Impact Stories
Real stories from the field showcasing how human rights defenders are changing lives across the East and Horn of Africa.
Latest Impact
Sojoud Omer Ahmed Elgarrai: How his father's ordeal made him more determined
Quite early in my career, when I was working with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Sudan, I experienced firsthand just how dangerous human rights work can be. Some of my colleagues and I were detained from 8am to 8pm, and we were interrogated for hours before being released.
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Suleiman Ssenyonjo: Standing up for the rights of people on the Island
In 2013, DefendDefenders invited me to the official launch of the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders – Uganda (NCHRD-U). This was the first time I truly understood that I was not alone in this struggle.
Tarikawit Fikadu: Being the Voice Amid Ethiopia's complex human rights terrain
I hope to see DefendDefenders expanding across the entire continent and becoming the major partner for human rights advocacy across Africa. DefendDefenders can bring all of us together, so that we have one voice and work as one.
Adanech Arage: Women human rights defenders need more visibility
There is no doubt that women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in Ethiopia face double the challenges compared to their male counterparts. The existing patriarchal system adds an extra layer of risk.
Yusuf Ahmed: Life under the veneer of normalcy in Somaliland
There is a deliberate strategy to create an environment where people are afraid to speak out. The authorities have become very sophisticated in suppressing dissent — they call it stability.
Fatouma Souleiman: Environmental activism is a risky business in Comoros
People here struggle daily with environmental degradation but are afraid to speak up. When I started documenting these issues and advocating for affected communities, I became a target.