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 and equip them with new tools to claim their space to work. The goal of the forum is to provide a platform to 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.

The Constitution of the Republic of Kenya guarantees the rights to freedom of expression and of the
media, as well as the right to peaceful assembly and association. It also offers sanctity from torture
and degrading treatment, and the right to freedom of movement and residence.

However, over the past years, Kenya has witnessed some curtailment of these rights on the ground. Defenders Coalition’s interaction with its members across the country, as well as other human rights organisations and individual activists has shown a lack of knowledge and subsequently low levels
of utilisation of existing protection mechanisms that have been established in recent years; including both international and regional mechanisms such as the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, the UN Declaration on HRDs and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Resolution on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. This has a negative impact on HRDs’ ability to make proper use of the provisions contained in these instruments in support of their work and to contribute to better protection of their own person and organisations in the defence of human rights.

A clear understanding of their own rights, and available avenues of support and mechanisms for a
better protection against the infringements of their rights as defenders of human rights will enhance their effectiveness in interaction with various actors, improve capacities for better self- protection and contribute to an establishment of a true human rights culture by promoting existing standards on the grassroots.

It has become increasingly clear that more effort need to be made in creating opportunities for HRDs to learn about strategies and tools to assess and mitigate the challenges they face. In light of the above, Defenders Coalition  conducts capacity building and networking workshops with the aim to strengthen the capacity of Kenyan civil society to raise awareness of the rights provided for in the Declaration and to serve as a practical tool to ensure respect for these rights by taking advantage of the spaces provided at the regional and international level.

Objectives

1. To improve HRDs’ security management and digital safety skills
2. To provide participants with an understanding of how to map key issues affecting HRDs in the region  and understanding of national, regional and international human rights protection mechanisms
3. Develop tools and strategies to increase collaboration and strengthen the voice of civil society in Kenya

The Next HRD Academy will be held between 24th-29th November 2019