DefendDefenders’ oral statements at HRC60
9 September 2025
Oral statements delivered during the 60th session of the UN
Oral statements delivered during the 60th session of the UN
Hello Friends, The 59th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC59)), held from 16 June to 8 July 2025, was shortened due to the UN’s liquidity crisis, resulting in cancelled debates and undelivered OHCHR reports. Despite these challenges, the session stood out for its focus on Eritrea.
After 20 years of DefendDefenders, this is a moment not only for reflection but for action. As we honour two decades of resilience, solidarity, and advocacy, we look ahead with purpose: What can human rights defenders across generations learn from one another? To celebrate our 20th anniversary, DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders are proud to launch The Roots of Resistance, a Mentorship Program for Young African Human Rights Defenders. This special initiative is designed to empower and connect emerging human rights defenders (HRDs) aged 18–30 through intergenerational mentorship, skills-building, and movement solidarity.
The African Union’s 2025 theme, “Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” set the tone for the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), held from 2 to 22 May 2025 in Banjul, The Gambia.
Oral statements delivered during the 59th session of the UN
Hello Friends, March was a month of engagement and reflection on the urgent needs of human rights defenders (HRDs) across our region. As geopolitical dynamics shift and crises intensify, the threats facing HRDs have grown more complex—demanding coordinated responses and sustained solidarity.
DefendDefenders call for applications – Safe Sisters Fellowship Round 15 Call for
Oral statements delivered during the 58th session of the UN
As we step into 2025, this year marks 20 years since DefendDefenders’ was established to protect human rights defenders (HRDs) in Africa. In commemoration of this significant milestone, I am prompted to reflect on the journey since 2005. I think back to the inaugural convening – “Defending the Defenders”: a Human Rights Defenders Conference in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2005, the moment it all crystallised.
Dear Friends, December holds special significance for DefendDefenders as we