DefendDefenders NewsLitters- jauwary 2019{I am happy to say that DefendDefenders kick-started the new year in a positive and proactive way, with several missions, trainings, and events behind us.}
Throughout 2019, Ethiopia will be a priority country for DefendDefenders as we wish to bolster the encouraging and progressive human rights developments taking place in the country. I was therefore honoured to lead aDefendDefenders delegation to Addis Ababafrom 22-30 January to meet with government officials, representatives of the African Union and United Nations (UN), and civil society organisations, but most importantly, human rights defenders (HRDs) whose efforts have been fundamental to the progressive developments.
Over the past decade, numerous Ethiopian HRDs have been subject to threats, harassment, violence, and arbitrary detention, with many forced into exile. Yet, these brave defenders kept speaking up and pushing for Ethiopia to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. This struggle is now, finally, bearing fruit – as we welcome exiled HRDs back to their homeland with optimism for the future. Over the past month we have also been actively preparing for the upcoming UN Human Rights Council 40th session. At the session, we will especiallyadvocate for the rights of environmental activists, and South Sudan, bringing South Sudanese HRDs with us to enable them to share their stories and participate in the session. Exciting times are coming up, and I am, as always, prepared to maximise my efforts alongside DefendDefenders staff and all of you. Yours sincerely, Hassan Shire |
Human rights defender of the month: Yared Hailemariam |
"This is a huge chance for civil society. Because of bad laws and the previous government, our work was totally crippled and paralysed, but there are many good signs that our presence is welcome like it wasn’t before. It’s a bright future for civil society as a result of these changes,” says Hailemariam.Read more |
Recommended reading:
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Updates from DefendDefenders:
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Updates from our network: Pan-Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRDN)
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Updates from the East and Horn of Africa sub-region
General:
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Burundi
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For more information, please contact |
Hassan Shire Executive Director, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project onexecutive@defenddefenders.orgor +256 772 753 753 (English and Somali) |
Estella Kabachwezi Senior Advocacy and Research Officer, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project onadvocacy@defenddefenders.orgor +256 782 360 460 (English) |
DefendDefenders seeks to strengthen the work of human rights defenders throughout the region by reducing their vulnerability to the risk of persecution and by enhancing their capacity to effectively defend human rights. DefendDefenders focuses its work on Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia (together with Somaliland), South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Visit us atwww.defenddefenders.org |
DefendDefenders NewsLitters- jauwary 2019{I am happy to say that DefendDefenders kick-started the new year in a positive and proactive way, with several missions, trainings, and events behind us.}
Throughout 2019, Ethiopia will be a priority country for DefendDefenders as we wish to bolster the encouraging and progressive human rights developments taking place in the country. I was therefore honoured to lead aDefendDefenders delegation to Addi