No lasting peace without justice, UN rights council tells South Sudan
By adopting a strong resolution on the human rights situation in South Sudan, the UN Human Rights Council (“Council”) sends a message to the South Sudanese government and all parties to the conflict that there will be no lasting peace without justice. The resolution adopted today condemns the crimes committed in the country in the […]
Environmental rights defenders are key to sustainable development, UN asserts
There can be no environmental protection and, ultimately, no sustainable development without respect for environmental human rights defenders (HRDs), the UN Human Rights Council (“Council”) warned today through the adoption of a strong, substantive resolution on the protection of environmental HRDs. As the negative effects of climate change, resource exploitation and environmental damage on human […]
The UN keeps a spotlight on Eritrea’s abysmal human rights record
The UN Human Rights Council (“the Council”) showed its resolve to address the crimes committed in Eritrea by extending the mandate of its top expert on the country today. A new Special Rapporteur on Eritrea will soon succeed Ms. Sheila Keetharuth, who has served for six years on the position and played a key role in shining a light on the country’s human rights record, which remains one of the most abysmal in the world.
ACHPR60: Call for accountability and address culture of impunity in the East and Horn of Africa
On the opening day of its 60th Ordinary Session, DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) called on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to urge the African Union to establish accountability mechanisms to bring justice to protracted human rights crises, particularly in South Sudan and Eritrea. In its biannual […]
DefendDefenders receives prestigious Richard C. Holbrooke Leadership Award
DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) was honoured to accept the Richard C. Holbrooke Leadership Award at Refugee International’s Annual Gala in Washington D.C. this Tuesday. The award, which is presented to leading humanitarian organisations and individuals who enhance life-saving assistance and protection for displaced people, recognises their commitment to working […]
Uganda: Respect freedoms, end worrying spate of intimidations, kidnaps and detentions
The Ugandan government must guarantee Dr. Stella Nyanzi, an academic and vocal social media critic a fair trial and respect of due process and court orders during her trial, the National Coalition of Human Rights defenders – Uganda (NCHRD-U) and the undersigned organisations said today. These organisations further condemned the kidnap and torture of NTV […]
CIVICUS Monitor releases first-ever dataset on shrinking civic space worldwide
Just three percent of people live in countries where the rights to protest, organise and speak out are respected, protected and fulfilled according to the CIVICUS Monitor, which today releases the first-ever global dataset on the enjoyment of civic space. Of the 195 rated, it finds that civic space in twenty countries – including Eritrea, […]
Djibouti: Immediately release Omar Ewado
Version française ci-dessous DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) condemns the arrest and detention of Omar Ewado, Director of the Ligue Djiboutienne des droits de l’homme (LDDH), and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Djiboutian national intelligence agents arrested Mr. Ewado on 19 March around 6pm at his home. […]
EHAHRD-Net: Final Communiqué on third General Assembly
The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) held its third General Assembly from 21 to 22 February 2017 at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Kampala, Uganda. The General Assembly (GA) brought together development partners, coalition representatives, country focal points and human rights defenders (HRDs) from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, South […]
Open letter: UNHRC should renew and strengthen mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan
We, the undersigned South Sudanese, regional and international non-governmental organisations, write to urge your delegation to renew and strengthen the mandate and capacity of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan to address the continued lack of accountability for severe, widespread and on-going crimes under international law and human rights violations and abuses, many of which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, during the upcoming 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council.