Edward Porokwa

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2023-109-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2023
Country Geolocation

Latitude: -6.369028

Longitude: 34.888822

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Tanzania
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UNPFII
Dates of prior UN action
19 April 2023
Type of record
Named individual
Gender
Male
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

From Pingo's Forum, civil society representatives of the Maasai people of Loliondo Division of the Ngorongoro District of Tanzania

Type of rights defended
  • Indigenous peoples’ rights
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

participated in a side event organized on the margins of the UNPFII ; delivered a statement at the UNPFII

Engagement with UN body
  • UNPFII
Dates of engagement
18-19 April 2023
Type of attempted engagement
  • Participation in meeting on UN premises
Dates of mentioned reprisals
18, 19, 24 April 2023
Location of mentioned reprisals
UNHQ New York
Reprisal information
  1. According to information received by OHCHR, civil society representatives of the Maasai people of Loliondo Division of the Ngorongoro District of Tanzania were reportedly subjected to intimidation by representatives of the Permanent Mission of Tanzania for their participation in the April 2023 session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) at United Nations Headquarters in New York and expressed fear of retribution upon their return to Tanzania for their engagement at the Forum.
  2. Specifically, on 18 April 2023, Mr. Edward Porokwa, from Pingo’s Forum, participated in a side event organized on the margins of the UNPFII entitled Finding a Solution to the Crisis Facing the Maasai of Loliondo and spoke about the human rights situation of the Maasai people of Loliondo and Ngorongoro in Tanzania.79 At the beginning of the event, the organizers announced that it was not allowed to take photographs. Reportedly, a representative of the Government of Tanzania took photographs of the speaker without Mr. Porokwa’s consent.
  3. On 19 April 2023, Mr. Edward Porokwa delivered a statement at the UNPFII on the human rights situation of the Maasai people of Loliondo and Ngorongoro, including the forced eviction of over 80,000 indigenous people from their homes, under agenda item 5(d).80 During the meeting, a member of the UNPFII took the floor to emphasize that the Forum was a space for constructive and free dialogue between indigenous peoples and States. He urged a delegate of Tanzania to delete the recording reportedly made of Mr. Porokwa during his presentation, noting that the delegate had allegedly shared it already with a third person. Indicating that the Forum could facilitate a dialogue, the member stated that such behaviours could be seen as a form of intimidation and restrict the right of participation of indigenous peoples.81
  4. On 24 April 2023, a representative of the Government of Tanzania took the floor under agenda item 6, noting that “[w]e are compelled to make this clarification owing to the malicious and widespread allegations made against Tanzania by a few people and groups, who have decided to ignore the facts I have just alluded to you today. It is disheartening to my delegation to see this important forum being turned into a hall of accusations.” The representative concluded by inviting the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to conduct a visit in Tanzania “so he can witness the situation on the ground rather than relying on propaganda spread by NGOs.”82 Members of the UNPFII discussed the incidents during the session with representatives of the State concerned.
Types of reprisals suffered
  • Defamation / Defamation campaign
  • Surveillance
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No