Sudan: as war rages, UN extends human rights investigations
6 October 2025
Meeting in Geneva today, the UN Human Rights Council adopted
Meeting in Geneva today, the UN Human Rights Council adopted
Hello Friends, September was a busy month for us, from advocacy to capacity building. At the start of the month, AfricanDefenders hosted its annual Ubuntu Hub Cities Coordinators Workshop in Durban, South Africa, while there, I found myself revisiting a question: Why must African human rights defenders seek safety outside the continent?
Esther Tawiah is a Ghanaian woman human rights defender (WHRD) and passionate advocate for gender equality, governance, and women’s political participation. Over the years, she has dedicated her work to amplifying women’s voices, strengthening democratic accountability, and ensuring that women take their rightful place in leadership across Africa. As the Coordinator of the Ubuntu Hub City in Accra under AfricanDefenders, Esther plays a vital role in protecting and supporting human rights defenders at risk, offering them safety, solidarity, and hope.
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.
As Hassan’s vision started to take hold, he reached out to several people and organisations, sharing the idea of establishing an HRDs’ network in the East and Horn of Africa. He mobilised financial and institutional support from those who understood and agreed that this was something essential; something that could make a difference.
Oral statements delivered during the 60th session of the UN
The 60th UN Human Rights Council (HRC) session will convene from 8 September to 8 October 2025 to deliberate on the global human rights context. Among the situations under consideration is the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Now in its third year, the conflict is one of the most devastating on the continent, resulting in the displacement of over 13 million people and more than 150,000 civilian deaths.
“When you plant a seed, you have the faith that it will grow. I left, but I had the faith that this network would grow, and its growth has exceeded my expectations.”
In a joint letter released today, 40+ Burundian, African, and
Since 2019, DefendDefenders has been partnering with Mouvement Inamahoro. Marie Louise acknowledges how the partnership connects them to a larger network of HRDs and civil society organisations from the region, helping to amplify the Burundian HRDs’ advocacy efforts.