Ethiopian Candlelight Vigil

END OF YEAR MESSAGE 2024

Dear Colleagues and Friends, As we approach the end of

Report launch: Rocky Ground and Shifting Sands- Human Rights Defenders working in the context of elections in East Africa- Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)

Rocky Ground and Shifting Sands

Africa is entering a busy election schedule, with numerous countries

Updates from November 2024

Hello Friends, This November, DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of

Human Rights Defender of the month: Rachael Mwikali

Born and raised in the Mathare slum, Rachael faced numerous challenges growing up, particularly as a young girl navigating a patriarchal society that often overlooked her rights and well-being. These early experiences of violence and discrimination, including sexual and emotional abuse, shaped her activism and her determination to fight for justice.
“Growing up as a girl, having access to basic needs was a challenge. At one point, I was engaged in a relationship with someone older than me, who took advantage of me in multiple ways. This had a profound effect on my childhood and development. It led me to embrace feminism and activism because I realized that this wasn’t just a personal issue, but a systemic one affecting many girls around me. No one was giving us a platform to speak out or condemning what was happening.” – Rachael Mwikali

Reflections on the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.

After a few years away I returned to the 81st