In 2005, DefendDefenders was established as the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Project and registered in Uganda as a foreign non-governmental organisation. That same year, with support from Amnesty International, we convened our first Human Rights Defenders Conference in Entebbe, Uganda, bringing together 43 human rights defenders (HRDs) from across East and the Horn of Africa. During the conference, participants shared experiences, realised they faced many of the same challenges, and forged bonds of solidarity.
At the conclusion of the conference, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRDN) was launched, uniting HRDs from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Somaliland, Sudan (including South Sudan), Tanzania, and Uganda. Together, they committed to support one another, build resilience, and ensure that HRDs have the skills, protection, and solidarity needed to continue their vital work.
Twenty years on, with the steadfast support of our partners, DefendDefenders has protected thousands of HRDs, equipped them to thrive, and amplified their voices at national, regional and global platforms, remaining committed to our vision of a region in which the human rights of every individual, as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), are respected and upheld. We are a recognised voice for HRDs, having consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights which allows us to amplify their voices
At the time of DefendDefenders’ formation, human rights defenders (HRDs) across the East and Horn of Africa were being arrested, maimed, and driven into exile. Like many others, I was forced to flee due to the lack of adequate protection mechanisms. While regional and international frameworks such as the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted in 1998 recognised the vital role of HRDs and affirmed their right to defend human rights, these protections rarely translated into meaningful safety on the ground. I often asked myself: Why weren’t these mechanisms reaching us? Why couldn’t we carry out our activism safely in our own countries?
At our inaugural HRD conference in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2005, one of our key goals was to train defenders on how to use regional and international human rights instruments empowering them to localise these tools in their own contexts. 20 years later, it has been extraordinary to witness how this commitment to protecting HRDs, building their capacity, and advocating for their rights on regional and global platforms has evolved. This journey has directly impacted countless defenders, strengthened their activism, and helped protect the communities they serve.
We invite you to journey with us as we reflect on two decades of promoting, protecting, and strengthening the work of human rights defenders across the region.