Dear Colleagues and Friends,
As we approach the end of another transformative year at DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders, it is with deep gratitude and pride that I invite you to reflect on the strides we have made together in 2024. This year, our collective efforts have contributed to fostering a safer environment for African human rights defenders, a mission that remains as urgent as ever. We have witnessed resilience and courage in the face of adversity, thanks to the unwavering dedication of our partners and allies.
Throughout 2024, we have been steadfast in our commitment to protecting the rights of those who dedicate their lives to advocating for justice, equality, and human dignity across the African continent. Our work has taken many forms, from providing emergency support to defenders at risk, to amplifying the voices of those who fight for change in often challenging environments. As we reflect on these accomplishments, let us also look ahead to the challenges that remain. The work is far from over, and your continued partnership is crucial to ensuring that we can build upon the progress we have made. With your support, we are ready to face the coming year with renewed vigor, committed to safeguarding the future of human rights defenders in Africa.
At the beginning of this year, we organized a virtual New Year check-in in collaboration with AfricanDefenders. This platform facilitated an exchange of crucial regional updates among human rights defenders (HRDs) and has significantly informed our advocacy and protection strategies. The initiative exemplifies our partnerships’ effectiveness, highlights our collaborators’ essential role in guiding our efforts, and underscores the necessity for heightened advocacy and strengthened alliances.
In February 2024, I led a delegation to Senegal, where I engaged with prominent civil society leaders in Dakar amid a politically tense environment marked by postponed presidential elections and the arrest of protesters and opposition figures. Additionally, I visited Kenya and Mozambique to extend solidarity to local indigenous HRDs, particularly women dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the civic rights of their communities.
Our protection services for at-risk human rights defenders have proven invaluable in light of the escalating political and human rights challenges across the continent. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has caused significant suffering, while in Kenya, instances of excessive police force during protests have led to cases of enforced disappearances. Ethiopia is witnessing a troubling erosion of civic space, and the Sahel region and Mozambique are facing substantial political instability. Despite these formidable challenges, HRDs remain steadfast in defending human rights against state and non-state actors.
It is encouraging to observe that Ghana, Botswana, and Namibia have emerged as beacons of hope through their peaceful political transitions, offering an optimistic outlook for the future of human rights in these nations.
This year, we had the privilege of co-hosting a transformative global consultation in Kampala, which brought together key figures in the field of human rights advocacy. We were honored to welcome Clément Voule, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and his successor, Gina Romero. This event, which drew 46 participants, highlighted the progress achieved, the challenges encountered, and the emerging threats to these fundamental freedoms. Together, we identified effective strategies to bolster support for climate justice activists and vibrant social movements. The insights and strategies developed during this consultation have already been presented in a Report to the UN General Assembly.
Throughout the year, we actively contributed to shaping the global human rights agenda at the UN Human Rights Council (Council), ensuring that the voices of HRDs from Africa were not just represented but prominently so. DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders played an active role in all three regular sessions of the Council, successfully advocating for the extension of several significant mandates, including the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan and the UN Special Rapporteurs for Eritrea and Burundi, among others.
We proudly published the report “Is the Tide Turning?“, which deeply analyses states’ voting patterns on Africa-related resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council. DefendDefenders led these advocacy efforts with determination, drafting letters and briefing papers, coordinating civil society coalitions, and ensuring that HRDs’ perspectives were influential in Geneva during the decision-making processes involving UN member states.
Our commitment also extended to the African human rights system, where we empowered HRDs to engage in the 79th and 81st Ordinary Sessions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Our advocacy efforts included organizing impactful side events and fostering collaborations between the ACHPR and various networks. We facilitated a benchmarking visit for ACHPR Commissioners to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, D.C., laying the foundation for future partnerships. In our role as coordinator of the Addis Ababa Roadmap, which is a cooperation framework between the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and those of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in June 2024, we were privileged to bring Hon. Dr Litha Musyimi-Ogana, an ACHPR Commissioner, to Geneva for an important side event with the UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, thereby enhancing the synergy between UN and ACHPR mechanisms.
Still, in alignment with the Addis Ababa Roadmap, we organized an inspiring inter-mechanism dialogue, connecting the Chairperson of the ACHPR with the Chairperson of the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances. This event aimed to foster deeper collaboration and understanding between the African and UN human rights systems, bringing these essential mechanisms closer to their communities. The event culminated with a Munyonyo Declaration.
To achieve maximum impact, we complemented our in-person advocacy with digital campaigns. In March, we ran our annual #SheDefends campaign in celebration of the women’s month. We pursued with our #HRDswellbeingcampaign that sought to highlight the specific issue of anxiety and other mental health challenges that affect HRDs, owing to the dangerous environments in which they work. Finally, we joined the rest of the world to mark the #16DaysofActivism against gender-based violence (GBV) with our own campaign that sought to highlight the stories of women HRDs making a difference in their communities with their remarkable efforts to uplift and empower other women. against gender-based violence with our own campaign that sought to highlight the stories of women HRDs making a difference in their communities with their remarkable efforts to uplift and empower other women.
As a result, DefendDefenders’ social media presence has seen steady growth throughout the year, gaining a total of 3,313 new followers across all platforms. Platform-specific growth highlights include X leading with 2,132 new followers, LinkedIn gaining 607 followers, Meta adding 389 followers, and Instagram welcoming 185 new followers. This consistent growth reflects the increasing engagement and reach of DefendDefenders’ online platforms, strengthening our connection with audiences and amplifying our mission.
On the capacity-building front, we prioritised digital and physical security training for HRDs and HRD coalitions in the East and Horn of Africa, DRC, Burkina Faso, and North Africa, with a view to strengthening their capacity to mitigate and overcome digital and physical threats. We strengthened the capacities of 600 HRDs through over 50 training workshops. HRDs were beneficiaries of our capacity building initiatives on physical, digital, wellbeing, MDR, Kobotool box and resource mobilisation.
We continued to play a leading role in strengthening existing national HRD coalitions and networks and establishing new ones to coordinate protection, cooperation, and collaboration of HRDs at national level. We strengthened the resilience and capacity of exiled HRDs living in Kampala. To this end, DefendDefenders convened a protection stakeholders meeting including with the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda which oversees the country’s refugee policy and program.
Our technology department, Defenders Tech, introduced innovations such as Weekly Tech News roundup, the Safe Sisters podcast, and Kumquat circumvention tool to enhance digital awareness and skills among HRDs. Topics covered included cybersecurity, privacy, digital security, disinformation/misinformation, election violence, and surveillance. We maintained an active helpline desk where we received and responded to 57 incidents from HRDs. Finally, Defenders Tech provided audit fix-up support was extended to 24 organizations.
In our ongoing commitment to safeguarding human rights defenders at risk in Africa, we have successfully attributed 472 emergency protection grants across various countries. These grants offer vital support, encompassing legal aid, emergency protection stipends, security needs, psychosocial care, family assistance, internal relocation support, equipment replacement, and coverage for essential rent and medical expenses. This initiative has significantly improved the safety and security of individuals from regions such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Eritrea.
The Ubuntu Hub Cities Initiative temporarily relocated 137 HRDs across Africa. This comprehensive relocation support included air travel, housing assistance, family support, healthcare, psychosocial support, professional or fellowship placements, and living stipends, ensuring their well-being during these challenging times. In collaboration with key organizations, including the European Union Temporary Relocation Platform and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders have strengthened protective measures under the Ubuntu Hub Cities Initiative. Our joint efforts with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have focused on enhancing the capacity of HRD and women human rights defender (WHRD) networks in East and Central Africa. Furthermore, we have engaged with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) to bolster their protective roles and safeguard civic spaces.
As we reflect on a productive year, we contributed to the 12th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy, which convened approximately 700 activists from around the globe to discuss advancements in democracy and the critical importance of resilience. Additionally, the 7th Southern Defenders Summit served as a successful platform addressing key issues related to accountability and governance, fostering hope for the future.
At the 7th Focal Points Meeting, we brought together the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network members to reflect on the current political and human rights landscape. This meeting evaluated our action plan for 2021 to 2025 and strategically outlined our next steps for 2026 and beyond, instilling a sense of optimism and hope for the future.
The year concluded with the 14th edition of “Claiming Spaces: Tactical Tools for Burundian HRDs,” commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Burundian Human Rights Defenders Coalition. This event gathered around 100 exiled HRDs from Burundi and featured three training days focused on monitoring, documentation, resource mobilization, and security strategies. We also marked International Human Rights Defenders Day and International Human Rights Day by launching a thematic report titled “Rocky Ground and Shifting Sands: Human Rights Defenders Working in the Context of Elections in East Africa.”
In conclusion, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our development and strategic partners for their invaluable support in protecting human rights defenders. Your unwavering commitment has been instrumental in enabling us to carry out our vital work, and we are truly grateful for the trust and collaboration we share. We encourage everyone to visit our website and follow us on social media for further updates and additional information. Together, we will continue to make strides towards a safer and more just future for human rights defenders across Africa.
Our office will be closed on 16 December for the holidays and will reopen on 6 January 2025, but our emergency line for HRDs at risk +256707020086 (available on signal and WhatsApp) and email [email protected] will remain operational throughout the holidays.
Wishing you all a joyful holiday season.
Hassan Shire
Executive Director, DefendDefenders
Chairperson, AfricanDefenders