When DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)

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Wednesday April 04, 2018 - 16:23:19 in Wararka by
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    When DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)

    Dear friends and colleagues, When DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) was founded in 2005, the team consisted of only two other dedicated colleagues and I. Today, the organisation has more than 30 full time e

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Dear friends and colleagues, When DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) was founded in 2005, the team consisted of only two other dedicated colleagues and I. Today, the organisation has more than 30 full time employees.
We have successfully founded national coalitions for human rights defenders (HRDs) in Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Through our consultative and observer status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, we enable HRDs to engage with stakeholders at the highest levels.
 
This month, DefendDefenders marked another milestone with the opening of an office in Geneva. Through our permanent representation, we will be able to more effectively engage with UN human rights mechanisms year-round. I was honoured that the office was officiallyopenedby H.E. Fatuma Abdullahi Mohamud, the Somali Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, and Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. Another notable guest was Yared Hailiemarian, who was forced into exile from Ethiopia while attending the founding meeting of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network. This year he attended the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UN HRC) to launch a newreporttogether with DefendDefenders and other international partners, as a true example of a HRD who continues to work tirelessly for a good cause.
 
Initial signs that the Ethiopian government was willing to take meaningful steps toward progressive change were quickly shattered in the last weeks with the declaration of a new state of emergency and re-arrest of several prominent HRDs and journalists. Together with our partners, we will continue our advocacy efforts and urge Ethiopia to live up to its responsibility as a UN HRC Member State.
 
Yours in solidarity,
 
Hassan Shire
Executive Director
DefendDefenders at the UN Human Rights Council
DefendDefenders attended the 37th session of the UN HRC together with HRDs from Burundi, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The delegation:
  • Called attention to the precarious situation of HRDs inTanzaniaduring the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders;
  • Stressed the importance of transitional justice mechanisms inSouth Sudanduring the clustered interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and the Special Advisor on the prevention of genocide;
  • Voiced its support for the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur onEritreain a joint statement;
  • Called for the immediate establishment of the Hybrid Court during the Interactive Dialogue with the Commission on Human Rights inSouth Sudan;
  • Drew attention to the continued detention of HRDs during the Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry onBurundi;
  • Highlighted the arrest of Ethiopian blogger Seyoum Teshome and shrinking civic space in Tanzania during an Item 4statement;
  • Organised side events onEthiopiaandSouth Sudan.


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Breaking the norm


This documentary by the SIHA Network follows the lives of young women in Sudan who have gained skills in non-gender typical vocations and apprenticeships, breaking gender stereotypes, and successfully securing employment.
 
Updates from the sub-region
Burundi
  • On 27 March, HRD Germain Rukuri was scheduled to appear before the Ntahangwa High Court for the second hearing of his trial. However, the proceedings werepostponedfor the third time and re-scheduled for 3 April. In the meantime, Germain remains in detention.
Ethiopia
  • On 9 March, security forces arrested the prominent blogger Seyoum Teshome and detained him atMaekelawi Prison. Police failed to produce him for an expected court appearance on 26 March, arguing that, since he was arrested under the current State of Emergency, his case will be handled by a yet to be established special commission;
  • On 25 March police alsoarrestedEskinder Nega, Temesghen Desalegn, Zone 9 bloggers Befekadu Hailu and Mahlet Fantahun, and Zelalem Workagegnehu during a private gathering under restrictions imposed by the State of Emergency. All journalists – including Nega, who spent eight years in prison earlier this year – have been previously detained for their journalistic work.
Kenya
  • Three journalists wereassaultedby police as they covered the return of the prominent opposition leader Miguna Miguna, who was denied entry by immigration officials as he was returning from Canada, while possession of a court order allowing him to do so.
Somalia and Somaliland
  • On 6 March, Somaliland poet and peace activist Naema Qorane waschargedwithspreading unpatriotic propagandafor Facebook posts where she allegedly promoted the idea of united Somalia. She was arrested on 27 January after returning from Mogadishu.
South Sudan
  • The South Sudanese Media Regulatory Authority ordered the independent UN-operated Radio Mirayaoff the airon 9 March for allegedlyrefusing to complywith the country's broadcast laws. The station broadcasts information about UN activities and political programs meant to foster peace and dialogue in the country.
DefendDefenders
  • Provided support to 7 HRDs and referred 5 other cases to partners;
  • Submitted updates to the CIVICUS Civic Space Monitor onEritrea,Ethiopia, andUganda;
  • Conducted a workshop on Internet Research Methods;
  • Participated in the Internet Freedom Festival in Valencia, Spain, and hosted a panel on electronic documentation projects including Doc-IT andDATA4CHAN.GE
  • Launched the 2018 cycle of Doc-IT Electronic Documentation for Human Rights Monitoring and Advocacy with 9 Ugandan organisations
  • Brought together members of the Safe Sisters women's digital security fellowship for an advanced digital security and skills sharing workshop
  • Signed a contract to implement digital security audits using theSAFETAGand to contribute improvements to the SAFETAG framework
  • Welcomed Nicolas Agostini as its representative to the United Nations and Stanley Wobusobozi as Monitoring and Evaluation Expert;
  • Attended the 37th session of the UN HRC with HRDs from Burundi, Ethiopia, and South Sudan;
  • Establisheda permanent representation to the UN in Geneva;
  • Attended the Innovation4Change Global Governance Meeting.


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