News Archive
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Annual Report 2021
The East and Horn of Africa sub-region continues to experience restrictions and narrowing of civic space. The right to freedom of opinion and expression continues to be violated by multiple governments in the region. Journalists face harassment, threats, detentions, arbitrary arrests, physical attacks, and even murder in some countries. The shrinking civic space creates an […]
Human Rights Defender of the Month: Anny Kapenga
As a young student, Anny Kapenga used to cringe at the cult-like worship of Mobutu Sese Seko, the then Zaire’s President. By then, in the early 1990s, Zaire was still under one party rule, and calls were increasing for Mobutu to open political space to allow other parties to operate. In the meantime, however, all Zairians were expected to show affection for Mobutu wherever they gathered in public. Students across Zaire’s schools were required to sing and dance adoringly before his (Mobutu)’s portrait every morning before they went to class, and all school scholastic materials were emblemed with his portrait. A young Anny never really appreciated the obsession:
Updates from December 2021
Dear Comrades and Friends, 2021 was a busy year for human rights defenders globally. With conflicts raging in Ethiopia and Sudan, a still fragile transition in Burundi, and far-reaching COVID19-related restrictions in the rest of our focus countries, DefendDefenders had a busy schedule at both the United Nations Human Rights Council and the African Commission […]
End of year statement 2021
Dear friends and colleagues, As we wind down 2021, I would like to reflect on the year, taking stock of our achievements and challenges, as well as strategise for 2022. The year 2021 was yet another challenging year dealing with mutations of the corona virus that have exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, AfricanDefenders and […]
Ethiopia: independent international investigation established
The UN Human Rights Council took an important step to address the human rights dimensions of the conflict in Ethiopia by establishing an independent investigation. DefendDefenders welcomes the move the Council took at the end of today’s special session and calls on all parties to the conflict to cooperate with the newly established mechanism, the […]
Sudan’s Women Human Rights Defenders: An Unfinished Revolution
The situation of Human Rights Defenders in Sudan
States should make deliberate efforts to foster an inclusive society
DefendDefenders joins the world to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s theme “leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world” underscores the importance of fostering an inclusive society.
Updates from November 2021
November started on a promising note, after the UN Human Rights Council, at our and our colleague civil society organisations’ urging, on 5 November 2021 held a special session to assess the human rights implications of the 25 October military coup in Sudan, and adopted a resolution reinstating Sudan on the council’s agenda.
Human Rights Defender of the Month: Fadwo Hassan Jimale
Women in Somalia are not supposed to be ‘loud.’ Historically, conservative religious traditions combined with a resilient patriarchal system ensured that women in the coastal nation remain veiled and meek, always in the shadow of their husbands. Not so for Fadwo Hassan Jimale, Somalia’s crusading human rights defender. As a ranking member of Somalia’s Women Human Rights Defenders Coalition, Fadwo and her colleagues host regular capacity building sessions for current and emerging women human rights defenders (WHRDs).
ACHPR69:Statement under Item 5: Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa
AfricanDefenders and DefendDefenders welcome the report of the Working Group. 2021 has been another grim year for environmental human rights defenders working across Africa. Their work is paramount to monitor, document, and report on business-related human rights and environmental abuses and to seek justice and redress for the communities affected.buy aciphex generic buynoprescriptiononlinerxx.com/aciphex.html over the […]