We protect & stand with Human Rights Defenders across causes & contexts in Southern Africa while safeguarding the civic space & promoting democratic governance
Johannesburg, South Africa
Joined September 2018
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- Following1.8K
- Followers8.5K
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SouthernDefenders retweeted
🚀 Join us on 9 December (12:00 GMT) as we launch new country ratings & global data on the state of civic freedoms | #PeoplePower2025
Researchers to discuss key countries of concern, top violations & 2025 trends.
Register: web.civicus.org/PPUA2025Laun…
SouthernDefenders retweeted
The 83rd session of the UN Committee Against Torture will review #Bahrain, Israel, Argentina, Bahrain, Albania
We urge Bahrain to
✅ End torture
✅ Release arbitrarily detained activists
✅ Stop unfair trials & death sentences
📄web.civicus.org/BahrainCAT83
#CAT83 #EndTorture
#Malawi| We join National Advocacy Platform to condemn the violent threats made by Kamlepo Kalua against Malawian HRDs and Citizens.
We stand in unwavering solidarity with those defending democracy & the rule of law – rights & safety must always be protected.
📲👇🏿
📅 SAVE THE DATE — 09 December 2025
We join with the @RMDDH_Moz this year for theHRDs Summit in Mozambique.
Mark your calendar, mobilise your networks, and get ready — Maputo is calling!
Juntos Defendemos! #TogetherWeDefend!
🇲🇿 Maputo, Mozambique
🗓 09 December 2025
SouthernDefenders retweeted
🔔🔊 NEW PODCAST EPISODE:
Rights On The Line presents its latest episode with Singaporean HRD Lawyer M.Ravi.
Ever wondered what the human rights context is like in Singapore? Did you know that the death penalty in Singapore is still legal?
We chat to expert HRD Lawyer Ravi Madasamy, who has campaigned against the death penalty in Singapore and worked on a number of other important cases. He tells us more about human rights in Singapore and his journey as an HRD.
Listen on Spotify and all major platforms: zurl.co/UtZ8x
SouthernDefenders retweeted
SUMMIT Nacional dos Defensores de Direitos Humanos sob o lema: “Resiliência em tempos de adversidade: Celebrando os Defensores de Direitos Humanos.”
📍Cidade de Maputo
🗓️ 09.12.2025
Juntos Defendemos!
#RMDDH#DireitosHumanos
#EspaçoCívico#SUMMIT2025
@adriano_nuvunga
SouthernDefenders retweeted
SouthernDefenders retweeted
In #Eswatini, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza & Mthandeni Dube remain behind bars for demanding democratic reforms. We haven’t forgotten them — and we won’t.
They are just 2 among many across #Africa unjustly imprisoned for defending rights.
Demand their freedom.
#StandAsMyWitness
SouthernDefenders retweeted
In a just world, defending human rights should be celebrated, not criminalised. Yet many activists are imprisoned for standing up for justice.
Join us in calling for their release
➡️web.civicus.org/standasmywit…
#StandAsMyWitness #DefendDefenders
#FreeThemAll
SouthernDefenders retweeted
youtu.be/SV17KeGI_aw?si=c9Pb…
Today, we remember with grief the mass killings of opposition and civil society activists (at least 300) by ZANU PF militia in the run-up to the bloody June 2008 elections.
@HealZim @zhrc365 @amnesty_zim @hrw @ZimEye @zimlive @LynneStactia @SAHRDNetwork
Thank you everyone for joining us today.
If you missed the conversation, you can listen to the recording.
We encourage you to continue monitoring the progress of Ts’olo’s case (Lesotho), and to amplify it as the infringement of his right to hold the government accountable.
Today at 6PM (CAT)📌
Join us! The link to the space is on our pinned tweet.
In solidarity T’solo Thakeli, a 31-year-old lawyer and entrepreneur from Lesotho, enduring relentless persecution, unjust arrests, and severe harassment by the @MatekaneSam’s government - I will be joining the @SAHRDNetwork solidarity X space discussion.
actsa.org/lesotho-statement-… - @ACTSA_UK
📣 X‑Space: The Arrest of Tšolo Thakeli in Lesotho 🇱🇸
Join us on Thursday, June 26, at 6PM (CAT), as we speak to his lawyer, and HRDs from Mozambique and Zimbabwe, to unpack this crackdown on dissent, media freedom, and civic space.
Link: xitter.cf/i/spaces/1lDxLzgZpWaGm
#Lesotho| We denounce the arbitrary arrest of Lesotho youth activist Ts’olo “Tjekatjeka” Thakeli for speaking out against corruption and injustice. Silencing dissent is not strength—it’s a betrayal of democracy.
SouthernDefenders retweeted
#PressStatement | Tomorrow we represent the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders as she intervenes in a landmark matter in the Johannesburg High Court. @jats_b is on brief as counsel.
The matter is brought by @KopanangAfrica, represented by @SERI_RightsSA.
🗳️ To help map protest rights in Africa, please take this short, anonymous survey by @DefendDefenders and @AfricaDefenders
🕒 It’ll take approximately 15–30 min
📣 Please share with your network!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F…
#RightToProtest #HumanRights #Africa #CivicSpace
SouthernDefenders retweeted
#WhatAreYouReading this weekend?
Grab a copy of the 2025 edition of @amnesty’s annual report, "The State of the World’s Human Rights." The report assesses national, regional, and global developments across a wide range of human rights themes, identifying world trends related to violations in armed conflicts, repression of dissent, discrimination, economic and climate injustice, and the misuse of technology to infringe on human rights.
The report documents human rights concerns during 2024 in 150 countries, connecting global and regional issues and looking to the future.
Download and read here : amnesty.org/en/documents/pol…
"As CSOs try to meet compliance demands, youth- & women-led groups are hit hardest. We need balance between accountability & freedom to operate." ~ @FranciscaMboya
🎧 Listen to the full Space on Zimbabwe’s #PVOAct: xitter.cf/i/spaces/1jMJgkyalAPJL
#Tanzania #Zimbabwe
In many of our countries, global standards to fight corruption & terrorism are being repurposed—not to protect, but to control. Civil society is under threat as governments copy restrictive laws. From our Space on Zimbabwe’s #PVOAct. ~ @OlengurumwaO
🔊 xitter.cf/i/spaces/1jMJgkyalAPJL