AfricanDefenders (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network)

🚨If you only ready one thing today, make it this:  Global Witness has just released a new report showing that 196 land and environmental defenders were killed in 2023 for standing up to protect the planet, their homes, and their communities. 🌍 This devastating number means that, on average, one defender was murdered every other day last year. These individuals were fighting for clean air, water, forests, and the future of all of us. 🌱 As the climate crisis intensifies and corporate greed continues to exploit natural resources, the risks faced by defenders is growing. Yet, their stories often remain unheard. Read the full report and learn how we can all act to #DefendTheDefenders:www.gwitness.org/defenders #EnvironmentalJustice #HumanRights #ProtectThePlanet #GlobalWitness

🚨If you only ready one thing today, make it this:  Global Witness has just released a new report showing that 196 land and environmental defenders were killed in 2023 for standing up to protect the planet, their homes, and their communities. 🌍 This devastating number means that, on average, one defender was murdered every other day last year. These individuals were fighting for clean air, water, forests, and the future of all of us. 🌱 As the climate crisis intensifies and corporate greed continues to exploit natural resources, the risks faced by defenders is growing. Yet, their stories often remain unheard. Read the full report and learn how we can all act to #DefendTheDefenders:www.gwitness.org/defenders #EnvironmentalJustice #HumanRights #ProtectThePlanet #GlobalWitness

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (#IBAHRI), together with many other #humanrights signatories, has appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council asking that the Special Rapporteur’s mandate in Burundi remains in place. READ the full statement: https://lnkd.in/e5DdngQz Serious human rights violations continue to be perpetrated in the central Africa country with impunity. As Burundi prepares for more legislative and electoral changes in an already tense environment, these signatories further warn that scrutiny from the United Nations should be linked to structural reforms, and #humanrights improvements instead of political and presidential developments. Following the unresolved crisis from 2015 and a new presidential term in 2020 showing no evidence of improvements in governance, justice, the #ruleoflaw or human rights as promised, the situation remains crucial. Violations continue such as extrajudicial executions, enforce disappearances, acts of #torture, sexual violations and restrictions in #freedomofspeech. The country is one of the world’s poorest, where most of its citizens live in poverty amidst fuel, food and commodities shortages. In the northern part of of Burundi, campaigns have been launched against issues such as concubinage, where married individuals live with someone not their spouse, resulting in unlawful evictions of thousands of women and children. The Burundi Government has failed to tackle economic or human rights concerns by refusing to grant access to independent human rights organisations or cooperate to improve the lives of its citizens. As a current member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the government has an enhanced responsibility to accept this scrutiny so the mandate of the Special Rapporteur should continue. #freedom #abuses READ the FULL STATEMENT here with a list of all signatories: https://lnkd.in/e5DdngQz Burundi Red Cross UNICEF Burundi United Nations Human Rights The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Human Rights Without Frontiers International United Nations SDGs Professional Support Group for Africa Amnesty International AfricanDefenders (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network) Human Rights Watch

#opportunity alert: Are you a #democracy activist, #scholar, or #journalist committed to advancing democratic values? The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship is now accepting applications! This prestigious program offers a unique opportunity to deepen your impact, expand your network, and join a global community of change-makers at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in Washington, D.C. Whether you're an experienced activist looking to refine your strategies or a scholar eager to conduct original research on democracy-related issues, this fellowship provides the resources and support to help you make a lasting difference. 📅 Apply by 1 November 2024 to be part of the next cohort of leaders dedicated to fostering democracy worldwide. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dv2pfne 📸 National Endowment for Democracy #Democracy #humanrights #Africa

On the occasion of the presidential election on September 7, 2024, the national mobilization campaign for prisoners of conscience أطلڤوهم# (#FreeThemAll) resumes to demand their release. Videos and posters of the detainees will be regularly published. Let's mobilize for their release! À l’occasion de l’élection présidentielle du 7 septembre 2024, la campagne nationale de mobilisation pour des détenus d’opinion أطلڤوهم# (#LiberezLes) reprend pour exiger leur libération. Des vidéos et affiches des détenus seront régulièrement diffusés. Mobilisons-nous pour leur libération! بمناسبة الانتخابات الرئاسية في 7 سبتمبر 2024، تستأنف الحملة الوطنية من أجل معتقلي الرأي #أطلڤوهم للمطالبة بالإفراج عنهم. سيتم نشر مقاطع فيديو وملصقات خاصة بمعتقلي الرأي بطريقة مستمرة. اليد في اليد من أجل إطلاق سراحهم! 

🔴 Court Update🔴 Our team leaders, Namatai K., Robson Chere, and Samuel Gwenzi, have been denied bail today. The reasons for this decision are outlined in the image below. This situation is deeply concerning, as our colleagues are not criminals; they are committed human rights defenders who are advocating for a just Zimbabwe—one where justice is served and all freedoms are respected. Their only "crime" is standing up for the rights of their fellow citizens and working tirelessly towards a society where every individual's rights are upheld. We firmly believe that the Zimbabwean justice system should adhere to the constitution, ensuring fair treatment for all individuals, regardless of their activism or beliefs. The denial of bail not only undermines their rights but also sets a troubling precedent for all who dare to stand up against injustices. We continue to demand justice for Namatai K., Robson Chere, and Samuel Gwenzi. They deserve our support and solidarity in these challenging times. Let’s raise our voices for their freedom and the freedom of all human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. #FreeNamatai #FreeRobson #FreeSamuel #FreeThemAll African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders AfricanDefenders (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network)Democracy International The Democracy & Culture Foundation Democracy Frontlines Fund Democracy Frontlines Fund Jestina Mukoko Foundation Jestina M. Mukoko

📢 Democracy Alert: World Movement for Democracy calls for accountability in #Kenya after #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests. Despite opposition from Kenyan citizens, the parliament passed the bill, sparking nationwide demonstrations met with excessive force. Stand in solidarity with the Kenyan Civil Society by sharing this call for justice and human rights reforms! 📸 Simon Maina/AFP Join us: https://lnkd.in/d7UKCt9h #Democracy #HumanRights #Justice #Kenya #MoveDemocracy

According to Nicolas Agostini, Geneva representative for DefendDefenders, it has become normal to vote on an African country-related resolution at least once in a UN Human Rights Council session. DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network)'s new report shows, that in a sign of geopolitical divisions and fractured relations between member states, resolutions addressing human rights in African countries are becoming more contentious. Read about the report here -> https://lnkd.in/g3nsVgq6

To friends and contacts in the HRD protection community, Transparency International is looking for someone with experience supporting HRDs and civil society at risk, to strengthen our support to anticorruption activists at risk within our Movement. Do check if if this is for you. Your help to circulate the opportunity far and wide would be enormously appreciated! Deadline is 14 July 2024. All details 👇 https://lnkd.in/ePn3Eqti Front Line Defenders ProtectDefenders.eu AfricanDefenders (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network) Protection International Freedom House Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism

𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐤𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐳𝐢 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞. Today, 2 April 2024, Tanele Maseko, Woman Human Rights Defender and widow of assassinated human rights lawyer, Thulani Rudolf Maseko, again appeared at the Swazi Royal Police headquarters as ordered by the police. Following international pressure for their failure to promptly investigate the murder of Thulani Maseko, the police expressed a desire to interview Mrs. Maseko in connection with the cold-blooded murder of her husband by an assailant on the 21st of January, 2023. During the consultation, contentious issues arose again about her appearance before the police: the arbitrary seizure of her cellphone without any due process being followed by the police and the right of Tanele to be represented by a lawyer of her choice during the interface with the police. Read the full statement attached. Mary Lawlor Mary Pais Da Silva Mary Mundeya UN Women GIZ South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini AfricanDefenders (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network) Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung | Global Unit for Feminism and Gender Democracy Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism Urgent Action Fund-Africa Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) MADRE WHRDMENA Coalition Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - WILPF Freedom House Oslo Freedom Forum Timothy mtambo Front Line Defenders Human Rights Watch Human Rights Foundation Open Society Foundations Open Briefing Siphosami Malunga Brian Kagoro Masha Lisitsyna CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation Global Human Rights Defence The Danish Institute for Human Rights - International Activities Amnesty International Defenders Protection Initiative (Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (Southern Defenders) ) FEMNET - African Women's Development and Communication Network Jeffrey Smith #TaneleMaseko #Swaziland #SafeguardWHRDs