Africa

None of the countries in East Africa and the Horn of Africa where we work are free democracies. People in power regularly act with impunity and freedom of expression and access to free, independent media is heavily restricted.

We support the new generation of human rights defenders pushing to control their future despite a conflict-ridden and repressive environment. We also work to increase the security of our established partner organisations and ensure their voices are heard. 

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News from Africa

They Tried to Silence Him. Instead, He Became Their Voice.

  • Kenya, Natalia Project, News
  • 30 January 2025

Surrounded by six men wanting to kill him, Peter Komora thought his last day had arrived. He tried t…

Lundin Oil trial: ”What was peaceful to them was destruction to us”

  • News, South Sudan
  • 17 September 2024

Reverend James Ninrew Dong lost fourteen family members and his churches were burnt down when Sudan’…

Civil Rights Defenders Seeking Consultancy Services for End-of-Project Evaluation in South Sudan

  • News, South Sudan
  • 9 September 2024

Civil Rights Defenders is seeking qualified consultants to perform an end-of-project evaluation of a…

Emergency Fund Support for Human Rights Defenders in 2023

  • Emergency Fund, News
  • 7 August 2024

Defending human rights is a dangerous job in many parts of the world. When a threatening situation a…
More news from Africa

Training the trainers: Security training for human rights defenders

In the East and Horn of Africa, we train human rights defenders in digital, physical, and psycho-social security. In their turn, they train human rights defenders in their respective communities. This ripple effect ensures that we reach human rights defenders throughout the region, enabling them to increase their safety. 

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Feminist pocketbook

Together with our local partners, Civil Rights Defenders organises platforms for civil society actors to discuss feminist perspectives within their human rights communities. The feminist approach serves as a tool for combating oppressive power structures in society and promoting the rights of women and minority groups. 

You can download “Building Feminist Practice – a Pocketbook for Human Rights Defenders” here.

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Strengthening organisations in the world’s newest country 

In South Sudan, there is little respect for human rights and the newly developed civil society is struggling. From our office in Juba we partner with civil society organisations to build their capacity so they are better equipped to operate in a changing and uncertain environment. 

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Support brave human rights defenders

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Press and media

Are you a journalist and want to book an interview with one of our experts on the human rights situation in Africa or interview some of the world’s bravest people from the region?

For more information and inquiries, please contact us here:
+46 (0)76 576 27 62 / press@crd.org

Find our pressroom here