Delphine Djiraibe (Chad, 2004)

Human rights attorney and co-founder of the Chadian Association for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, Delphine Djiraibe received the 2004 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. In a country stricken with the effects of decades of civil war, continuing violence, and the violation of fundamental rights, Djiraibe fights to protect the human rights of Chadian civilians and to prevent further environmental devastation.

Focusing on the Chad-Cameroon Oil & Pipeline Project, Djiraibe strives to ensure that revenues received from oil are utilized to benefit the people of Chad rather than used for the purchase of warfare or other military support. Although she successfully lobbied the World Bank to set restrictions and conditions on spending oil revenue, these spending guidelines can no longer be guaranteed without international intervention. The international community needs to stay engaged to ensure the money is used for social development and poverty alleviation projects.

Assisting in Djiraibe's cause, RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights has begun to formulate strategies to encourage the effective and responsible dispersion of oil revenues by persuading the oil companies and the World Bank to act conscientiously, raising awareness and gaining support within the US government, and establishing systems for conflict resolution. Djiraibe, with RFK Center support, also established the first Public Interest Law Center in Chad to provide low cost/pro bono legal services to poor Chadians.

For more information, please contact Sushetha Gopallawa (202) 463-7575 x270, gopallawa@rfkmemorial.org

Resources and Documents:

• Letter to Secretary Rice: Senator Feingold writes to Secretary Rice about Chad
• Letter to Paul Wolfowitz: CHR writes World Bank President about Chad
• Chadian Activist Wins 2004 RFK Human Rights Award - (October 2004)
• U.S./Chad Partnership In Campaign for World Bank, the Chad Government, and the Oil Consortium Accountability - (March 2005)
• Greasing the Wheels of Development: THE WORLD BANK, HUMAN RIGHTS,
  AND CHAD’S OIL
• Delphine Djiraibe official biography
• Letter to His Excellency Ambassador Ahmat Hassaballah Soubiane - (October 2004)
• Letter to the U.S. Ambassador Marc M. Wall of Chad - (October 2004)
• Debate Transcript: Protagonist or Antagonist? The Role of NGOs and the World Bank in the Fight Against Poverty - (November 2004)