DefendDefenders’ oral statements at HRC61
6 February 2026
Oral statements delivered during the 61st session of the UN
Oral statements delivered during the 61st session of the UN
Our 14-member delegation’s engagement at the session and in the preceding NGO Forum under the African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” was guided by a commitment to amplify the voices of HRDs across Africa.
In light of the atrocities committed by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid
In a letter released today, civil society calls on the
Meeting in Geneva today, the UN Human Rights Council adopted
Oral statements delivered during the 60th session of the UN
Ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session (HRC60,
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.
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.