At the 55th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Amnesty International raised concerns about the safety and protection of human rights defenders in many parts of Africa. Since the previous Session of the Commission in November 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia, Amnesty International has continued to receive reports of further incidents of harassment and threats made directly and indirectly to human rights defenders, including via friends and work colleagues. In particular, incidents of intimidation, harassment and other forms of attack against human rights defenders working in Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, South Africa and Nigeria continue to be reported. The statement also drew the attention of the ACHPR to the additional risk faced by human rights defenders who work in the areas of counter-terrorism and international justice.
