Human Rights Day is annually observed on 10th December to mark the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to promote the respect of human rights around the world. Ahead of the Human Rights Day, Defenders Coalition hosts a one-week forum (Human Rights Defenders Academy) to promote human rights defenders (HRDs) in Kenya who play a crucial role in advocating for and protecting the rights of individuals and communities and equip them with new tools to claim their space to work.

The Annual HRD Academy has been held successfully since 2016 with 1,160 HRDs have benefitting from trainings on various priority topical issues and are equipped with a diverse set of skills and knowledge enabling them to effectively carry out their work.

The HRD Academy continues to intervene to the training needs and other gaps of HRDs as identified in the previous year at a General Assembly where HRDs analyze the situation faced by HRDs from across the country and among the various thematic groups of HRDs and prioritize protection, capacity building and advocacy needs of HRDs. The HRD Academy also provides a platform for Kenyan HRDs to build their capacity to use and interact with the regional and international human rights mechanisms, create networks and share experiences and information on good practices.