Protection International (PI) announces its next event: a webinar on public policies “Laws to Protect Human Rights Defenders in West Africa and the Great Lakes Region: Are they fit for purpose? What else is needed?”  

During this online exchange, key actors will share good practices on public policies concerning the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) in West Africa and the Great Lakes Region, with a special focus on women defenders. Together, we will critically reflect to identify protection gaps and create an opportunity for authorities and key stakeholders to consider concrete steps to reinforce the protection of HRDs.

As part of our panel, we are pleased to have with us the following speakers:

• Marthe Coulibaly, Director of the Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains  (CIDDH):

Marthe Coulibaly is the Director of the Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CIDDH), a network currently regrouping 29 human rights organisations in Côte d’Ivoire. She is an expert on women’s rights, and founding member of Centre féminin pour la démocratie et les droits humains. She was involved in the development of the 2016 Law 2014-388 on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Côte d’Ivoire.

• Kanni Abdoulaye, Coordinator of the Réseau Nigérien des Défenseurs des Droits Humains  (RNDDH):

Kanni Abdoulaye is the Coordinator of the Réseau Nigérien des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (RNDDH) and works on topics of governance and corruption, freedom of expression, and the promotion of human rights defenders. He has also participated in the drafting of the national law on the rights and obligations of human rights defenders in Niger. 

• Catherine Mbui, HRD focal Person at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR):

Catherine Mbui is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She has over 10 years of experience in human rights work. Catherine joined KNCHR as a human rights officer in 2014 and is currently serving as an Advocate and senior Human Rights Officer in the Complaints and Investigations Directorate.

• Stella Yanda, Executive Secretary of INITIATIVES ALPHA – (DRC):

Stella Yanda is the Executive Secretary of Initiatives Alpha in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is an expert on women and youth rights. Stella works on several human rights networks in North and South Kivu. She worked on the development of the North and South Kivu edicts for the protection of HRDs.

• Vicar Batundi, National Coordinator of the Foyer de Développement pour l’Autopromotion des Pygmées et Indigènes Défavorisés (FDAPID) – (DRC):

Vicar Batundi National Coordinator of the Foyer de Développement pour l’Autopromotion des Pygmées et Indigènes Défavorisés (FDAPID) and one of the co-founders and focal person of Synergie Ukingo Wetu in North Kivu. He has extensive experience in the protection of human rights defenders and on the development of public policies. He is currently involved in the development of the national law on HRDs, currently pending at the national level.

The event will take place on the 27^th of July, from 11:00 am to 01:00 pm – CEST. The session will be moderated by Protection International and will be both in English and in French with simultaneous interpretation. Registration is required, please register through this link.

This webinar is organized within the scope of two projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo and West Africa, financially supported by the German government. We also count on the strong collaboration of our partners: Solidarité Féminine pour la Paix et le Développement Intégral, Coalition des Femmes Défenseuses des Droits Humains, West African Human Rights Defenders Network, and Partnership for Justice.