Memory Bandera

Our Executive Director, @Hassan_shire , and Director of Programs and Administration, @MemoryBandera, were delighted to join the @IrlEmbUganda in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day last week. The evening offered a wonderful opportunity to appreciate Irish culture and heritage. We value the partnership and continued support for our work.

Let’s recap yesterday’s X Space #SheDefends conversation on advancing justice for women human rights defenders (WHRDs). Our Director of Programs and Administration, @MemoryBandera, opened the discussion by reflecting on her experience engaging with women human rights defenders(WHRDs) across the region. She highlighted how many WHRDs, especially those working in rural communities, often carry out critical work under immense pressure, sometimes without knowing that regional and international protection mechanisms exist to support them. Through the story of a rural WHRD documenting land rights violations, Memory emphasised an important point: legal frameworks like the Maputo Protocol and the African Commission Human and Peoples’ Rights can only make a difference if WHRDs know about them and feel able to access them.

🇺🇳 #HRC61 continues in Geneva. Today, during a general debate on item 3⃣, DefendDefenders presented its report on the #RightToProtest, ❝ They Won’t Silence the People ❞, which was launched during its 20th anniversary celebrations (November 2025). ▶️ Download the report: defenddefenders.org/wp-content/upl… 🔍 ▶️ Full statement delivered today: defenddefenders.org/oral-statement… ✊✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 #Mozambique🇲🇿 #Senegal🇸🇳 #Tunisia🇹🇳 #Uganda🇺🇬 x.com/DefendDefender…

We are in week two of our #SheDefends campaign! As part of our ongoing conversation on advancing justice for WHRDs defending the rights of others, join us this Friday, 13 March 2026, for a special X Space discussion moderated by our Director of Programs and Administration, @MemoryBandera. Together, we’ll explore: 1. Legal and social barriers to justice for WHRDs 2. Effectiveness of regional and international legal frameworks(laws and policies) 3. Recommendations to strengthen protection and access to justice 📅 Date: Friday, 13 March 2026 ⏰ Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM East African Time (EAT) Be part of the conversation and together let us advance justice and protection for WHRDs!

Happy Women’s Day Joyeuse journée de la femme عيد سعيد للمرأة Heri ya Siku ya Wanawake Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women everywhere. In a special way, we celebrate women human rights defenders and recognise the vital contributions they make to building more just and equal societies. As we celebrate their work and impact, we also call on everyone to play a role in protecting those who defend the rights of others by advancing justice for them, through raising awareness, supporting women human rights defenders, and advocating for stronger protections for their work. #SheDefends #IWD2026

Today, we kick off our annual month long #SheDefends campaign, which aims to amplify the voices of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) across Africa. This year, we will place particular emphasis on existing regional and international legal frameworks that recognise and protect women’s rights, affirm the legitimacy of WHRDs, and guarantee protection for those who defend the rights of others. While these frameworks provide important safeguards, WHRDs continue to face disproportionate risks, including threats, harassment, reprisals, and structural exclusion. Throughout the month of March, we will seek to examine where the gap between paper and practice lies and how commitments can translate into meaningful protection. Be part of the conversation using #SheDefends.

I am honored to speak on behalf of South Sudanese civil society. As @defenddefenders we call on the international community to respond swiftly to the urgent appeal for sustainable peace in South Sudan.

Wrapping up the High-Level Segment at #HRC61, we were glad to meet with 🇩🇪 Prof. Dr. Lars Castellucci, Member of the German Parliament & Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy & Humanitarian Assistance, and 🇬🇧 H.E. Mr. Chris Elmore MP, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America & the Caribbean), today in Geneva. Good discussions around civil society space & the protection of #HRDs. We were happy to present DefendDefenders' work & @AfricaDefenders' flagship initiative, #UbuntuHubCities. On 26-27 February, we'll participate in @UN_HRC plenary debates on #Sudan & #SouthSudan. @MemoryBandera @Hassan_Shire

At #HRC61, our delegation continues its engagements around the High-Level Segment. Today, we were glad to meet with: 🇱🇮 H.E. Ms. Sabine Monauni, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Foreign Affairs of #Liechtenstein 🇮🇸 H.E. Ms. Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of #Iceland 🇳🇴 H.E. Mr. Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of #Norway Good discussions on issues of common interest, including human rights crises in the East & Horn of Africa and accountability. @Hassan_Shire @MemoryBandera

🇺🇳 Happy to meet with H.E. Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, today on the margins of #HRC61, together with civil society colleagues. Productive conversations on #UN80, ensuring adequate funding for investigative mechanisms (such as the #FFM for #Sudan), civic space, the protection of #HRDs, and building strong early warning systems — especially through constant interactions between UN country teams & civil society/HRDs at the national level. @Hassan_Shire @AfricaDefenders

🚨 The UN Human Rights Council's 6⃣1⃣st session is starting today❗️ Follow this feed & our website for updates: ▶️ We're kicking off the session with the traditional High-Level Segment — @Hassan_Shire & @MemoryBandera are in Geneva for engagements around #Sudan, #SouthSudan, & other crises ▶️ This session will have a focus on South Sudan — read our letter: defenddefenders.org/south-sudan-ex… 🇸🇸 ▶️ We'll also raise the importance of protecting #HRDs & civic space; early warning & prevention; and adequately funding investigative & accountability mechanisms 🇺🇳

Congratulations to the @IrlEmbUganda on the opening of your new chancery, and a very warm welcome to @nealerichmond on your first official visit to Uganda! Our Executive Director, @Hassan_shire , and Director of Programs and Administration @MemoryBandera , were delighted to be part of last evening's celebrations and discussions, which further reaffirmed our shared commitment to protecting human rights defenders.

🚨 South Sudan: in a letter released today, a record number of 1⃣2⃣9⃣ NGOs urge members of @UN_HRC to extend the man­date of the UN Com­mis­­sion on Human Rights in South Sudan (#CHRSS) to enable it to pursue its investigations 🇺🇳 The signatories also urge the international community to stand ready to respond to any further dete­rio­ration of the country's situation, including on the basis of expert analyses of risk factors for atrocity crimes. 📩 Full letter: defenddefenders.org/south-sudan-ex… 🇸🇸 #SouthSudan #HRC61

This morning, our management team convened for the first weekly meeting of the year to align priorities and chart the path ahead. DefendDefenders reaffirms its unwavering commitment to strengthening protection networks, advancing strategic advocacy, building the capacity of human rights defenders, and safeguarding civic space across Africa. We wish #UGDecides 2026, to be free, fair, credible and peaceful.

This evening, we officially close our offices for the year. However, our emergency protection lines remain open, and we will continue to respond to all protection needs of human rights defenders throughout the holiday season. Please read our Executive Director @Hassan_Shire End-of-Year Message via this link: defenddefenders.org/end-of-year-me…

Today, the #16DaysOfActivism campaign comes to an end as the world commemorates Human Rights Day under the theme “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials.” Our Director of Program and Administration, @MemoryBandera  wraps up our campaign with a powerful reminder: as we move beyond the 16 Days, ending digital violence against women and girls must remain a daily commitment, not only for women human rights defenders(WHRDs), but for all women and girls to be able to use digital spaces confidently and without fear. Online expression is not a privilege; it is a human right, and a core part of this year’s theme, “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials.” #HumanRightsDay #OurEverydayRights #ENDigitalViolence

This evening, we join the world in commemorating International Human Rights Defenders Day. Observed annually on 9 December since 1998, it is 27 years since the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the first instrument to recognize and legitimize the work of human rights defenders (HRDs). HRDs courageously speak out, advocate, and take action to uphold the rights of others, often at great personal risk. Tonight, we honour all HRDs, celebrating their resilience and reaffirming our commitment to support them, wherever their fight for freedom takes them. #IHRDDay #20YearsDefending

Across the African continent, women human rights defenders (WHRDs) are rising, stronger, safer, and more connected than ever before. Through our flagship program; Safe Sisters Fellowship, WHRDs gain critical digital safety skills that help them confront online harassment and protect their essential work. Safe Sisters is a dedicated fellowship designed to equip women defenders with the tools and confidence to navigate and respond to the digital security threats they face in both their activism and daily lives. Through a dynamic blend of self-study, hands-on tool practice, mentorship, workshops, peer learning, and small grants, fellows build the expertise they need, and then carry it forward into their communities. As shown below, the Safe Sisters Fellowship continues to strengthen the work of WHRDs across the region, creating a powerful ripple effect that promotes safer, more resilient online spaces for all. Read more about Safe Sisters program: defenddefenders.org/our-work/techn… #16DaysOfActivism #ENDigitalViolence

Today, on #WHRDDay, we honour Women Human Rights Defenders in all their diversity, whose courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice know no bounds. You continue to defend human dignity and stand with the marginalised, even when it puts your safety and freedom at risk. Your strength fuels change, uplifts communities, and inspires movements. Today and always, we stand in solidarity with you and call for safer online and offline spaces for every WHRD. #EndDigitalViolence

Today, together with @dfcugroup, we launched #16DaysOfActivism by #OrangingTheBuilding - standing united against all forms of Gender-Based Violence. We call on everyone to speak out, take action, and #OrangeTheWorld. Together, we can #EndGBV #NoExcuse #WomenUganda2025+ 🧡