Mini interview with Lindley Couronne, founder and general director of Droits Humains Océan Indien (DIS-MOI) |11 November 2023

Lindley Couronne

‘DIS-MOI’s primary goal is to promote human rights among young people’

Lindley Couronne, founder and general director of ‘Droits Humains Océan Indien’(DIS-MOI), a human rights organisation founded in 2021, will be leading a delegation of 60 young human rights defenders in an ecological council to be held at Anse Etoile community centre from November 12-18, 2023.

Seychelles NATION: Can you tell us more about Lindley Couronne's background and his involvement in human rights advocacy?

Lindley Couronne: I have been a dedicated human rights defender for the past three decades. I initially started as an activist and later became the director of Amnesty International in Mauritius. In 2010, after leaving Amnesty International, I went on to establish DIS-MOI in 2012.

Seychelles NATION: What led to the creation of DIS-MOI, and what are the key objectives of this human rights organisation?

Lindley Couronne: DIS-MOI was founded as a regional human rights organisation covering the south-west Indian Ocean region, including Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, Réunion, the Seychelles, and Mauritius. The name DIS-MOI is derived from ‘Droits Humains Océan Indien’. The primary goal of DIS-MOI is to promote human rights, primarily among young people aged 11 to 24 years old, through human rights education and the establishment of human rights clubs in schools throughout the region. Currently, DIS-MOI operates in Madagascar, Réunion Island, Rodrigues, and Mauritius, with plans to expand to the Seychelles soon.

Seychelles NATION: Could you provide an overview of the Indian Ocean Youth Ecological Council and its purpose?

Lindley Couronne: The Indian Ocean Youth Ecological Council is an initiative organised by DIS-MOI with significant support from the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC). It is a one-week regional council event, set to commence today (November 11), as part of the ‘DIS-MOI LA TERRE’ project, which is partially funded by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. The choice of the Seychelles as the host location is due to the country's outstanding commitment to ecology and preserving the natural environment. During the council, DIS-MOI also plans to reactivate the Seychelles chapter of DIS-MOI by establishing youth clubs in two Seychellois colleges, under the leadership of Eline Moses and another individual, whose name will be disclosed later. Wavel Ramkalawan, the President of the Seychelles, who was a human rights defender prior to his election in 2020, is expected to be supportive of this initiative.