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DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) welcomes the opportunity offered by the 85th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereafter “the Commission”) to highlight the most pressing human rights issues in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region for the period May to October 2025.
DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) welcomes the opportunity provided by the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to present an overview of the state of democracy, rule of law, and human rights in the East and Horn of Africa.
“Quite early in my career, when I was working with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Sudan, I experienced firsthand just how dangerous human rights work can be. Some of my colleagues and I were detained from 8am to 8pm, and we were interrogated for hours before being released. But that ordeal only made me more determined and committed to the cause, and over the years, I have faced repeated threats, intimidation and targeting due to my journalism work and human rights advocacy.”
“In 2013, DefendDefenders invited me to the official launch of the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders – Uganda (NCHRD-U), which was the first such umbrella organisation for all HRDs in Uganda. I attended the launch and returned to Kalangala even more motivated to pursue my human rights work.”
“DefendDefenders also trained me in using KoboToolbox, a digital tool for safe and secure data collection. This equipped me with the skill to continue my MDR work, even in the face of significant risks.”
“I hope to see DefendDefenders expanding across the entire continent and becoming the major partner for human rights advocacy across Africa. DefendDefenders can bring all of us together, so that we have one voice and work as one.”
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