambiente, CICDHA – Latin America
35. Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ) – Nepal
36. Community Resource Centre (CRC) – Thailand
37. Consejo Interreligioso del Perú-Religiones por la Paz – Peru
38. Constitution Researches Foundation – Azerbaijan
39. Corner House Research – United Kingdom
40. DAWN (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era) – Global
41. Defenders Protection Initiative – Uganda
42. Democracy Monitor PU – Azerbaijan
43. Derecho Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR) – Peru
44. DiXi Group – Ukraine
45. EarthRights International – United States
46. EİTİ NGO Coalition Azerbaijan – Azerbaijan
47. Empower Foundation – Thailand
48. Entrepreneurship Development Foundation – Azerbaijan
49. Environics Trust – India
50. Environmental Defender Law Center – United States
51. Equitable Cambodia Cambodia
52. FIAN Germany – Germany
53. FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders – France
54. Framer Framed – The Netherlands
55. Franciscans International – Switzerland
56. Friends of the Earth Japan – Japan
57. Friends of the Earth US – United States
58. Front Line Defenders – Ireland
59. GegenStroemung INFOE e.V. – Germany
60. Gender and Environment Network – Mexico
61. Global Women’s Strike/UK – United Kingdom
62. Global Women’s Strike/US – United States
63. Green Advocates International – Liberia
64. HRM “Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan” – Kyrgyzstan
65. Human Development Center “Tree of Life” – Kyrgyz Republic
66. Inclusive Development International – United States
67. IndiaMatters – United Kingdom
68. Indigenous Women Legal Awareness Group (INWOLAG) – Nepal
69. International Accountability Project (IAP) – Global
70. International Rivers – USA
71. International Service for Human Rights – Switzerland
72. International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific) – Malaysia
73. isha lisha- Haifa feminist center – Israel
74. Jamaa Resource Initiatives – Kenya
75. Jubilee Australia Research Centre – Australia
76. Karapatan Alliance Philippines – Philippines
77. Kingston University – United Kingdom
78. KKA – India
79. Latindadd – Peru
80. Law and Society Trust – Sri Lanka
81. Legal Action for Women – United Kingdom
82. London Mining Network – United Kingdom
83. Manushya Foundation – Thailand
84. Mines, mineral &People – India
85. MiningWatch Canada – Canada
86. Network Movement for Justice and Development – Sierra Leone
87. NGO Center for Support for Economic Initiatives (SEI) – Azerbaijan
88. NGO Consortium for promotion EITI in Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyzstan
89. NGO EcoMangystau – Kazakhstan
90. NGO Forum on ADB – Asia
91. No Business With Genocide – United States
92. Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization Public Union – Azerbaijan
93. OMCT (World Organisation Against Torture), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders – Switzerland
94. Organic Agriculture Association – Albania
95. Otros Mundos/Chiapas – Mexico
96. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum – Pakistan
97. Peace in Kurdistan – United Kingdom
98. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor – Malaysia
99. Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies – Jordan
100. PowerShift e.V. – Germany
101. Protection International – Belgium
102. Public Service of Ukraine, Poltava branch – Ukraine
103. ReCommon – Italy
104. Recourse – The Netherlands
105. RhodanteA – Belgium
106. Rural Media Network Pakistan – Pakistan
107. Scientists for Wild River Landscapes – Germany
108. Sierra Leone Land Alliance – Sierra Leone
109. Society for Threatened Peoples – Germany
110. SOMO (Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen) – Netherlands
111. Sosial Strategicall Resorch and Analiticall Invesigation Public Union – Azerbaijan
112. Steps Without borders NGO – Mongolia
113. Stiftung Asienhaus – Germany
114. Studio Jonas Staal – The Netherlands
115. Sukaar Welfare Organization – Pakistan
116. Sustentarse – Chile
117. Swedwatch – Sweden
118. TKPT – Indonesia
119. Transparet Governance PU – Azerbaijan
120. Twerwaneho Listeners Club – Uganda
121. Universidad Nacional José Faustino Sánchez Carrión – Perú
122. urgewald – Germany
123. Witness Radio – Uganda
124. Women Empowerment Against Poverty of Nepal (WEAPoN) – Nepal
125. Women in Action on Mining in Asia (WAMA) – Asia
126. Women of Color/Global Women’s Strike – United States
127. World Economy, Ecology & Development – WEED – Germany
128. Zero Tolerance Initiative – Australia