News

Human Rights Defender of the month: Suleiman Mujuni Baitani

30 October 2025

Sulieman Mujuni Baitani – Zanzibar National Coordinator | Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC). Sulieman Mujuni Baitani is a committed human rights defender whose portfolio includes writing, political engagement, and civil society work. He has dedicated himself to amplifying marginalized voices and strengthening civic space in Zanzibar.

Sulieman Mujuni Baitani’s entry into civil society work started in 2013, fuelled by a simple yet steady love for writing that began during his university years around 2011.

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Bi- Annual Report MAY- OCTOBER 2025

22 October 2025

DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) welcomes the opportunity offered by the 85th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereafter “the Commission”) to highlight the most pressing human rights issues in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region for the period May to October 2025.

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DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders Statements at ACHPR85

21 October 2025

DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) welcomes the opportunity provided by the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to present an overview of the state of democracy, rule of law, and human rights in the East and Horn of Africa.

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Reflections on the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council

9 October 2025

The UN’s liquidity crisis and broader funding cuts to international agencies and the non-profit sector continue to affect human rights work worldwide. It is estimated that the UN’s budget will decrease by 15% in 2026. The UN’s human rights pillar, which was already chronically under-funded compared to the other two pillars (development and peace & security), with less than 5% of the organisation’s budget, risks being disproportionately affected.

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Updates from September 2025

30 September 2025

Hello Friends, September was a busy month for us, from advocacy to capacity building. At the start of the month, AfricanDefenders hosted its annual Ubuntu Hub Cities Coordinators Workshop in Durban, South Africa, while there, I found myself revisiting a question: Why must African human rights defenders seek safety outside the continent?

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Human Rights Defender of the month: Esther Tawiah

25 September 2025

Esther Tawiah is a Ghanaian woman human rights defender (WHRD) and passionate advocate for gender equality, governance, and women’s political participation. Over the years, she has dedicated her work to amplifying women’s voices, strengthening democratic accountability, and ensuring that women take their rightful place in leadership across Africa. As the Coordinator of the Ubuntu Hub City in Accra under AfricanDefenders, Esther plays a vital role in protecting and supporting human rights defenders at risk, offering them safety, solidarity, and hope.

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