ACHPR58: Oral statement on the human rights situation in Africa
7 April 2016
Pepe Onziema addresses ACHPR58 with recommendations to improve the human rights situation in the East and Horn of Africa
Pepe Onziema addresses ACHPR58 with recommendations to improve the human rights situation in the East and Horn of Africa
An overview of the Human Rights Situation in the East and Horn of Africa between October 2015 and March 2016
Four representatives of Sudanese civil society were intercepted by security officials at Khartoum International Airport on their way to a high level human rights meeting with diplomats in Geneva. 36 organisations and seven prominent Sudanese individuals condemn this blatant contempt for HRDs in Sudan and human rights in general.
The Universal Periodic Review is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. DefendDefenders submitted four joint reports for the UPRs of South Sudan and Uganda.
DefendDefenders hit the ground running in 2016, as human rights defenders across the entire sub-region of the East and Horn of Africa face increasing restrictions on their rights and their ability to work.
Sudanese authorities should stop harassing civil society activists and allow them to work without arbitrary interference and intimidation.
As the 31st session of the UN HRC comes to an end, our eyes turn to Geneva and the member states of the Council, awaiting a strong resolution establishing such a mechanism. Yesterday, we spoke to a journalist and human rights defender who was forced to flee South Sudan after his life was threatened by government security forces. His story shows once again the dire need for strong action by the Council.
CIVIVUS and DefendDefenders call upon the Human Rights Council to establish a Special Rapporteur to ensure constant scrutiny of the human rights situation in South Sudan.
45 CSOs call upon the council to support resolution on the protection of human rights defenders addressing economic, social and cultural rights.
The human rights movement in Egypt faces unprecedented risk, with the most credible and effective organisations facing closure and the most courageous and independent defenders facing the risk of charges that carry a sentence of life imprisonment.
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