Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

On 29 January 2026 ISHR, in collaboration with its various partners, announced that it has established a network of legal professionals for the protection of human rights defenders in Africa

Legal professionals and human rights defenders from several African countries came together to finalise the establishment of a network for the protection of human rights defenders in Africa.

This Network aims to be a space for collaboration, solidarity and strategic legal action, with a view to strengthening the collective response to violations of the rights of human rights defenders in Africa. Its establishment is part of a project implemented by the International Service for Human Rights with the support of Open Society Foundations, and in collaboration with national and regional human rights networks.

Participants at this regional meeting reviewed the Network’s founding charter, defining its principles, governance and operating procedures, and identifying common priorities for strengthening the legal protection of human rights defenders on the continent.

Participants noted that in some African countries, violations, criminalisation and impunity persist, even in contexts with specific legal frameworks. Emphasising the need to move beyond isolated approaches, participants agreed to strengthen regional coordination among legal professionals.

During the meeting, the Network members agreed on a set of common principles and values, including a defender-centred approach, commitment, solidarity, independence, apoliticality, professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality. They also defined clear criteria for the Network’s engagement in situations of violations, in order to ensure responsible, strategic actions that respect the safety of defenders.

The meeting also served as an opportunity to discuss the legal challenges faced by defenders in different national contexts, as well as regional and international mechanisms that could strengthen their access to justice and protection.

The members of the Network committed to continuing the work begun at this meeting and to translating the adopted recommendations into concrete actions:

1. For countries that have not yet adopted an act on the recognition and protection of human rights defenders, to adopt such legislation.
2. For countries that have adopted such legislation, to implement it and establish national mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders.

https://ishr.ch/latest-updates/launch-of-the-network-of-legal-professionals-for-the-protection-of-human-rights-defenders-in-africa

This entry was posted on February 4, 2026 at 01:01 and is filed under human rights, Human Rights Defenders, ISHR.

Tags: Africa, african region, fair trial, Human Rights Defenders, human rights lawyers, ISHR, network, news, politics