On 18 September 2025, Réseau Nigérien des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (RNDDH), in partnership with International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), organised an advocacy workshop in Niamey on the establishment of a national mechanism for the protection of human rights defenders in Niger.
The establishment of a national mechanism for the protection of human rights defenders (NMPHRD) enables the competent authority to develop procedures and coordinate actions necessary for the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs). The need for this mechanism is urgent in Niger, given the socio-political context of military rule.
As civic space shrinks and the work of HRDs is increasingly scrutinised under the criminal code, laws on cybercrime and counterterrorism, rather than under the law on the protection of HRDs, the establishment of the NMPHRD as a regulatory body responsible for the protection of HRDs is essential.
Thus, following the adoption of Act 2022-27 of 20 June 2022 defining the rights and duties of human rights defenders in Niger, RNDDH and ISHR invited about fifteen members of the Commission on Justice and Human Rights of the Consultative Council for Refoundation (CCR) of Niger (which acts as the National Assembly). The aim of the workshop was to first present the advantages of the NMPHRD, then to discuss the proposed draft decree establishing the NMPHRD, and finally to invite the participants, in view of their mandate, to formulate recommendations in favour of the adoption of the decree and for the establishment of the NMPHRD in Niger.
Recognising that the establishment of the NMPHRD is as essential as the adoption of the law on the protection of HRDs, the councillors affirmed their willingness to recommend the establishment of the NMPHRD.
As a reminder, the recommendation for the establishment of the NPMHRD is not only contained in the Model Law for the recognition and protection of HRDs and in the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders +25. This recommendation is also in accordance with recommendation 122.125 which was accepted by Niger during the last Universal Periodic Review “take measures to foster a safe, respectful and enabling environment for civil society and human rights defenders (…), free from persecution, intimidation and harassment”.
From 16 to 17 September 2025, the Réseau Nigérien des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (RNDDH), in partnership with International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), organised in Niamey a workshop on the dissemination of the law defining the rights and duties of human rights defenders in Niger.
The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) of Mali has developed a manual on the protection of human rights defenders to facilitate implementation of its protection mandate.
From 3 to 4 July 2025, with financial support from International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) of Mali organised a training workshop for human rights defenders on the legal framework for their protection and the national mechanism for the protection of human rights defenders.
