EAST & HORN OF AFRICA

DEFEND DEFENDERS: EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK

DefendDefenders-Complete-Colour

Burundi | Djibouti | Eritrea |  Ethiopia | Kenya | Rwanda | South Sudan | Somalia | Somaliland | Sudan |  Tanzania | Uganda

DefendDefenders is the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project. It seeks to strengthen the work of human rights defenders (HRDs) throughout the region by reducing their vulnerability to the risk of persecution and by enhancing their capacity to effectively defend human rights. DefendDefenders works in Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia (together with Somaliland), South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

DefendDefenders serves as the Secretariat of East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) representing more than 100 members, i.e. HRDs and their organisations. The Network envisions a region in which the human rights of every citizen as stipulated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) are respected and upheld. Its mission is to maximize the protection of HRDs working in the sub-region and to enhance the awareness of human rights work through linkages with national, regional and international like-minded entities.

regional map east africa

Coalitions

National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders – Burundi (CBDDH)

National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders – Kenya (NCHRD-K)

National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders – Somalia and Somaliland (NCHRD-S)

National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders – Uganda (NCHRD-U)

South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN)

Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC)

LATEST UPDATES

03
May
2024

A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.

This post was first published on DefendDefenders’ Website DefendDefenders joins the rest of the world to commemorate world press freedom day whose focus this year is on journalism in the face of the environmental crisis.  This years’s theme emphasises the importance of journalism and the
08
Apr
2024

Joint submission ahead of Ethiopia’s fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

This post was first published by DefendDefenders CIVICUS is a global alliance of civil society organisations (CSOs) and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world. Founded in 1993, CIVICUS has members in more than 180 countries throughout the world. The
04
Apr
2024

South Sudan: international human rights scrutiny will cover 2024 elections

This post was first published by DefendDefenders By adopting a resolution entitled “Advancing human rights in South Sudan,” the UN Human Rights Council ensured that international scrutiny of South Sudan’s human rights situation will cover the country’s first-ever national elections, which are set to take
25
Apr
2022

UGANDA: A CALL TO END THE CONTINUOUS UNABATED ASSAULT ON FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS.

The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Uganda (NCHRD-U) with its partners note with concern the escalation in violation of human rights and the continued disrespect of the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders. Colleagues from the press, we have invited you here
25
Apr
2022

PRESS STATEMENT: SHRINKING CIVIC SPACE IN KENYA AND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST

Source: Defenders Coalition website STATEMENT OVER THE VIOLENT UNLAWFUL ARRESTS OF JULIUS KAMAU, MINOO KYA, CLINTON OJIAMBO NAHASHON MACHARIA AND ANTHONY KANYIRI: FREEDOM TO DEMONSTRATE, PICKET, AND PRESENT PETITIONS. #FREETOPROTEST 11 Apri 2022 We, the undersigned organizations, are concerned that State Organs continue criminalizing Kenyans
11
Apr
2022

Reflections on the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council

This year’s “March” session of the Human Rights Council (HRC49) extended over three different months: it started in February and concluded in April (28 February-1 April 2022). With five full weeks, it was the longest session the Council ever held, which raises concerns over its