Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) include women defending all human rights as well as all those who defend the rights of women and work on issues related to gender equality. WHRDs make a vital contribution to democratic processes, securing and maintaining peace, and ensuring security, development and respect for human rights in our communities. However, in doing this work, they can face a range of violations and abuses – including gender-based violence – at the hands of State and non-State actors.
During the 16 days of activism against gender violence marked globally between 25th November and 10th December every year, and around Women Human Rights Defenders Day on 29th November, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network and Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network will be honouring the work of WHRDs across the continent. Each day we will profile the work of a woman human rights defender from Africa or highlight resources that are useful for their work.
Join the campaign on Twitter with the hashtag #ProtectWHRDs
Day 9 – UN Resolution on Protecting Women Human Rights Defenders
Day 8 – Yara Sallam
Day 7 – WHRD International Coalition
Day 6 – WHRD Report by UN Special Rapporteur on HRDs
Day 5 – African States Should Commit to Protecting Women Human Rights Defenders
Press Release
The adoption of a resolution on protecting women human rights defenders at the UN General Assembly on 27th November 2013 sends a clear message about this issue’s global importance. However, with no African State having co-sponsored the resolution, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project calls today – on International Women Human Rights Defenders Day – for governments across Africa to commit to protecting women human rights defenders.
Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) include women advocating respect of all human rights as well as all those of any gender who defend the rights of women and work on issues related to gender equality. In Africa, WHRDs make a vital contribution to promoting democracy, peace, security, development and building societies and communities where the human rights of all are respected. In the course of this work, many WHRDs face a range of violations and abuses – including gender-based violence – at the hands of State and non-State actors.
Day 4 – Imam Baba Leigh
Day 3 – Twitter Campaign for UN Resolution on WHRDs
Despite call from over 70 African NGOs, no @_AfricanUnion states have co-sponsored #WHRDsResol – why? http://t.co/NDIBfaG3tm #ProtectWHRDs
— DefendDefenders (@DefendDefenders) November 26, 2013
Day 2 – Maria Lucia Da Silveira
Day 1 – Introduction
