Defenders in Focus, August 2012-January 2013: The Bi-Annual e-Newsletter For Members and Partners of The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network

Reflections on the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council

The UN’s liquidity crisis and broader funding cuts to international agencies and the non-profit sector continue to affect human rights work worldwide. It is estimated that the UN’s budget will decrease by 15% in 2026. The UN’s human rights pillar, which was already chronically under-funded compared to the other two pillars (development and peace & security), with less than 5% of the organisation’s budget, risks being disproportionately affected.

Chioma: Empowering the Next Generation Online

Chioma was part of the 2023 cohort of DefendDefenders’ Safe Sisters fellowship, the flagship programme of DefendDefenders Tech which offers digital safety and security training to women human rights (WHRDs), journalists and media workers. “Safe Sisters Fellowship was a 360-degree turnaround in my career, in my life. Everything about me turned 360 degrees after that encounter. After the fellowship, there was a chain of positive events, one after another, until today, I can proudly introduce myself as a digital security advocate.”

Somalia: international support and scrutiny should continue despite UN shift

After the UN Human Rights Council changed its approach to

Burundi: international human rights scrutiny continues

Ten years after the unresolved 2015 crisis, and with no

Sudan: as war rages, UN extends human rights investigations

Meeting in Geneva today, the UN Human Rights Council adopted

DefendDefenders welcomes new members to the team

We are thrilled to welcome three new members to our team: Ainobusingye Praise, Daniel Martin Ikosiot, and Floor Veldman. Joining us as fellows, each one brings a unique experience and talent that will support us in enhancing our mandate to protect and promote the work of human rights defenders.