Human rights defender
Gaca
Gaca is a reporter for a radio station in Burundi that promotes justice and equality, and stimulates freedom of expression among Burundians. In his role as reporter, Gaca monitors information about human rights violations like assassinations, enforced disappearances, torture, gender-based violence, politically based arrests, detention and imprisonment and refugee law.
Human rights violations in Burundi
At present, the press in Burundi is not free. Most radio stations present in the country are censored by the government. In this near absence of independent radio stations and civil society, people are killed, arrested, tortured, imprisoned and raped. Especially employees of radio stations and their families have become victims, often forced flee the country or live and work in secret.
In May 2020, general elections were held in Burundi to elect both the president and the National Assembly. A ruling party candidate, Evariste Ndayishimiye, won the elections with 69% of the vote[1]. The elections took place in a highly repressive environment with human rights violations taking place in the months before, during and after the election period.
Threats and challenges
In this extremely challenging environment, Gaca continues to work on promoting freedom of expression. The radio station that Gaca works for has been targeted and also Gaca remains subject to threats and intimidation as a result of his work.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/25/burundi-ruling-party-candidate-wins-election-since-1993