The rights of human rights defenders   (HRDs) continue to be violated in the region of the East and Horn of Africa. It is to this effect that the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders   Project (EHAHRDP) in collaboration with Protection International (PI  ) set up in october 2008 the Protection Desk Uganda (PD-U) based in Kampala, Uganda.

Contact

Protection Desk Uganda
Human Rights House, Plot 1853, Lulume Rd., Nsambya
P.O. Box 70356
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256-312-266826/7
Fax: +256-312-265825

The PD-U was established with the aim of contributing to a safer environment for human rights defenders   through enhancing their protection and security as they struggle against impunity towards supporting peace and social justice.

The desk trains local HRDs and human rights organisations (HRO) in improving security measures and protection mechanisms. Its work aims to support local HRO and HRDs, victims and other vulnerable groups in mainstreaming their protection into the agenda of state authorities, national and international organisations and Foreign Governments and thereby seeks to contribute to a situation where human rights defenders   can work safely, and be recognized for their work in favour of all human rights.

It also aims at providing technical support to HRDs to mainstream security in their work plans.

Activities

PD-U carries out the following activities:

• Training on protection and security management for human rights defenders   working in the region;
• Consultancy on security issues for organizations and individuals in situations of emergency or particular needs;
• Contextualisation of PI   publications and research on relevant issues of protection and security of HRDs;
• Technical support to HRDs working towards policy and legislation change on national, regional and international level to achieve conformity with international mechanisms providing for the protection of human rights defenders  ;
• Establishment of an early warning system for human rights defenders   at risk;
• Promotion of international observation of trials against human rights defenders  .

To date, PD-U is in its start-up phase with an office having been established, 5 staff having been recruited and currently being trained and concrete work plans are developed.

In the mid-term, the Protection Desk-Uganda (PD-U) will serve the entire region of the East and Horn of Africa, i.e. Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Somaliland, Sudan including Southern Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Our local partner

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network was founded in 2005 by human rights organizations working in the East and Horn of Africa and to date has a membership of 65 organisations from the sub regional countries of Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia (including Somaliland), Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. EHAHRDP/Net seeks to maximize the protection of HRDs working in the sub-region and to enhance the awareness of human rights work through linkages with national, regional and international like-minded entities. Details about the organization and its work can be accessed at http://www.defenddefenders.org.