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Organisational structure

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project is designed to strengthen the work of HRDs in the region by reducing their vulnerability to the risk of persecution and by enhancing their capacity to effectively defend human rights. Its work focuses on Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Somaliland, Sudan including Southern Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. .
EHAHRDP jointly organised the Human Rights Defenders Conference for the East and Horn of Africa with Amnesty International Africa Regional Office and the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University, Canada, in Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel, Entebbe which took place from 31 October to 04 November 2005.  More than 60 frontline human rights defenders from the region and beyond gathered at this event to discuss improved methods of protection for human rights defenders “HRDs” in their respective countries. As a result of this conference, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) was launched. Today the Network counts more than 50 non-governmental organisations as members working for the protection of human rights throughout the region. The Network is guided by a Plan of Action spelling out priorities of intervention for the coming years.
EHAHRDP is the implementing unit of the Network and officially registered as an Non-Governmental Organisation under Ugandan law.

The organisational structure of the Network reflects its democratic and flexible working mode with a clear line of responsibilities and powers.The Network’s General Assembly is constituted by all Network members who are either full members, associate members or honorary members. The Advisory Council, chaired by the Network’s Chairperson Hassan Shire Sheikh, functions as the policy organ of the Network and advises the implementation unit, EHAHRDP. It is formed by 16 members, i.e. ex officio members who are also members of the EHAHRDP Board of Directors and the country focal persons who have been elected by the country teams of the General Assembly to represent their respective countries and territories and the relevant issues arising in regard to the work of human rights defenders.

Country focal points/Members of EHAHRD-Net Advisory Board

Board of Directors/Ex Officio Members of Network Advisory Board

EHAHRDP is functioning as the Secretariat of the Network and is headed by the Executive Director Hassan Shire Sheikh. It is working as the executive body which implements the Network’s policies and carries out specific practical activities that aim at reaching the Network’s declared objectives. It is advised by the Advisory Council formed by the country focal persons. Currently, the Secretariat has six staff members.