Defenders' stories

Mary Akrami champions the protection and rights of Afghan women through shelters and advocacy, highlighting the urgent need for defender safety mechanisms amidst personal risks.

Alejandra Burgos is Coordinator of the Salvadoran Network of Women Human Rights Defenders, which aims to articulate efforts for the protection of women defenders and the promotion of women’s rights. She is based in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Ahlem Belhadj champions women's rights in Tunisia, facing challenges despite legal advances, advocating for protection mechanisms for women human rights defenders against social and governmental resistance.

Lassana Koné is a lawyer in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, working for Forest Peoples Programme, an international NGO working to protect the rights of those who live in the world’s forests.

Gilbert Sendugwa spearheads efforts at Africa Freedom of Information Centre, advocating for transparency across Africa by promoting access to information laws and their implementation.

Tilder Kumichii of Cameroon champions gender equality and educates on human rights, facing cultural challenges and advocating for legal reforms to protect women and human rights defenders.

Three prominent human rights defenders from Burma, Guinea and the United Arab Emirates have been honoured for their courageous work in the face of great personal risk, with the announcement of the Final Nominees for the Martin Ennals Award 2015.

Joseph Bikanda, leading the Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network, emphasises the importance of collaboration in protecting human rights defenders across Africa, leveraging regional and international mechanisms for stronger advocacy and emergency support.

The Assyrian Human Rights Network urges the UN to address the plight of Assyrian Christians in Syria, advocating for the release of detainees and action against impunity for crimes committed.

Algerian NGO, Collectif des familles de Disparus en Algérie, struggles for UN consultative status to advocate for victims of enforced disappearances, facing procedural hurdles by the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs.

Dolly Ibefo Mbunga, leading La Voix des Sans Voix in the DRC, navigates significant risks to defend human rights, facing government reprisals and fostering international dialogues for protection.

Nawaf is the founder of Kuwait Watch and an active human rights defender. Nawaf, who is well known for advocating for the rights of stateless persons and other minorities in Kuwait, was advised on arrival in Geneva for the UPR of Kuwait that an arrest warrant awaits him on return home.