Human rights organizations urged Burkina Faso on Wednesday to respect and promote the security of human rights defenders in the country amid reports of increased abductions and forced military conscription. These organizations include the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

The organizations noted that human rights defenders have been arbitrarily arrested or forcefully conscripted since Burkina Faso’s military government took power in 2022. A previous report by ISHR  indicated that increased disappearances have resulted in defenders’ reluctance to take action to promote and defend human rights due to fear for their safety and lives.

Magistrates, including prosecutors and investigating judges, who have either taken a stand for defenders in their decisions or opened legal proceedings against junta supporters have been targeted by unlawful conscription, according to Human Rights Watch. Even journalists are not spared. Among the conscripted are at least seven magistrates, including four prosecutors, two deputy prosecutors, and an investigative judge who had been conscripted to fight against Islamist armed groups.  Despite a court ruling in Ouagadougou that termed the conscription orders concerning two magistrates illegal and ordered the authorities to suspend them, they were still forced to go.

The organizations have criticized the conscription procedure, which they claim is discriminatory and selective, as it does not extend to other conscripts. The procedure lacks proper appeal mechanisms, and it is also a violation of international human rights protection standards, the groups say. Amnesty International has urged military authorities to uphold human rights and ensure transparency in the conscription process. It has also urged the military authorities to allow individuals under conscription to regularly communicate with their families and relatives. Human Rights Watch has urged the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to press Burkina Faso to address rights violations.

The groups acknowledged that state representatives have cited security and terrorism threats in response to similar accusations.