The current situation of HRDs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan

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The Chairperson of the EHAHRD-Net undertook an advocacy mission to Washington in June 2008 in order to raise awareness of the current plight of HRDs in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan amongst get decision-makers notably in the State Department and Congress. The mission also sought to ensure that human rights are placed at the heart of future responses to the crises in the region.


EHAHRDP also hoped to encourage key stakeholders to use their influence to push for an end to impunity in the Horn of Africa and for the establishment of independent and impartial accountability mechanisms.  A series of events were organised during the visit notably a roundtable, hosted by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Freedom House, which sought to discuss the issue of impunity in the region and was attended by over 60 individuals from key NGOs and government agencies.

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Call for Expression of Interest – human rights defenders mentorship program

After 20 years of DefendDefenders, this is a moment not only for reflection but for action. As we honour two decades of resilience, solidarity, and advocacy, we look ahead with purpose: What can human rights defenders across generations learn from one another? To celebrate our 20th anniversary, DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders are proud to launch The Roots of Resistance, a Mentorship Program for Young African Human Rights Defenders. This special initiative is designed to empower and connect emerging human rights defenders (HRDs) aged 18–30 through intergenerational mentorship, skills-building, and movement solidarity.

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