🚨 “The HRC at 20: A Lifeline for Defenders” — civil society event for the 20th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Council 🗣️ Whether you're in Geneva or online, make sure to attend this important side event moderated by our Executive Director, Hassan Shire. As the @UN_HRC turns 2⃣0⃣, human rights defenders from across the world will join us to discuss why they turn to the HRC, what difference the Coun­cil makes on the ground, and how they use its outcomes for their national- & regional-level advocacy. 🗓️ Tuesday 16 June 2026 ⏰ 13:00-14:00 CET (14:00-15:00 EAT / 11:00-12:00 GMT) 📍 Palais des Nations (@UNGeneva), Room IX, and online _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ▶️ Webex link: ungeneva-vc.webex.com/ungene… (mtg. number: 2740 461 3760 | pw: TCe9RAXNw85) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ #HRC62 #HRCat20 #HRDs #CivicSpace #StandUp4HumanRights ✊✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 🙏 Thanks to partners @CIHRS_Alerts & @Forum_Asia and all co-sponsors: @AfricaDefenders, @amnesty, @CCPR_Centre, @ciel_tweets, @CIVICUSalliance, @fidh_en, @omctorg, @FranciscansIntl, @gva4humanrights, Geneva Human Rights Hub, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, @GulfCentre4HR, @HRHFoundation, @hrw, Human Rights Concern-Eritrea, @IBAHRI, @ICJ_org, @ISHRglobal, @MENA_Rights, @PBI_ISEC, @TLHR2014, @UPRinfo 🫱🏾‍🫲🏻

Thank you Ambassador @JanSadek for hosting a lovely celebration to commemorate 50 years of the @EUinUG's cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Uganda. This milestone marks five decades of partnership, development and shared progress. Since 2011, the European Union continues to be a valued and consistent partner of @AfricaDefenders and DefendDefenders. We appreciate it's crucial support for the protection of human rights defenders that has enabled them to carry out their work safely and effectively. Viva Africa, Viva Europe!

📢 And it is officially launched! 🇨🇩 La Coalition Nationale des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en #RDC voit le jour aujourd'hui, 30 avril 2026. Elle constituera une plateforme vitale pour la protection, la réponse rapide face aux menaces, le renforcement des capacités et le plaidoyer en faveur de la protection des #DDH dans le pays. The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in the #DRC starts its existence, today, 30 April 2026. It will be a key platform for protection, rapid response, capacity-building, and advocacy for #HRD protection in the country.

🚨 We are in Kinshasa! Bonjour Kinshasa! 🇨🇩 Aujourd'hui, avec nos partenaires congolais, nous lançons la Coalition nationale pour les défenseurs des droits humains en #RDC. Suivez l'événement en direct à partir de 9h00 WAT / 11h00 EAT: us04web.zoom.us/j/2741291899… (Meeting ID: 274 129 1899 / Password: G51JmR) Today, with Congolese partners, we're launching the National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders in the #DRC. Follow the proceedings from 09:00am WAT / 11:00am EAT. @Hassan_Shire @bikjo @annie_bambe @Marie_JoNtsh #RDCongo #SociétéCivile #DroitsHumains #ParticipationCitoyenne ✊✊✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

Our Executive Director, @Hassan_shire , together with our Director of Programs and Administration, @MemoryBandera, were pleased to be part of the King's Day celebration hosted last week at the invitation of Her Excellency @FrederiekeQ. On this special occasion marking the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, we extend our warm wishes for his continued good health and leadership, and join in celebrating the values of unity, partnership, and shared commitment to human rights that this day represents. We appreciate the continued partnership with the Embassy and their support for human rights and the work of human rights defenders in the region.

As we conclude this year’s #SheDefends campaign, we celebrate the powerful voices of women human rights defenders(WHRDs) across Africa. For seven years now, March has been dedicated to recognising and amplifying their vital contributions in advancing rights, justice, and equality. While progress has been made, WHRDs continue to face significant legal and social barriers. Throughout this campaign, we took time to highlight how WHRDs can leverage regional and international mechanisms to advance justice, strengthen protection, and hold duty bearers accountable. Despite these frameworks, implementation gaps persist, and WHRDs remain at heightened risk. Yet, their resilience and impact continue to drive change; defending communities, advancing justice, and pushing for these protections to be realised in practice. From all of us at DefendDefenders: we see you, we celebrate you, and we stand with you. Your courage inspires, and we are rooting for you throughout the year.

✍️ Read @Hassan_Shire's “Reflections” on the 6⃣1⃣st session of the UN Human Rights Council 🇺🇳 Despite political polarisation & a deepening UN financial crisis, the @UN_HRC delivered meaningful outcomes, including on #SouthSudan 🇸🇸. For DefendDefenders, #HRC61 was also an opportunity for high-level engagements, to keep a spotlight on crises (including in #Sudan 🇸🇩 & #Ethiopia 🇪🇹), and to advocate for civic space & independent mechanisms set up by the Council. ▶️ Full Reflections: defenddefenders.org/reflecti… ▶️ One-pager (visual summary — PDF with clickable links): ❝HRC61 outcomes for Africa❞: defenddefenders.org/wp-conte…

Our Executive Director, @Hassan_shire , and Director of Programs and Administration, @MemoryBandera, were delighted to join the @IrlEmbUganda in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day last week. The evening offered a wonderful opportunity to appreciate Irish culture and heritage. We value the partnership and continued support for our work.

Let’s recap yesterday’s X Space #SheDefends conversation on advancing justice for women human rights defenders (WHRDs). Our Director of Programs and Administration, @MemoryBandera, opened the discussion by reflecting on her experience engaging with women human rights defenders(WHRDs) across the region. She highlighted how many WHRDs, especially those working in rural communities, often carry out critical work under immense pressure, sometimes without knowing that regional and international protection mechanisms exist to support them. Through the story of a rural WHRD documenting land rights violations, Memory emphasised an important point: legal frameworks like the Maputo Protocol and the African Commission Human and Peoples’ Rights can only make a difference if WHRDs know about them and feel able to access them.

🇺🇳 #HRC61 continues in Geneva. Today, during a general debate on item 3⃣, DefendDefenders presented its report on the #RightToProtest, ❝ They Won’t Silence the People ❞, which was launched during its 20th anniversary celebrations (November 2025). ▶️ Download the report: defenddefenders.org/wp-conte… 🔍 ▶️ Full statement delivered today: defenddefenders.org/oral-sta… ✊✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 #Mozambique🇲🇿 #Senegal🇸🇳 #Tunisia🇹🇳 #Uganda🇺🇬 x.com/DefendDefenders/status…

We are in week two of our #SheDefends campaign! As part of our ongoing conversation on advancing justice for WHRDs defending the rights of others, join us this Friday, 13 March 2026, for a special X Space discussion moderated by our Director of Programs and Administration, @MemoryBandera. Together, we’ll explore: 1. Legal and social barriers to justice for WHRDs 2. Effectiveness of regional and international legal frameworks(laws and policies) 3. Recommendations to strengthen protection and access to justice 📅 Date: Friday, 13 March 2026 ⏰ Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM East African Time (EAT) Be part of the conversation and together let us advance justice and protection for WHRDs!

Happy Women’s Day Joyeuse journée de la femme عيد سعيد للمرأة Heri ya Siku ya Wanawake Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women everywhere. In a special way, we celebrate women human rights defenders and recognise the vital contributions they make to building more just and equal societies. As we celebrate their work and impact, we also call on everyone to play a role in protecting those who defend the rights of others by advancing justice for them, through raising awareness, supporting women human rights defenders, and advocating for stronger protections for their work. #SheDefends #IWD2026

Today, we kick off our annual month long #SheDefends campaign, which aims to amplify the voices of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) across Africa. This year, we will place particular emphasis on existing regional and international legal frameworks that recognise and protect women’s rights, affirm the legitimacy of WHRDs, and guarantee protection for those who defend the rights of others. While these frameworks provide important safeguards, WHRDs continue to face disproportionate risks, including threats, harassment, reprisals, and structural exclusion. Throughout the month of March, we will seek to examine where the gap between paper and practice lies and how commitments can translate into meaningful protection. Be part of the conversation using #SheDefends.

I am honored to speak on behalf of South Sudanese civil society. As @defenddefenders we call on the international community to respond swiftly to the urgent appeal for sustainable peace in South Sudan.

Wrapping up the High-Level Segment at #HRC61, we were glad to meet with 🇩🇪 Prof. Dr. Lars Castellucci, Member of the German Parliament & Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy & Humanitarian Assistance, and 🇬🇧 H.E. Mr. Chris Elmore MP, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America & the Caribbean), today in Geneva. Good discussions around civil society space & the protection of #HRDs. We were happy to present DefendDefenders' work & @AfricaDefenders' flagship initiative, #UbuntuHubCities. On 26-27 February, we'll participate in @UN_HRC plenary debates on #Sudan & #SouthSudan. @MemoryBandera @Hassan_Shire

At #HRC61, our delegation continues its engagements around the High-Level Segment. Today, we were glad to meet with: 🇱🇮 H.E. Ms. Sabine Monauni, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Foreign Affairs of #Liechtenstein 🇮🇸 H.E. Ms. Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of #Iceland 🇳🇴 H.E. Mr. Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of #Norway Good discussions on issues of common interest, including human rights crises in the East & Horn of Africa and accountability. @Hassan_Shire @MemoryBandera

🇺🇳 Happy to meet with H.E. Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, today on the margins of #HRC61, together with civil society colleagues. Productive conversations on #UN80, ensuring adequate funding for investigative mechanisms (such as the #FFM for #Sudan), civic space, the protection of #HRDs, and building strong early warning systems — especially through constant interactions between UN country teams & civil society/HRDs at the national level. @Hassan_Shire @AfricaDefenders

🚨 The UN Human Rights Council's 6⃣1⃣st session is starting today❗️ Follow this feed & our website for updates: ▶️ We're kicking off the session with the traditional High-Level Segment — @Hassan_Shire & @MemoryBandera are in Geneva for engagements around #Sudan, #SouthSudan, & other crises ▶️ This session will have a focus on South Sudan — read our letter: defenddefenders.org/south-su… 🇸🇸 ▶️ We'll also raise the importance of protecting #HRDs & civic space; early warning & prevention; and adequately funding investigative & accountability mechanisms 🇺🇳

Congratulations to the @IrlEmbUganda on the opening of your new chancery, and a very warm welcome to @nealerichmond on your first official visit to Uganda! Our Executive Director, @Hassan_shire , and Director of Programs and Administration @MemoryBandera , were delighted to be part of last evening's celebrations and discussions, which further reaffirmed our shared commitment to protecting human rights defenders.

🚨 South Sudan: in a letter released today, a record number of 1⃣2⃣9⃣ NGOs urge members of @UN_HRC to extend the man­date of the UN Com­mis­­sion on Human Rights in South Sudan (#CHRSS) to enable it to pursue its investigations 🇺🇳 The signatories also urge the international community to stand ready to respond to any further dete­rio­ration of the country's situation, including on the basis of expert analyses of risk factors for atrocity crimes. 📩 Full letter: defenddefenders.org/south-su… 🇸🇸 #SouthSudan #HRC61