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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It is time for accountability for the enforced disappearance of Samuel Dong and Aggrey Idri
As the news of the death of Samuel Dong Luak and Aggrey Ezboni Idri circulated this week, I felt extremely saddened and increasingly concerned about the region we live in. The enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing of two outspoken critics of the South Sudanese government, by South Sudanese security services allegedly with the acquiescence of […]
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 […]
Enhancing human rights defenders’ protection: DefendDefenders at the UN Human Rights Council
Today, the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (“the HRC”or “the Council”) opens for four weeks in Geneva. A DefendDefenders delegation led by the Executive Director, Hassan Shire, will actively advocate for enhanced protection for human rights defenders (HRDs) across the East and Horn of Africa. “The Council is a key forum to […]