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
The 60th UN Human Rights Council (HRC) session will convene from 8 September to 8 October 2025 to deliberate on the global human rights context. Among the situations under consideration is the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Now in its third year, the conflict is one of the most devastating on the continent, resulting in the displacement of over 13 million people and more than 150,000 civilian deaths.
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.
Hello Friends, In June, the African continent saw a surge in human rights violations, highlighting the growing risks faced by those speaking truth to power. In Kenya, peaceful protests were met with deadly force, mass arrests, and media blackouts. In Ethiopia, journalist Tesfalem Waldyes remained in detention despite a court order for his release, amid official attacks on media independence.
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.
Hello Friends, Since August 2024, I’ve had the privilege of participating in two missions to Somalia aimed at assessing the current landscape for human rights defenders (HRDs). The primary objective of these missions was to revitalise the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Somalia by supporting the establishment of new leadership and an active board capable of addressing the evolving challenges HRDs face in the country.
DefendDefenders call for applications – Safe Sisters Fellowship Round 15 Call for
Hello Friends, In February, all eyes were on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as reports of significant turmoil dominated news sites and social media. The capture of Goma by the M23 in January and their subsequent advance south, culminating in the capture of Bukavu on 16 February, exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC. Human rights defenders (HRDs) have not been spared from this violence.
Confronting the climate and ecological emergency in East Africa depends