News Archive
Page 48 of 134 (1332 articles)
Human Rights Defender of the Month: Onyango Owor
In March 2020, Uganda’s Constitutional Court nullified the Public Order Management Act, 2013, a law that made arbitrary restrictions on freedom of assembly possible. One of the people behind the successful petition of POMA is Onyango Owor, a Ugandan lawyer with 15 years of experience in representing human rights defenders.
Call for Applications – Regional Ttaala Online Workshop
DefendDefenders calls for applications from East and Horn of Africa based human rights organisations to the Regional Ttaala Online Workshop.  Ttaala is a comprehensive skills-building project for human rights defenders (HRDs), illuminating the world of digital tools and strategies.  The organisations taking part in the workshop will access on-site technical assistance, continuous virtual support, and access to a network of creative mentors over a period of four days. This unique opportunity brings together human […]
World Press Freedom Day 2020: COVID-19 should not infect Africa’s press freedom
As the COVID-19 virus spreads around the globe, it seems to be accompanied by another infectious ill: restricted press freedom. In fact, restricted press freedom may have contributed to COVID-19 resulting in a pandemic in the first place. Authorities in China, Europe, and the US withheld information that could have prevented such a drastic outbreak. These attempts to control information on COVID-19 at crucial moments contributed […]
COVID-19: Guidelines for Human Rights Defenders
The coronavirus pandemic has become a global crisis, forcing most states to close their borders and limit in-country movement to curb the spread of the virus. This has led to organisations closing offices and working remotely from their homes. DefendDefenders’ security guide and recommendations are set out to ensure the safety, security, and well-being for […]
Open letter on the xenophobic, racist and inhuman treatment of Africans in China
Open letter on the xenophobic, racist and inhuman treatment of Africans in China in relation to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Somalia: respect journalists’ work, ensure safe space for free expression
DefendDefenders is concerned over a statement released by Somalia’s intelligence service, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), in which the agency accused renowned journalist, author, and Al-Shabaab expert Harun Maruf of being “a threat” to national security and contemplated legal action against him.
Human Rights Defender of the Month: Kadar Abdi Ibrahim
Kadar Abdi Ibrahim is an outspoken human rights activist and journalist from Djibouti – a country where journalists are frequently harassed, subjected to government-orchestrated intimidation and reprisals, and prevented from pursuing their work independently. Yet, Kadar continues to use his voice and pen as tools to promote justice.
Updates from March 2020
Dear friends and colleagues, As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads globally and extraordinary measures are being enacted to respond to this threat, DefendDefenders continue to do our utmost to protect human rights defenders (HRDs) in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region.  On 8 March, we joined the world in celebrating the International Women’s Day. In our campaign you […]
COVID-19 updates: DefendDefenders continue to Respond to Emergency Protection Needs of Human Rights Defenders
Dear friends, partners, and human rights defenders, As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads globally and extraordinary measures are being enacted to respond to this threat, DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders must also be responsive to protect our staff, partners, beneficiaries, and to play a positive role in this emergency. Safety of our team is our number one concern. […]
Burundi: Rebuilding the Broken Lives of Refugee Women Including Women Human Rights Defenders
Joint Statement On 8 March the world celebrated International Women’s Day 2020 under the theme “# I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. Against this background, DefendDefenders and Light for All reflect on the living conditions of exiled Burundian women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in refugee camps, forced to flee their country because of torture […]