News Archive
Page 56 of 134 (1332 articles)
Ethiopia: UN rights review should help consolidate reforms
Geneva-Kampala, 13 May 2019 — Ethiopia’s human rights review, tomorrow at the UN Human Rights Council (“the Council”), should be leveraged to consolidate the reforms initiated since the appointment of Dr. Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister, in April 2018. The country’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) takes place amidst an ongoing significant legal and policy reform […]
Human rights defender of the Month (May 2019): Abdul Aziz Muhamat
The Sudanese refugee activist and aspiring lawyer, Abdul Aziz Muhamat, was detained by the Australian authorities at Manus Island (Papua New Guinea), under inhumane and unsafe conditions, for six years. While trapped in limbo, Aziz continued to fight for the rights of the about 600 men trapped at the island. His human rights commitment led him to win this years’ Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders.
Turning the Page: Rebuilding Civil Society in Ethiopia
In a new report launched today, Turning the Page: Rebuilding Civil Society in Ethiopia, DefendDefenders examines the challenges faced by Ethiopian human rights defenders (HRDs) amid the ongoing reform process and makes concrete recommendations for rebuilding a robust and inclusive civil society ahead of elections planned for 2020. Despite some positive developments, serious gaps remain, […]
It is time for accountability for the enforced disappearance of Samuel Dong and Aggrey Idri
As the news of the death of Samuel Dong Luak and Aggrey Ezboni Idri circulated this week, I felt extremely saddened and increasingly concerned about the region we live in. The enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing of two outspoken critics of the South Sudanese government, by South Sudanese security services allegedly with the acquiescence of […]
ACHPR64: Updates from the East and Horn of Africa (October 2018 – April 2019)
In its bi-annual report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, DefendDefenders provides a six-month overview of events affecting the rights to freedom of association, expression, and peaceful assembly in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region. Despite some areas of improvement in specific country situations, this submission highlights worrying trends across the […]
ACHPR64: Human rights situation in Africa (October 2018 – April 2019)
64th Ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Item 3: Human Rights Situation in Africa Madame Chairperson, distinguished Commissioners, State Delegates, representatives of National Human Rights Institutions, and Non-Governmental Organisations: The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (DefendDefenders) and African Defenders welcome the opportunity offered by the 64th […]
Human rights defender of the month (April 2019): Gabriel Mugaruka
Gabriel Mugaruka is a Congolese human rights defender (HRD), with 19 years specialised experience in child rights issues, including child soldiers, as well as women’s rights. As a vocal and prominent activist in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he was forced to flee the country 11 years ago, seeking refuge in Uganda.
Updates from April 2019!
Dear friends and colleagues, This month, we attended the 64th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – the top human rights body of the African Union (AU). The Commission offers a space to discuss the human rights situation on the continent, and develop strategies to protect […]
Human Rights Defenders of the Month: Kamal Ramadan, Kodi Marshall, and Ganja Ali
Born and raised in the Nuba mountains in Sudan, Kamal Ramadan, Kodi Marshall, and Ganja Ali have for years been fighting for the rights of the Sudanese people. In 2014, the trio formed the group Nuba Mountains Sounds, and has since promoted human rights and freedom through music and movie productions. “We wish to be the voice of the voiceless,” Kodi stresses.
No lasting peace without justice, UN rights council tells South Sudan
By adopting a strong resolution on the human rights situation in South Sudan, the UN Human Rights Council (“Council”) sends a message to the South Sudanese government and all parties to the conflict that there will be no lasting peace without justice. The resolution adopted today condemns the crimes committed in the country in the […]