At today's opening of the Ubuntu Hub Cities Coordinators’ Workshop in Durban, Outh Africa; our Chairperson addressed the urgent issues that have compelled many African Human Rights Defenders to seek refuge. The discussion focused on our strategy to close the protection gap

#GenCED joins other hub city coordinators, academic institutions around the 🌍 to discuss the strategic impact of our work and how to prepare as #HRDs are now more than ever at risk due to the political climate around the world.

This morning, the Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) delegation led by the new Executive Director, Sofia Walan, Gabrielle Gunneberg, Global Department Director, Mesfin Bekele, Director Africa and Middle East Department and Ruth Apolot, Programs Officer, CRD Uganda paid a courtesy visit

Earlier today, we held our 8th Annual Development Partners' meeting. As we come to the end of our current cycle, we provided an update on the impact and progress of our 2021-2025 strategy: “Enhancing the safety and capacity of HRDS in the region for greater resilience and the

Human rights defenders (HRDs) are individuals who emerge from communities to step up and speak out against the injustices they see around them, at times putting their own lives at risk. Deji Adeyanju is one of these remarkable individuals who for nearly 30 years, has been a

We’re back in Banjul, The Gambia, taking part in the Forum on the Participation of NGOs preceding the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR85). The second NGO Forum of the year continues along the African Union’s 2025 theme:

Day Two of the NGO Forum was filled with insightful panel discussions and a breakout session focused on special interest groups. Earlier in the day, before the day’s agenda kicked off, we sat down with Derrick Wandera and Hadiza Malumfashi, both attending the Forum for the

Ryota Jonen, former Director, World Movement for Democracy has worked alongside DefendDefenders for many years and recalls the numerous successful outcomes of this partnership. One of the key highlights includes DefendDefenders’ ability to facilitate engagements between human

RECAP OF DAY 4 | #ACHPR85 During the side event on “The Role of African Human Rights Institutions in Responding to the Intensifying Crackdown on Civil Liberties and Human Rights Defenders Ahead of Elections in East Africa,” panellists highlighted cross-cutting trends across the

This week is a special one for us as we mark 20 years of protecting and promoting the work of human rights defenders across Africa. As we count down to our anniversary celebrations, we reflect on two decades of resilience, solidarity, and impact. To kick off the week, our Senior

As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, we are hosting a high-level panel discussion bringing together global human rights champions, activists, and policymakers under the theme: “Standing Strong: Reimagining Safety and Solidarity for Human Rights Defenders in Shifting

❕ 🚨 REPORT LAUNCH 📖 ❗️ ❝ ‘They Won’t Silence the People’: The right to peaceful protest in Africa in 2025 — with substantive case studies on Mozambique, Senegal, Tunisia, and Uganda ❞ In this report — one of the most ambitious reports ever published on the right to

PICTORIAL: Our Day 1 celebrations of our 20th anniversary continue this evening with a night dedicated to honouring the resilience and courage of human rights defenders across the East and Horn of Africa. The evening will feature powerful testimonials from defenders who have

In his remarks this evening, H.E. Jan Sadek, the European Union Ambassador to Uganda, expressed the EU’s delight in having walked alongside DefendDefenders in protecting and promoting the work of human rights defenders throughout this journey, one that began in 2012. “Saving

From celebrations to capacity building, as we reimagine safety and solidarity for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) amid shifting global trends, day two of our 20th Anniversary celebrations kicked off with a dynamic session titled “Intergenerational World Café: Navigating Global

As part of the ongoing celebrations, participants had the honour of engaging with three UN mandate holders during a powerful panel discussion on human rights in the 21st Century held this afternoon. The discussion featured Clement Voule (2018–2024), Maina Kiai (2011–2017), former

“Warm greetings from DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders . Just yesterday, we celebrated two decades of impactful we across this incredible continent. Today, I stand before you to pay tribute to your leadership and your invaluable contributions to your communities and

My warmest congratulations to Hassan Shire, Memory Bandera & the entire team at DefendDefenders on your 20th anniversary. It was a pleasure to join you in Kampala to mark this occasion & I was delighted to meet with so many impressive HRDs from across the region.

PICTORIAL: We had three engaging panel discussions today. The first, “Intergenerational World Café: Navigating Global Uncertainties,” was excellently moderated by Tabitha our Senior Manager Protection and Security Management and sparked meaningful intergenerational dialogue

On 4 and 5 November 2025, we convened to commemorate two decades of protecting and promoting the work of human rights defenders (HRDs) since 2005. The two-day celebration, held in Kampala, Uganda, brought together over 200 HRDs, national, regional, and global human rights