24 Aug JOINT STATEMENT CONCERNING THE JUDGMENT AGAINST LAWYER BEATRICE MTETWA

We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations and individuals note with grave concern the decision of the Zimbabwean Magistrates’ Court to disqualify Beatrice Mtetwa from continuing as defence legal counsel for journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who is currently being tried on charges of inciting public violence. The...

21 Aug Burundi: Vital role of the Commission of Inquiry in prompting meaningful human rights progress

In a civil society call made public ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s 45^th session (14 September-6 October 2020), AfricanDefenders, DefendDefenders and more than 40 partners urge States to support the renewal of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Burundi. The signatories highlight that the CoI remains the only independent mechanism mandated to document human rights vio­la­tions and abuses, monitor, and publicly report on the situation in the country, and that chan­ging political realities do not amount to meaningful human rights progress. The civil society letter outlines the grave human rights violations committed in Burundi since 2015 in a context of near-com­plete im­pu­nity. Despite calls on the new Burundian President, Éva­riste Nda­yishimiye, to de­mon­strate his openness to reconciliation by releasing all detained human rights defenders (HRDs), Ger­main Ru­kuki, Nestor Nibitan­ga, and Iwacu reporters Egide Hare­rima­na, Christine Ka­mi­kazi, Te­rence Mpo­zenzi and Agnès Ndi­ru­busa, re­main in detention. As Burundi is in a period of potential transition, following the 20 May 2020 presidential, legislative and local elections and after the pass­ing of former President Nkurunziza, there are signs of promise as well as of significant concern, the signatories write. Tangible progress is yet to be registered regarding priority areas for action, including the fight against poverty, the fight against impunity, reform of the judicial system, the re-opening of the democratic space (including a safe and enabling environment for civil society), and cooperation with international and African human rights mechanisms. At this time, as uncertainty remains, the best chance to achieve meaningful change is through the renewal of the mandate of the CoI, as well as the Burundian authorities re­initiating dialogue with the international community, the letter concludes – and the best way to do this is by making measurable progress on key indicators. [button size='' style='' text='Read the Letter in English' icon='fa-book' icon_color='' link='https://defenddefenders.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HRC45-Civil-society-letter-regarding-BURUNDI-EN.pdf' target='_self' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin='']

13 Aug International Youth Day 2020 Campaign

75% of Africa’s population is below 35, yet young people rarely get a seat at the table where their future is shaped: there is a democratic deficit when it comes to youth representation in decision-making. Yet, young people can be true catalysts for change. Sudan’s...

29 Jul Strengthening Collaboration between Universities and Civil Society in Africa

Historically, academic institutions have played a crucial role in fostering peaceful activism, which is especially important as civic space is shrinking across the globe and human rights defenders (HRDs) continue to face threats and repression. Universities can provide HRDs with a neutral space for exchange,...

24 Jul AfricanDefenders’ and DefendDefenders’ oral statements at the ACHPR66

Oral statements delivered by AfricanDefenders and DefendDefenders at the 66th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights  which was held online for the first time because of  the global pandemic COVID-19 (ACHPR66, 13 July 2020-7 August 2020) Item 3: Human Rights Situation...