DefendDefenders is an advocacy organization that also acts as a membership network. Its member organizations are primarily human rights advocacy groups based in Eastern and Central Africa. ¹ It represents them as an accredited member of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). ²

DefendDefenders also provides security services to organizations at risk due to their advocacy and provides safe locations for organizations facing active security threats. ³

Background

DefendDefenders is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2015 as the “East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project.” It is based in Uganda. It advocates on Uganda-related issues to government agencies internationally. ⁴

DefendDefenders is the organizer of East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network that represents advocacy groups in Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia (including de facto independent Somaliland), South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. As its Secretariat, DefendDefenders advocates for protections on behalf of advocacy groups from the countries of its member organizations. ⁵

DefendDefenders advocates for human rights as listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, containing 30 articles that describe each right people should have. ^{6 7}

Advocacy

DefendDefenders is listed as having a “special consultative status” with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Under this designation, DefendDefenders is granted the accreditation to be able to attend and participate in ECOSOC and its subsidiaries’ conferences. ⁸ In 2018, DefendDefenders opened an office in Geneva to work directly with the United Nations Humans Rights Council (UN HRC). ⁹

DefendDefenders is listed as having “observer status” with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). It is also a member of its steering committee for its Participation of NGOs in the Ordinary Sessions of the ACHPR forum. ¹⁰

Protection Services

DefendDefenders provides security and consulting services to member organizations and advocacy groups in Africa. It trains and advises organizations on how to prepare for and prevent threats with its advocacy methods. DefendDefenders offers an annual, one-week “capacity building training” where over 100 member organizations are taught security management and advocacy strategies. ^{11 12}

Through its “short-term” security services, DefendDefenders operates a 24-hour emergency hotline in the region in which the “defender” serves, offering relocation assistance, access to a safe house, and financial support to organizations facing security threats. It states that emergency services are provided on a “case-by-case basis.” ¹³

Under an initiative to support long-term security of member organizations, DefendDefenders claims to offer “start-up” grants as well as assistance in finding employment. ¹⁴ DefendDefenders links prospective grantees to its grant application webpage that is dated January 2018. As of August 2024, the web page did not provide a form or other means of applying for grants. ¹⁵

Floribert Chebeya Resource Centre

In 2010, DefendDefenders founded its Floribert Chebeya Resource Centre for African based advocacy groups that it argues are “exiled” for engaging in what it claims to be human rights advocacy. The center serves as a location for organizations to engage in advocacy as well as social activities. It also provides a library, internet, computers, and access to copiers and printers. ¹⁶

The Floribert Chebeya Resource Centre primarily serves organizations based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Sudan, Burundi, South Sudan, and Somalia. Within its advocacy support, DefendDefenders provides so-called “expert research guidance,” advising organizations on their advocacy initiatives. ¹⁷

IT Services

DefendersTech is a DefendDefenders program that provides information technology (IT) and cybersecurity services to its member organizations. The program offers workshops on digital security, covering internet and cybersecurity basics, how to backup data, and encryption. ¹⁸

DefendersTech also provides digital security audits to its members using the SAFETAG framework. ¹⁹ SAFETAG is a nonprofit organization that provides audits and cybersecurity consulting to advocacy groups that do not have funding for market-priced IT and cybersecurity services. ²⁰

Leadership

Hassan Shire is the executive director of DefendDefenders. He also is the chairperson of African Defenders of the Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network; vice chair for the Centre for Civil and Political Rights in Geneva, Switzerland; and as board chair for the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies in Kampala, Uganda. ²¹

1. “About Us.” DefendDefenders, May 15, 2023. https://defenddefenders.org/about-us/defenddefenders/.
2. Advocacy, Research, and Communication.” DefendDefenders, October 28, 2022. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/advocacy/.
3. “Protection and Security Management.” DefendDefenders, April 4, 2020. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/protection-and-security-management/.
4. “About Us.” DefendDefenders, May 15, 2023. https://defenddefenders.org/about-us/defenddefenders/
5. “About Us.” DefendDefenders, May 15, 2023. https://defenddefenders.org/about-us/defenddefenders/.
6. “About Us.” DefendDefenders, May 15, 2023. https://defenddefenders.org/about-us/defenddefenders/.
7. “Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” United Nations. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights.
8. “Introduction to ECOSOC Consultative Status | Economic and Social Council.” United Nations. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://ecosoc.un.org/en/ngo/consultative-status.
9. “Advocacy, Research, and Communication.” DefendDefenders, October 28, 2022. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/advocacy/.
10. “Advocacy, Research, and Communication.” DefendDefenders, October 28, 2022. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/advocacy/.
11. “Capacity Building.” DefendDefenders. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/capacity-building/.
12. “Protection and Security Management.” DefendDefenders, April 4, 2020. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/protection-and-security-management/.
13. “Protection and Security Management.” DefendDefenders, April 4, 2020. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/protection-and-security-management/.
14. “Protection and Security Management.” DefendDefenders, April 4, 2020. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/protection-and-security-management/.
15. “Apply Now: Doc-It.” DefendDefenders, May 27, 2022. https://defenddefenders.org/apply-now-doc-it/.
16. “Floribert Chebeya Resource Centre.” DefendDefenders. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/protection-and-security-management/resource-centre/.
17. “Floribert Chebeya Resource Centre.” DefendDefenders. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/protection-and-security-management/resource-centre/.
18. “DefendersTech.” DefendDefenders. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/technology-and-digital-safety/.
19. “DefendersTech.” DefendDefenders. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://defenddefenders.org/our-work/technology-and-digital-safety/.
20. “Safetag.” SAFETAG. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://safetag.org/.
21. Staff. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://defenddefenders.org/about-us/staff-3/.