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THEME

Women HRDs

Regional Situation

Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) are confronted with the same challenges as any defender, but are made particularly vulnerable due to the myriad of gender-specific risks they also face. Throughout the East and Horn of Africa, sexual violence has been used to attack WHRDs and, at times, their families become a target for threats and harassment. Often challenging existing cultural norms and stereotypes through their work, WHRDs also face heightened isolation or rejection by their communities.

Latest News

Sudan: new UN resolution offers hope, but human rights challenges remain

At a critical juncture for Sudan, a UN resolution on the country’s human rights situa­tion offers hope that the international community will con­tri­bu­te to domestic improvements. Yet, as the Sudanese people attempt to turn the page on 30 years of dictatorship and repression, significant challenges remain. The res­o­lution adopted by the Human Rights Council (“Council”) is an encouraging signal but should push all stakeholders to be cau­tious­ly op­timistic, Defend­De­f­enders said today.

Ahead of elections, the UN keeps a spotlight on human rights in Burundi

The UN Human Rights Council (“Council”) has decided to keep a spotlight on Burundi ahead of key elections scheduled for 2020. Today, the Council adop­ted a resolution that extends the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Burundi for one year and condemns a wide range of human rights violations and abuses, a move which DefendDefenders welcomes.