On 24 August 2022, DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders officially launched the eighth Ubuntu Hub City in Praia, Cabo Verde.

Today’s event gathered, among others, Hon. Prof. Remy Ngoy Lumbu the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Defenders and Focal Point of Reprisals; H.E. Joana Gomes Rosa Amado, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Cape Verde; Hon. José Carlos Delgado, Ombudsman of the Republic of Cape Verde; Hon. Carmen Nancy Ferreira Martins, President of the National Assembly’s Special Commission for Human Rights; Ms. Zaida Morais de Freitas, Chair of the National Human Rights Commission of Cabo Verde; Hon. Francisco Carvalho the Mayor of the City of Praia; Hon. Mayors of the city of Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Santiago, and Mr. Ignacio Sobrino-Castello; Representative of the European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Cabo Verde; and civil society representatives from various municipalities of Cabo Verde

They all welcomed the initiative.

The Ubuntu Hub Cities initiative is an African-based relocation and emergency programme for human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk. The initiative enables HRDs who have been subject to threats, violence and extreme pressure as a consequence of their human rights work to temporarily relocate. Relocation allows them to be safe and to take a break from their highly stressful and dangerous environment.

“Lusophone human rights defenders now have a place to relocate when they are at risk,” said Hassan Shire, the Chairperson of AfricanDefenders and Executive Director of DefendDefenders.“I thank the government of Cabo Verde for opening their country to HRDs at risk.”

The first seven Ubuntu Hub Cities cater for the needs of English-speaking (Kampala, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Accra), French-speaking (Abidjan), and Arabic-speaking HRDs (Tunis). With Praia, AfricanDefenders fills a gap, enabling Portuguese-speaking HRDs to be #SafeButNotSilent.

“The choice of Praia to become an Ubuntu Hub City was the best one,” said Maria Lucia Da Silviera, a woman human rights defender from Angola.

“Cabo Verde is becoming a human rights champion,” said Professor Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Defenders and Focal Point of Reprisals.

“I renew the commitment of the government of Cabo Verde for human rights,” said H.E. Joana Gomes Rosa Amado, Minister of Justice of Cabo Verde. “We are proud to declare the city of Praia as Ubuntu Hub City.”