Our Work
To build the capacity of human rights defenders (HRDs) in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region is a vital part of DefendDefenders work.
We aim to equip individual HRDs, EHAHRD-Net, and national HRD coalitions in the sub-region in the areas of HRD protection mechanisms and security management, Advocacy tools and strategies for HRDs, HRD Coalition building, Networking. In order to achieve this goal, DefendDefenders organises trainings, conferences, and workshops, as well as action-based learning and mentoring to HRDs.
Every year, DefendDefenders organises our annual flagship event Claiming Spaces: Tactical tools for HRDs – a week-long capacity building event for HRDs. The event is organised in different countries every year, and welcomes about 100 HRDs to enhance their skills in a various set of topics.
Check out Claiming Spaces!
Latest News
A relatively short session due to the UN’s liquidity crisis, the Human Rights Council’s (HRC) 59th session (HRC59) took place from 16 June to 8 July 2025. Three session days were cut, a number of debates could not be held, and a number of reports could not be delivered by the UN’s Human Rights Office (OHCHR). This is a regrettable situation.
The UN Human Rights Council’s adoption of a resolution on Eritrea, today during its 59th session, keeps the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea,
“It is interesting that we are talking about 20 years of DefendDefenders. It actually feels like two years, because it feels like DefendDefenders keeps recreating itself. Its presence and the energy feels like it has just begun its work. The staff, the management, everyone at DefendDefenders, is very, very committed to defending human rights defenders and I can only wish them well and wish that we can grow as Defend Defenders, beyond 20 years, into the kind of future that they deserve.”
Address:
Arie Towers
Plot 16, Mackinnon Road
Nakasero P.O. Box 70356,
Kampala, Uganda
General Phone Line:
+256-200-760-700 (General)
24/7 Emergency Phone Line: +256 707 020086