News Archive
Page 25 of 134 (1332 articles)
Updates from October 2022
Dear Friends, October is usually a busy month for us at DefendDefenders, signaling the beginning of the last quarter of the year. Early in the month, we concluded participation in the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council(HRC51), which lasted from 12 September – 7 October. The session was critical in maintaining scrutiny of […]
Human Rights Defender of the month: Kamau Ngugi
On October 7, 2022, Kamau Ngugi was elected Chairperson of the East and Horn of Africa human rights defenders’ network (EHAHRD-net), a stirring affirmation for the Kenyan human rights defender’s efforts in defense of human rights that go back nearly 30 years. But it was not always this promising for her. Born 37 years ago in Grand Kru, Southeastern Liberia, Margaret had to do with a childhood of abuse, neglect, and want, after her, her sibling and her mother were abandoned by their father at an early age.
Call for Applications: Safe Sisters’ Fellowship Program Workshop 2023
DefendDefenders call for applications – Safe Sisters Fellowship Call for applications for Women Human Rights Defenders from Uganda to the Safe Sisters Fellowship Program 2023 Safe Sisters is a fellowship program that builds the capacity of Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), journalists or media workers to understand and respond to the digital safety challenges that they face in their […]
Bi-Annual Report (April-October 2022)
Burundi On 29 June 2022, UN Special Rapporteur Fortuné Gaetan Zongo presented his first oral update to the UN Human Rights Council (Council). In his statement, he noted that despite the progress made since 2020, more needs to be done to combat impunity and strengthen institutions. Download full version Djibouti On 8 June 2022, the International Federation […]
East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRDs-Net), 4th General Assembly, Final Communiqué
1. The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) held its fourth General Assembly from 6 to 7 October 2022 at the Mestil Hotel and Residences in Kampala, Uganda. The General Assembly (GA) brought together 75 development partners, representatives from national coalitions of human rights defenders (HRDs), country focal points and HRDs […]
DefendDefenders’ and AfricanDefenders’ Statements at ACHPR73
Statement on the Forum on the participation of NGOs (17th October 2022) AfricanDefenders and DefendDefenders take this opportunity to Celebrate the 35 years of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and have reflected on  its impact on the realisation of fundamental rights and freedom Africa.  We acknowledge the notable strides to advance and […]
Burundi – Joint Submission to the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
In this submission, CIVICUS, DefendDefenders, Iteka Legaue, and APRODH examine the Government of Burundi’s compliance with its international human rights obligations to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society. Specifically, we analyse Burundi’s fulfilment of the rights to the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression and unwarranted restrictions on HRDs […]
Burundi: the UN extends the Special Rapporteur’s mandate
As grave human rights violations continue to be reported in Burundi, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council maintained its scrutiny of the country by extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a year. This decision will allow the Special Rapporteur to report on Burundi throughÂout 2023. DefendDefenders calls on states that have influence […]
Ethiopia: the UN gives more time to human rights investigators
Weeks after hostilities resumed in northern Ethiopia, today the United Nations (UN) HuÂman Rights Council extended the mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on EthioÂpia (ICHREE), a decision DefendDefenders welcomes. Investigators will have more time to carry out their work and document violations and abuses committed by all parties to the conflict, […]
DefendDefenders’ strategy 2021 – 2025
The DefendDefenders Strategy 2021-2025 has been developed through a process that included a review of the organisations identity; philosophy and theory of change; strategic focus areas, organisational roles; corresponding goals, interventions, and approaches. The strategy builds on the previous work done by DefendDefenders to deepen and consolidate its mandate in supporting and responding to Human […]