Human Rights Situation in the East and Horn of Africa (April – October 2019)
In its bi-annual report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) provides a six-month overview of events affecting the rights to freedom of association, expression, and peaceful assembly in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region. DefendDefenders welcomes the opportunity offered […]
Reflections on the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council
Oral statements to the Council Advocacy documents and press releases Side-events at the Council Outcomes and resolutions My delegation took an active part in the last UN Human Rights Council session of the year, the HRC’s 42nd regular session (HRC42, 9-27 September 2019). The session witnessed a record number of resolutions adopted by the Council for […]
Ahead of elections, the UN keeps a spotlight on human rights in Burundi
The UN Human Rights Council (“Council”) has decided to keep a spotlight on Burundi ahead of key elections scheduled for 2020. Today, the Council adopted a resolution that extends the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Burundi for one year and condemns a wide range of human rights violations and abuses, a move which DefendDefenders welcomes.
Interactive Dialogue between Protection Stakeholders and HRDs in Exile in Uganda
1. On 12 September 2019, DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project), in collaboration with AfricanDefenders (the Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network), convened the second interactive dialogue between protection service providers (PSPs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) in exile in Uganda. Following the first interactive dialogue held in December 2016, […]
DefendDefenders’ oral statements at HRC42
Oral statements delivered by DefendDefenders at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC42, 9-27 September 2019).
For each disappeared, more activists stand up! Stop enforced disappearances against human rights defenders
Article posted in relation to the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on 30 August 2019. On 13 April 2015, Sandra Kodouda, a Sudanese human rights defender (HRD), was abducted in Khartoum, Sudan by a group of unidentified men. Three days later she returned home with a dislocated shoulder and clear signs of […]
Burundi: Extend CoI mandate for a further year
Ahead of the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, NGOs call on States to support a resolution extending the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Burundi for a further year, until September 2020.
Reflections on the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council
Oral statements to the Council Briefing papers and press releases Side-events at the Council Outcomes and resolutions My delegation attended the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC41), building on successful outcomes of previous sessions. We emphasise that being a member of the Council does not prevent scrutiny, and that the Council should stand […]
No Advice without Knowledge: Scrutiny elements in the UN Human Rights Council’s item 10 resolutions
In a report published today, DefendDefenders analyses the content and evolution of resolutions adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (hereafter “Council”) in the framework of its agenda item 10, which is dedicated to technical assistance and capacity-building. No Advice without Knowledge focuses on the presence of scrutiny (understood as monitoring and public reporting) elements in […]
Civil society organisations call for Germain Rukuki’s acquittal in Burundi
Kampala, 28 November, 2018 – Yesterday, the appeal hearing of human rights defender Germain Rukuki took place in Ngozi before the Bujumbura Court of Appeal, with no security incidents reported. The Court took the case under advisement and the decision is expected to be announced within the next 30 days. Mr. Rukuki was arrested by […]