Newsletters Archive
Page 7 of 8 (94 newsletters)
Updates from November 2019!
Dear friends and colleagues, This month, the East and Horn of Africa sub-region tragically lost some of their finest human rights defenders (HRDs). The killing of Almaas Elman, the outstanding Somali-Canadian activist, in Mogadishu on 20 November, shock us all. It was a brutal reminder of the dangers linked to protecting and promoting human rights […]
Updates from October 2019!
Dear friends and colleagues,   October 2019 has brought good tidings to DefendDefenders and the East and Horn of Africa sub-region, making me optimistic as we move towards the end of the year – a year that so far has been filled with serious human rights challenges.    The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize 2019 to Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is a big win for the country, illustrating that political will can convert […]
Updates from September 2019!
Dear friends and colleagues, Earlier this month, I spoke with a human rights defender (HRD) exiled in Uganda for ten years. He has not seen his children since 2010. His crime was political activism and speaking truth to power in his home country. He has scars on his body reminiscent of the torture in prison. […]
Updates from August 2019!
Dear friends and colleagues, Last week, we commemorated the International Day of Victims of Disappearance, in solidarity with the many African human rights defenders (HRDs) that have disappeared, been tortured, and/or killed. It is an atrocious crime which demands our immediate attention. FOCODE have reported 140 disappearances of HRDs and political opponents in Burundi over […]
Updates from June 2019!
Dear friends and colleagues, A steady and proactive presence at regional and global human rights platforms is essential to enable the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) at the national level in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region. World Press Freedom Day, commemorated in May, and the UN International Day in Support of Victims […]
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 […]
2018: End of the Year Message
Dear friends and colleagues, As we move towards the end of 2018, it is time to reflect upon our achievements, actions, and challenges over this past year. I am grateful to say that we have enhanced our work, methodologies, strategies, and most importantly our impact in 2018 – ensuring an increased and improved level of […]
2017: End of Year Message
Dear friends and colleagues, Another year has passed and I’m proud of the achievements of DefendDefenders. Despite the challenges of operating in the ever-restricting space of the East and Horn of Africa, our team of 34 has succeeded in assisting the most at-risk human rights defenders (HRDs) and has shown both dedication and innovation in […]
2016: End of Year Message
Dear friends and colleagues, 2016 has been a challenging year for human rights defenders across the African continent, where tectonic shifts on the global political landscape have directly impacted the work of human rights activists on the ground. DefendDefenders has been busier than ever, working to protect the space for human rights defenders (HRDs) in […]
2015: End of Year Message
Dear friends, Season’s greetings from The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (DefendDefenders)! In October 2015, we celebrated 10 years of protecting those that defend our rights and I want to sincerely thank all of our partners and network members for joining the struggle to create a conducive working environment for human […]
Newsletter: Defenders in Focus, Issue 8 (August- December 2014)
For updates on EHAHRDP’s activities, please see the 8th issue of our newsletter here: Newsletter- Issue 8
2014: End of Year Message
Dear Friends, Season’s greetings from the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP)! 2014 has been one of the busiest years in EHAHRDP’s history. Across the region, all of our departments have responded to an increasingly challenging environment for human rights defenders (HRDs). From South Sudan to Burundi to Ethiopia, the operating […]