Human Rights Defender Today

Ink, Chains, and Courage: What It Means to Be a Human Rights Defender Today

Charles Bukowski in his famous semi-autobiographical novel, entitled Ham on Rye, made the famous quotation that “I guess the only time most people think about injustice is when it happens to them.” Upon proper reflection, Bukowski’s statement does more than just pass off as a famous quotation, it shines light upon the attitude of multitudes in human history. It is this indifference and passive tolerance of injustice by people when it is not personal that is perhaps the greatest enabler or aider of the injustices and human rights violations by those with power or authorities against those without any of the two.

History is embroidered with examples of this. Situations where systemic violations persisted not simply because of the tyranny of those in power, but because of the apathy of the majority. The systematic oppression of the people of colour in America, the systematic oppression of women worldwide, the apartheid regime in South Africa, and the list could go on and on. When ordinary citizens disengage from the struggles of others, the moral fabric that binds society begins to unravel. As the common adage goes that when society loses its reason, it falls to the lowest common denominator. It is anarchy and suffering everywhere.

However, the past century is one that has seen a progressive positive development in the respect of human rights globally. The success of human rights movements and their spillover effect have furthered the idea of a society that respects the rights and liberties of all.

However, it is not yet done and dusted. Oppression and human rights violations still persist. Nowadays, they take on other disguised forms that are even harder to point out. It can take the form of national security interests for the war on terror or even economic development. This is even more rampant in the global South or in the developing states. This therefore calls for more efforts to achieve a society that respects the rights of the people. Again, there are those few individuals that have stood out to take on the challenge and advocate for a more fair society. They come in many forms and do it through many ways. This category of people has been branded as ‘human rights defenders’. But what does it mean to be a human rights defender today and how can we help them?

Human rights defender is a term used to describe people who, individually or with others, act to promote or protect human rights in a peaceful manner. They are identified above all by what they do and of some of the contexts in which they work. Human rights defenders are those brave individuals and collectives who speak out against injustice, protect the vulnerable, and speak truth to power and hold it to account. They are the moral and humane backbone of our societies.

In a world that is increasingly shaped by political repression, digital surveillance, shrinking civic space, and relentless disinformation, this particular characterisation is not only sobering but also inspiring. Despite all this, doing this vital work makes these human rights defenders targets of relentless attacks to silence them and at times portray them as criminals.

Today, given the kind of work that human rights defenders do which challenges arbitrary power structures, being a human rights defender is more dangerous than ever before. In many instances, it means that you go head on against the state which in most instances is the biggest perpetrator of human rights violations or other individuals or groups that have some sort of social, economic or political power at their disposal. Consequently, across the globe, defenders face a surge in threats ranging from arbitrary arrests, torture, surveillance, and extrajudicial killings to disinformation, smear campaigns, and harassment. Some of them are forced into exile. These violations are not confined to failed or emerging democracies. Even in countries with long-established democratic traditions, defenders are increasingly finding themselves under siege.

This growing hostility toward defenders prompted the UN to adopt the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and to establish the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on their situation. The Special Rapporteur has consistently expressed grave concern about the safety of defenders, especially in nations plagued by internal conflict, authoritarianism, or a lack of adequate legal protections. In some cases, defenders are even prosecuted under national laws that contradict international human rights norms. (For Example see Uganda v Stella Nyanzi where Dr. Stellah Nyanzi, a renowned Ugandan activist was prosecuted for offensive communication under the Computer Misuse Act of Uganda in what was globally described as a case based on legislation that limits the right to expression. The offence was later struck out by the constitutional court of Uganda.) The attacks don’t always stop at defenders themselves. Their families, organizations, and communities are also frequently targeted, creating a hostile and unsafe environment for all those committed to justice.

Yet, despite these challenges, human rights defenders persevere. A project by ActionAid and the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) at the University of York has documented a series of stories from eight countries i.e. France, Guatemala, Kenya, South Africa, Spain, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe showcasing the courage, creativity, and resilience of defenders in increasingly repressive environments. In Guatemala, Abelino Chub Caal, a young land campaigner, was wrongfully imprisoned due to pressure from agribusiness companies. In Kenya, women-led community groups resisted violent evictions despite facing brutal suppression. In Uganda, communities displaced in the name of conservation are reclaiming their land rights and similar stories exist in all the other countries. These stories affirm the universality of struggles and resistance that human rights defenders face in the broader struggle for human rights plus the volume of courage that they exhibit.

These struggles have been exacerbated by the use of internet shutdowns, misinformation, and social media censorship to systematically target defenders. For example, Gerald Kankya discussed how major tech companies have become complicit in these abuses, citing the example of Safaricom’s role in repressing the 2024 youth protests in Kenya by sharing users’ data with authorities. He emphasized the alarming spread of spyware like Pegasus, used by several African governments to track, intimidate, and arrest activists.

Therefore, to be a human rights defender today is to embody resilience. Be it in the streets, the courts, or the digital space, human rights defenders continue to fight; armed not with weapons, but with courage, truth, and an unshakeable commitment to justice. The ink they write with may fade, and the chains they challenge may grow heavier, but their courage remains unbreakable.

It is therefore important that we heed Bukowski’s timeless warning. Injustice does not discriminate in its potential victims and today’s spectator may be tomorrow’s target. Perhaps we need to join the struggle of these courageous individuals before we become the direct targets of injustices and human rights abuses. If we are to build societies grounded in human dignity and equality, we must resist the temptation to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. The defense of human rights cannot be the burden of a few. It must be the collective responsibility of all and the best way we can recognise and appreciate the work and struggles of human rights defenders is by actively joining in the struggle to advocate for respect of human rights. That way, we can have a more fair world where every individual dares to dream!

Mahad Kisuze Mugaya
Law Student and Ambassador, International Society of Human Rights, 2025 Cohort

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