Ligue ITEKA

Ligue ITEKA was formed in 1991 and was the first human rights organization to be allowed to operate openly in Burundi. It embraces three key pillars of its work, defense of human rights through monitoring and denunciation of human rights violations, promotion of human rights through education in order to empower individuals to defend their rights, and third to place rights issues in the broader political context and to advocate for new laws and strategies to address emerging issues.

Ligue ITEKA has sections operating in all of Burundi’s provinces. It conducts monitoring throughout the country through a network of observers. In addition, it offers direct legal assistance in cases of disappearances, arbitrary detention and other legal proceedings. Ligue ITEKA is also a member of a number of international networks including the African NGO Refugee Protection Network, the Ligue des Droits de la Personne de la région des Grands Lacs (LDGL), the Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH), and the Union Interafricaine des Droits de l'Homme (UIDH).

The situation of returnees and internally displaced persons is one major focus of Ligue Iteka. Recognizing that these populations are particularly vulnerable to human rights violations, the organization makes a particular effort to include them in programming. In addition, Ligue ITEKA runs a project on monitoring repatriation and reintegration of returnees and the displaced. The project seeks to ensure that return occurs in conditions of security and dignity and that the return was durable. Ligue ITEKA offers legal services and advocates for policies which protect the rights of the displaced and returnees and promote reintegration.

Contact:

Ligue Iteka
No 29, avenue de la mission and No. 4 avenue des Euphorbes
PO Box 177
Bujumbura
BURUNDI
Phone: (257) 228-636
E-mail: iteka@cbinf.com
Web: http://www.ligue-iteka.bi/