Capacity Building

Raising the capacity of human rights defenders from the East and Horn of Africa sub-region.

Our Work
To build the capacity of human rights defenders (HRDs) in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region is a vital part of DefendDefenders work.

We aim to equip individual HRDs, EHAHRD-Net, and national HRD coalitions in the sub-region in the areas of HRD protection mechanisms and security management, Advocacy tools and strategies for HRDs, HRD Coalition building, Networking. In order to achieve this goal, DefendDefenders organises trainings, conferences, and workshops, as well as action-based learning and mentoring to HRDs. 

Claiming Spaces: Tactical Tool for Human Rights Defenders.

Every year, DefendDefenders organises our annual flagship event Claiming Spaces: Tactical tools for HRDs – a week-long capacity building event for HRDs. The event is organised in different countries every year, and welcomes about 100 HRDs to enhance their skills in a various set of topics.

Check out Claiming Spaces!

Latest News

STATEMENT ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

Today, we join the rest of the world in commemorating World Press Freedom Day 2025 under the theme “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.”

DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders Statements at ACHPR83

NGO Forum preceeding the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to provide an update on the status of democracy, rule of law and human rights in East and Horn of Africaa over the last six months for the period October 2024 to May 2025.