Gamila Seryel-Dain, the last jailed activist from the group of five activists sentenced in the ‘Abdeen case’ to two years in prison for violating Egypt’s repressive 2013 protest law, was released on 14 March after receiving a presidential pardon. All five activists have now been released.

Despite the fact that the oral trial scheduled for 20 March against three members of the Chañaral Wichí Indigenous community for defending their territory was suspended, the legal proceedings which violate their right to defence and access to justice remain open.

Cuban authorities sentenced human rights defender Eduardo Cardet to three years in prison after holding him in provisional prison in Holguín, south-east Cuba, since November 2016. He is a prisoner of conscience who must be released immediately and unconditionally.

The Mexican lower house of Congress has until 30 April to vote on the General Law on Torture. The current version of the bill has amendments that, if passed, would increase impunity for torture and undermine access to justice in relation to torture complaints.

Morocco’s Court of Cassation will hear Ali Aarrass on 29 March, four years after he lodged an appeal. He is serving a 12-year prison sentence after being unfairly convicted based on evidence obtained under torture. He has been in solitary confinement since October 2016.

Over 4000 residents of Otodogbame waterfront community in Lagos, Nigeria were on 26 March forcibly evicted from their homes by Lagos State officials. No notice was issued to the residents prior to the forced eviction. Several residents were injured during the incident as police used excessive force.

Bruce Ward is scheduled to be executed in Arkansas on 17 April. He has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. In custody since 1989, he has been on death row for nearly 25 years. Thirty-two years old at the time of the crime, he is now aged 60.

Prisoner of conscience Nabeel Rajab has been held in solitary confinement for nine months, with growing concerns about the effect it is having on his health and well-being.

Inhabitants of the Jiguamiandó river basin have reported the presence of paramilitary groups in their territory. The increase in paramilitary activity in these humanitarian zones is putting the Indigenous and Afro-Colombian residents at risk.

Don Davis is scheduled to be executed in Arkansas on 17 April. He has been on death death row for 25 years, having been sentenced to death in 1992 for a murder committed during a burglary in 1990.