Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

May 2010

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRDNET) organized its second Strategic Planning Meeting for the network’s focal representatives on the 1st and 2nd May 2010 at Speke Resort, Munyonyo in Kampala. The aim of the meeting was to strategise on the organization’s present and future operations in its member countries and to reinforce networking amongst members, focal persons and the Secretariat to enhance the organisation’s ability to serve its members and other Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) throughout the sub-region. This meeting followed the first strategic meeting that was held in 2008.

The Strategic Planning Meeting brought together focal representatives from the eight of the ten countries and two special territories EHAHRD-Net covers and the Board of Directors and staff members from the secretariat. Due to unavoidable circumstances the members from Djibouti and Eritrea were unable to attend the meeting though the member from Djibouti submitted the country report electronically.

The strategic planning meeting’s objective was the assessment of the progress made in implementing the plan of action, addressing the challenges met by the secretariat and the network members as well as mapping out a way forward. The following were the major objectives of the meeting:

1. The overall objective of the focal persons meeting is to discuss modalities to improve co-operation and coordination of activities in the network;
2. Strengthen the promotion and protection of the rights of human rights defenders;
3. Assessment of the current governance structures and recommendation on the way forward;
4. Incorporation of new member organisations into the network.
Country focal points were asked to prepare country reports on the situation of human rights defenders which they presented on the first day of the Meeting.