As civic space tightens across Africa, the 20th anniversary of DefendDefenders offered more than reflection. It became a rallying point for solidarity — and a reminder that the struggle to protect those who defend others is far from over.
At the center of it all stood Hassan Shire, a Somali-born activist whose own story began in exile. Two decades ago, he fled persecution and built what would become a continental network defending the defenders. Today, as Executive Director of DefendDefenders and Chairperson of AfricanDefenders, he leads one of Africa’s most respected human rights movements.
“We would not have come this far without the strategic partnership of our development partners, who have invested heavily in our work over the past 20 years,” Hassan said during the celebrations at Speke Resort Munyonyo. “But beyond the numbers are human faces and stories of resilience that sustain our resolve.”
Since 2005, DefendDefenders has supported over 10,000 human rights defenders and their families through emergency assistance, training, and relocation programs such as Ubuntu Hub Cities. The organization has also led more than 200 advocacy initiatives across regional and global platforms, amplifying voices from the most restricted civic spaces.
From Khartoum to Kinshasa, its work has given activists lifelines legal aid, digital security, and physical protection in environments where speaking up often invites persecution.
During the two-day convening, DefendDefenders launched an Endowment Fund and Mentorship Programme to sustain its mission and nurture a new generation of rights defenders. Hassan was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership and contribution to the human rights movement in Africa.
Closing the anniversary, he recalled the early days when returning home was too dangerous for many of his colleagues. “While constitutions and treaties are designed to protect defenders, real progress does not occur automatically,” he said. “Inconsistent practices within countries and across regions continue to undermine the universality of human rights.”
Two decades after leaving Somalia, Hassan’s message remains clear: courage, solidarity, and protection are not privileges , they are the conditions that keep the flame of human dignity alive.
