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Press Statements

SouthernDefenders calls on the Lesotho government to thoroughly investigate the brutal murder of prominent journalist, Ralikonelo ‘Leqashasha’ Joki and strongly condemns the recurrent attacks against press freedom in the country

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Johannesburg | Maseru 

May 17, 2023

The Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SouthernDefenders) calls on the Lesotho authorities to thoroughly investigate the killing of prominent journalist, Ralikonelo ‘Leqhashaha’ Joki, and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. 

SouthernDefenders strongly condemns the brutal murder of Joki, who was a host of the current affairs show ‘Hlokoana-La-Tsela’ (I Heard It Through the Grapevines), on the privately owned radio station, Ts’enolo FM. According to several reports, unknown gunmen shot Joki several times on 14 May 2023, as he was leaving work around 10 pm. 

At the time of his death, Joki was popularly known as one of the independent voices in the Kingdom, who used his show as an instrument to fearlessly speak out on pressing issues centred on the government, agriculture and exposing corruption, which implicates some of the country’s top politicians, including breaking a 2021 story about five politicians who were illegally trading alcohol. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in March and April of this year, Joki received at least three death threats from different Facebook accounts due to his work and the issues he covered on his show. 

Similarly, on 9 July 2016, Lesotho Times editor, Lloyd Mutungamiri, was shot twice outside his home in Maseru on his way back from work and was left in critical condition. The journalist was attacked two weeks after publishing an article exposing how the outgoing leader of the Lesotho Defence Force. Tlali Kamoli was to receive an exit package of approximately US$3.5 million. A year after his attempted killing, five members of the Lesotho Defence Force stood trial, which is yet to be finalized. 

SouthernDefenders strongly condemns the attacks and murders of journalists in Lesotho, a national phenomenon which has been recurring for many years with widespread impunity. It is unacceptable that individuals who independently and impartially choose to exercise their right to freedom of speech and media freedom by speaking on issues of public importance are being targeted and subjected to attacks and killings. Therefore, authorities must take charge and send a clear signal to those who believe they can kill or attack journalists for executing their duties.

SouthernDefenders urges the Lesotho authorities: 

  1. Strongly condemn the killing of Joki and the targeting of journalists in the country; 
  2. Take immediate action by carrying out an independent and impartial investigation into the killing of Joki, and any other journalists who have suffered attacks, with a view to bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards; 
  3. Take measures to ensure that government officials or other public figures refrain from making statements that threaten the legitimate work of journalists in the country; 
  4. Ensure in all circumstances, that journalists are able to carry out their legitimate work, as guaranteed in Lesotho’s Constitution and the regional and international treaties that Lesotho has ratified; 
  5. Put an end to the targeting of journalists in the country and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment and threats to their lives.

-End-

#TogetherWeDefend

WHRD

International Human Rights Day Statement

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Southern Defenders join the rest of the world to celebrate the International Human Rights Days. We take this opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights in re-building the Southern Africa we want, with global solidarity, interconnectedness and shared humanity. We are inspired by this year’s theme: EQUALITY – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights and we salute all the frontline human rights defenders who have provided a shield of protection to citizens and pro-democracy activists at risk in Southern Africa and beyond. We are encouraged by the sacrifice, resilience and tenacity in the debilitating new wave of authoritarianism and inequality amid the omnipresent Covid-19.

We call on the authorities in Southern Africa to respect, promote and protect all international recognised and constitutionally guaranteed human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as but not limited to freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. We urge the governments in the region to safeguard the online and offline civic, democratic and civil society space. A country that respects human rights has better prospects of engineering inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

As the 16 days of activism against GBV comes to an end, Southern Defenders reiterate that womxn rights are human rights. The ladder of opportunities is still lopsided in favor of men. We need all hands on deck to spur the much-needed radical transformation and achieve a balance of forces. And respecting all human rights for all is a concrete step forward. The leaders in Southern Africa and beyond should demonstrate the political will to foster a culture of human rights in their respective countries. This is also time to move from survival rights to free expression rights. Our people deserve the full menu of rights.

We also take this opportunity to celebrate the life of a lodestar in human rights defending, the late Dewa Mavhinga who untimely passed on December 4th. We will do everything within our means to ensure his legacy lives on.

Another Cabo Delgado is possible, Another Nampula is possible, Another Tete is possible, Another Zimbabwe is possible and indeed another Swaziland is possible.

Together We Defend!!

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2021 Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Summit

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The Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (Southern Defenders), in partnership with Mozambique Human Rights Defenders Network (MHRDN), Advancing Human Rights in Southern Africa (ARISA), UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Office for Southern Africa (OHCHR ROSA), and Amnesty International, will host the 2021 Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Summit from December 2-4, 2021 in Maputo, Mozambique. The theme for this year’s summit – Defending Rights and Protecting Democracies in the face of Rising Inequality and Authoritarianism – reflects the serious reality and unprecedented risks of persecution of defenders by governments and private actors, who often work together in violating the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders with impunity.

The summit will utilize a hybrid format of both in-person and virtual participation. Please click here to register on Zoom.

2021-Southern-Africa-Human-Rights-Defenders-Summit-FInal-ConceptDownload
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THE 2021 SOUTHERN DEFENDERS’ AWARDS CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

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The Southern African Human Rights Network (Southern Defenders) calls for the nomination for the 2021 Southern Defenders Awards for outstanding Human Rights Defenders. The annual Southern Defenders Award was established in 2018 to celebrate the courage and resilience of HRDs who have made significant contributions to the promotion and protection of the human rights of others, in very difficult situations and often at great personal risk to themselves. The Award seeks to increase the visibility of HRDs because despite the important work they do, very often are not well known. To celebrate the legacy of the late mama Fikile Ntshangase, a community based womxn HRD who was assassinated on October 22, 2020, for her frontline role in defending land rights of locals in KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, Southern Defenders is introducing a new and separate award; Fikile Ntshangase HRDs Award, which will focus on community HRDs at risk, who care courageously working to promote and defend the land and environmental rights in marginalized communities, across Southern Africa

The nomination form can be accessed in Portuguese, French and English. To nominate, please download the forms below and follow the instructions.

2021-English-HRDs-Award-Nomination-FormDownload
2021-French-HRDS-Award-Nomination-FormDownload
2021-Portuguese-HRDS-Award-Nomination-FormDownload
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Pride: More than just a rainbow

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It has been 52 years since two brave transgender womxn, one of African descent and another of Latin American descent, set forth a movement that would to this day be celebrated worldwide as Pride. The Stonewall riots of 1969 set the tone for what would be a lasting movement, a scream, a stance against repression, human rights violations, injustices, and discrimination of LGBTI persons worldwide.

As we mark Pride month, it is prudent that we look not only at what has turned into a celebration for the queer community, but also what the power of the Queer womxn can achieve in a movement so dominated by patriarchy and racial politics.

The current socio-cultural climate has exposed how patriarchy and race politics has impeded progress and dealt a blow to the advancement of social justice. We are therefore faced with the task of looking at history and learning from the womxn who have come before us; womxn of all creeds; womxn who have lost their loved ones, blood, and their own livelihoods for the betterment of others.

This Pride month, we take a moment despite the noise, the pandemic, the politics and the losses, to thank the womxn who continue to contribute through participatory activism and their staunch and steadfast leadership and yet suffer the most.

We at the SAHRDN recognise the strides made and pay special recognition to the victories in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and many other spaces in the sub-region where small and big wins have come at the hands of a well-coordinated movement, often led by womxn.

We pledge our support and solidarity to the movement as we all continue the struggle for the full recognition of these basic human rights, as we witness the shrinking civic space for LGBTI organisations. We also extend our voice to the LGBTI movement in Eswatini which to this day is calling for the recognition of freedom of association #RegisterESGM and that of South Africa where multiple reports of killings of queer Africans.

#Happy Pride Month

COVID-vaccine

Southern Africa: Governments must urgently ramp up Covid-19 vaccination efforts to avoid third wave catastrophe

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With a number of countries across Southern Africa experiencing a deadly third wave of Covid-19 infections, Amnesty International and 27 other Non-Governmental Organizations are calling on regional leaders, businesses, foreign governments, and donors, to ramp up efforts and increase resources to speedily vaccinate as many people as possible. The organizations are also calling on high-income countries and their groupings, including G20 and G7, to ensure that intellectual property rights do not prevent any country from upholding the right to health.

“A number of countries across Southern Africa, including Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia, are currently in the midst of what could be the deadliest wave yet. The lack of vaccines in a region with high levels of poverty and inequality means many people feel they are just waiting to die,”

Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa.

“SADC and the international community must work together to accelerate the vaccine rollout and ensure as many people as possible are given life-saving jabs.”

added Deprose Muchena

The World Health Organization has predicted that the third wave of Covid-19 infections currently gripping Southern Africa will likely be the deadliest yet. Countries including South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia have been reporting their highest ever rates of new infections in the past few weeks, with South Africa currently averaging 10,000 new cases every day. South Africa has been the epicenter of the pandemic in the SADC region since March 2020. As of 21 June, there have been 1,823,319 infections and 58,702 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country.

“While rich countries are hoarding vaccines and refusing to waive intellectual property rights, people in Southern Africa have no protection from an increasingly deadly third wave. Access to Covid-19 vaccines should not be determined by where someone lives or how much they earn. The international community must help SADC leaders scale up the vaccine rollout to their populations. Any further delay will have catastrophic consequences.”

Tiseke Kasambala, Chief of Party, Advancing Rights in Southern Africa Programme, Freedom House.

The organizations are also calling for non-discrimination in vaccine distribution, and for states to ensure that people can access the vaccine regardless of nationality, refugee status or statelessness.

Background

Leaders of the Southern African Development Community met in an extraordinary summit of Heads of State and Government in Maputo earlier today to discuss “regional integration, cooperation and development” as the third wave of Covid-19 begin to penetrate the region. The pandemic has so far killed almost 70,000 people in Southern Africa. Vaccine access remains precarious in the region, given the complexities around affordability, intellectual property rights, preparedness, and the global demand for a limited supply.

The 28 signatories to this Press Release are:

  • Amnesty International
  • Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN) – Southern Africa
  • Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) Southern Africa
  • Denis Hurley Centre, Durban South Africa
  • Zambia Civic Education Association Zambia
  • Zambian Governance Foundation for Civil Society Zambia
  • GEARS Initiative Zambia – Zambia
  • Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition – Zimbabwe
  • Green Institute
  • Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) Mozambique
  • Emang Basadi – Botswana
  • Transformation Resource Centre – Lesotho
  • Southern Africa Network Against Corruption – South Africa
  • Advancing Rights in Southern Africa program at Freedom House Southern Africa
  • Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights – Zimbabwe
  • Organisation pour le Developpement Intellectuel de Madagascar Madagascar
  • Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) – Zimbabwe
  • Africa Human Rights Network Foundation (AHRN) – Tanzania
  • Maison des Organisations de la Société Civile (MOSC)
  • Anjouan Comoros
  • Friends of Angola (FoA) USA & Angola
  • Panos Institute Southern Africa Southern Africa
  • Catholic Commission For Justice and Peace Lesotho
  • Federation of Women Lawyers – FIDA
  • Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) – Namibia
  • Youth and Society (YAS – Malawi
  • International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) – South Africa
  • DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights- Botswana
2020 SOUTHERN AFRICA HUMAN RIGTHS DEFENDER'S AWARD

Africa Day: The time is now to propel human rights through arts, culture, and heritage.

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The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum), the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN) and Magamba Network join the continent in celebrating Africa Day. This day is dedicated to commemorating and celebrating the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was established on 25 May 1963, and transformed into the African Union (AU) in 2001. This year’s theme is Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want.

The Africa Day theme for 2021 is a declaration for Africa to invest more resources in promoting national and regional social cohesion by investing in African culture and heritage as a vehicle for promoting the national economic and social development goals outlined in Africa’s Agenda 2063. It also highlights the dire need to invest in the arts industry and encourage artists to speak on human rights issues through art. In Zimbabwe, Artists are afraid to speak up against the State, dreading retribution, abduction, and assault. In January 2019, for example, musician Obey Makamure’s (Tocky Vibes) pregnant wife and manager were assaulted by soldiers after the musician released a song that spoke out against state-sponsored torture. Similarly, in August 2019, comedian Samantha “Gonyeti” Kureya, whose skits and videos present satirical criticisms of the Government and its policies, was abducted, tortured and inhumanely treated. Again, in October 2019, ZimDancehall artist Platinum Prince was also abducted and assaulted for releasing a song in which he criticised the President. This is contrary to this year’s theme, which seeks to promote arts and culture as they are voices for the voiceless.

Not only is the arts industry under attack in Zimbabwe, but the Government has also launched an onslaught against the rights of citizens. The State has sharply departed from the tenets of constitutionalism and the values of Ubuntu. On the democracy front, the independence of the judiciary remains in question, particularly based on the increasing cases of pretrial detention and the denial of bail for opposition party supporters and human rights defenders. Meanwhile, the culture and heritage of citizens are systematically eroded in areas like Chilonga, and Dinde situated in Hwange; where the State is set to displace thousands of people to benefit the elite. It

is sad to note that whilst the African continent is celebrating culture and tradition as building blocks for economic development, authorities in Zimbabwe are working overtime to destroy sacred cultural burial sites and shrines to pave the way for businesses without remorse.

In view of the foregoing, the Forum, SAHRDN and Magamba Network note with concern the deliberate desecration of the traditional arts, culture, and Zimbabwe’s heritage. Of major concern is the systematic erosion of dignity through gross human rights violations for political expediency. These issues are at the core of Zimbabwe’s problems as they constitute a significant violation of our African principles of Ubuntu. Therefore, the Forum, SAHRDN, and Magamba Network implore the Government of Zimbabwe to invest in Arts, Culture, and Heritage to empower citizens and ensure that human rights are protected, promoted, and respected.

ICRAF

Call for Applications: 2021 SAHRDN Communications Fellowship

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The Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN) seeks applications from womxn for its 2021 Communications Fellowship.

The Communications Fellow will work with primarily the SAHRDN’s Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor and the SAHRDN Secretariat to manage SAHRDN’s public communications activities. The fellowship is well suited for graduate students, young scholars, and academic professionals who wish to develop a deeper knowledge of human rights defending while contributing to an important human rights defenders’ protection and professional organization and gain professional experience in social media and communications.

The Communications Fellow will contribute to the development of a new multilingual website for SAHRDN; will follow and disseminate relevant information; will draft and edit official SAHRDN announcements; and will participate in other special projects as they arise.

Work Environment

The SAHRDN Secretariat works from the office and also remotely from their respective locations, communicating via email, online chat, video calls, and other effective means. The communications fellow must provide access to a computer and internet connection.

Roles and Responsibilities

The SAHRDN Communications Fellow will commit an average of 10-15 hours per week of work with an increase in workload during specific activities such as online dialogues, webinars and site visits. Responsibilities include

  • Collaborating with SAHRDN members of the Secretariat to draft and edit official SAHRDN communications to be published to the SAHRDN website and to be shared via SAHRDN social media accounts, relevant email lists, and in other online venues;
  • With the SAHRDN Secretariat, identifying and amplifying on SAHRDN’s website and/or social media accounts announcements, awards, articles and journals;
  • With the SAHRDN Secretariat, identifying information that may be of interest to the global SAHRDN community;
  • With the SAHRDN Secretariat, monitoring SAHRDN’s social media presence daily and weekly;
  • With the SAHRDN Secretariat and network members, maintaining up-to-date information on SAHRDN’s website;
  • Working with the SAHRDN Secretariat to respond to feedback or criticism as needed.
  • Monitor weekly updates on the human rights situation in focal countries for publishing on SAHRDN social media pages.

Learn more about SAHRDN’s Operational structure and Policies.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential skills and qualifications include:

  • Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese is highly desirable.
  • Knowledge of human rights issues in Southern African region and the ability to identify related problems in their political, social, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions.
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision;
  • Attention to detail;
  • Some knowledge of digital humanities communities and current discourses;
  • Some knowledge of social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

Desirable skills and qualifications include:

  • Experience creating and publishing content using Drupal, WordPress, or another web content management system.
  • Skills in graphic design and multimedia editing.

working knowledge of more than one language. We are seeking especially applicants with experience translating written content from English into one or more languages relevant to our member countries, in French or Portuguese. To apply, submit a CV or résumé, a brief writing sample, the names of two references, and a cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position to the SAHRDN Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor at  recruit@southernafricadefenders.africa . The application deadline is 23:59 SAST on 30 May 2021

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Call for Testimonials of “A Woman Human Rights Defender Like Me”

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The Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN) seeks to empower and enhance the protection and resilience of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in Southern Africa during the COVID-19 crisis, through the StandwitHER project. Among the objectives of the project is to support the online publication of WHRDs testimonies during and post COVID-19 as a means of increasing the public recognition and evidence impact of their work.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign that begins on 25 November and ends on the International Human Rights Day, on 10 December. The campaign’s objective is to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

The year 2020 has seen an alarming increase in the cases of violence against women, due to the lockdown measures imposed by many governments around the world in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Women found themselves facing a pandemic within a pandemic; they have lived with the pandemic of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) for centuries and which has been worsening over the years.

Whilst governments imposed strict lockdown regulations, resources have been diverted to deal with COVID-19, at the expense of essential services such as emergency services for SGBV victims/survivors, sexual reproductive health services, access to justice and shelters.

Amidst all this, there has been a restriction on civil and political rights, including the rights of freedoms of expression, association and assembly, with human rights defenders being arrested on charges of breaching COVID-19 health regulations, among others. WHRDs were not spared from government interference, intimidation and harassment; they too were arrested, with some being subjected to gender-specific violations such as sexual assault as a form of torture.

During the 16 Days, the SAHRDN seeks to launch the publication of testimonies of WHRDs within the region, with a testimony being published on each day as from 25 November to 10 December. Subsequently, the testimonies will be published monthly in recognition of the work that WHRDs do amid the threats, risks and violations they face.

While WHRDs will be requested to share their stories of pain, suffering, struggles, tears and triumph in written form or recording (audio and video), and to also send their pictures, they will not be obligated to reveal their identities if they do not wish to do so. In respecting the “do no harm” principle, we shall use pseudonyms and avatars for those WHRDs who will request their identities to be hidden

Objectives:

  1. Increasing the public recognition and evidence impact of the work of WHRDs in the region
  2. Conducting evidence-based advocacy on SGBV risks, threats, and violations faced by WHRDs
  3. Enhancing regional solidarity and support to WHR

We, therefore, request your assistance with the following:

  1. If you are a WHRD, please share your story in written, audio, or video format.  Audio and video recordings should not be more than 10 minutes
  2.  WHRDs are encouraged to share their names and pictures, but if not comfortable with revealing their identity, you can use a pseudonym and indicate it to us.
  3.  If you are not a WHRD, kindly share the invitation with women, who you think should have their stories told, or who would benefit from being published
  4.  The testimonials can be sent to imbokodo@southernafricadefenders.africa  or on WhatsApp or Signal to +27 71 843 8887 or +27 78125 1062. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information.

Together, we defend

#16DaysofActivismAgainstGender-based Violenc

Lesotho: Authorities must withdraw proposed Internet Broadcasting rules that would curtail freedom of expression and association

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Today we joined hands with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) in calling the Lesotho authorities to withdraw proposed Internet Broadcasting Rules that would result in the freedom of expression and association being severely curtailed.

If enacted into law, the proposed regulations would also classify persons with more than 100 followers on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, as internet broadcasters, thereby triggering the requirement to first register with the authorities, before operating their social media account

Please Read the full statement here

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