ACHPR89: Resilience over attacks on defenders in West Africa

In light of the profound and alarming deterioration of civic space in the sub-region, WAHRDN convened this event with civil society organisations to have a discussion on adopting strategies fit to the attacks against defenders. 

The panel was composed of, among others, a defender in exile, a representative of the women human rights defenders movement in West Africa, and a representative of an organisation working on sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Sharing their experience and work, the panelists presented their ways to manifest resilience against the shrinking of civic space. While some rely on emphasising advocacy by multiplying avenues to denounce the restrictions and call for restoration, others bank their resilience on relocation of defenders at risk. 

Despite these mitigation strategies, participants recognised that the expansion of transnational repressions make it urgent to identify new and more effective solutions to the repression on defenders and the protection of the civic space. In that regard, the participants proposed the establishment of a secure communication mechanism, the financial support of the work of defenders in exile that have lost their incomes, the involvement of a third party who will speak for the voiceless and those exposed to attacks, and the development of an adaptation system to attacks and transmission of information. 

The event ended with a call of solidarity and collaboration between civil society to collectively defend, not only defenders in exile but also, the defenders who still live in those countries and that are exposed to attacks. In that spirit, Jean-Pierre Atale affirmed that: