The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) held its annual board meeting today at its offices in the Osman Hummaida Boardroom in Kampala, Uganda. The meeting was led by the Chairperson of the board, Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana and attended by Mr. David Kaggwa (board Secretary), Ms. Sophie Kyagulanyi (board treasurer), Dorothe Appels, Faiza Jama Mohamed, ex-officio member and Executive Director of EHAHRDP, Mr. Hassan Shire, as well as EHAHRDP Director of Programs and Administration, Memory Bandera Rwampwanyi and the Finance Manager, Alex Lukoye.
The Board discussed the past years’ successes, challenges and emerging issues within the EHAHRDP secretariat, as well as the current situation of human rights defenders in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region.
The EHAHRDP secretariat reported on the trends of harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders including journalists, and increasing attempts by state and non-state actors to undermine and disrupt the activities of civil society.
The discourse on specific issues around elections and restrictive laws across the sub-region in light of the organization’s activities were discussed.
In addition, the board endorsed the 2015 work plans and deliberated on the organizational policies. An agenda of the meeting is set forth below:
- Opening prayer
- Welcome remarks from the board chairperson
- Review of previous minutes
- Update from the Executive Director
- Emerging issues and challenges
- Review of audit reports
- Review of organizational policies
- AOB
- 10 years anniversary discussion
- Composition of the board
The board commended the EHAHRDP secretariat for their tireless work in promoting human rights by protecting human rights defenders. Observations and recommendations to take the organization to the next level were discussed and will be taken up by the secretariat.
