Pierre Claver Mbonimpa is a Burundian human rights activist often hailed as the only person willing to stand up for the rights of Hutu, Tutsi, and Batwa in a time of ruthless civil dispute. He served on the police force of Burundi until December of 1994, when he was imprisoned for two years due to false accusations. After suffering extreme cruelty and inhumane conditions during his incarceration, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa founded the Burundian Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons.

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Pierre Claver Mbonimpa describes his work as an advocate of prisoners' rights in Burundi. Mbonimpa himself was a victim of arbitrary imprisonment for two years, suffering through brutal conditions. His organization, APRODH, visits prisons and detention centers, monitoring and denouncing different kinds of violations, including torture, sexual violence, and gender-based violence. The level of torture in Burundi has been reduced by 90% thanks to his organization's efforts. Despite Mbonimpa's work, Burundi's prison system is still plagued by problems: 300% overcapacity, preventative imprisonment, due process violations, insufficient staff, lack of medical treatment, and, thus, constant prisoner strikes.

"we cannot be discouraged, even if it means dying, to defend the rights of prisoners."

According to Mbonimpa, the real trouble lies in politicians who take advantage of an uneducated and illiterate population who do not know their rights. His outspoken honesty against the government has earned him death threats, but he is not discouraged. Were he to quit, he would be abandoning the thousands of people who count on him and his organization. He reminds us, "we cannot be discouraged, even if it means dying, to defend the rights of prisoners."