Defend International
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Norway
NGO
- Global
 | |
| Founded | July 2007 Norway |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit NGO |
| Location |
|
| Services | Lobbying, awareness raising, research, human rights campaigns, peace-building |
| Fields | Defending human rights, diplomacy, peace, justice |
Co-Founder | Widad Akreyi |
| Website | www.defendinternational.org |
Defend International (commonly known as DI) is a non-governmental organization focused on promoting and protecting human rights in the Middle East and North Africa.[1] DI was founded in 2007 in Norway.
DI operates internationally, and is made up of a network of volunteers, representatives, and civic organisations working at national, regional, and sub-regional levels.[2]
Partnerships
Defend International is a partner of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, an initiative led by the United Nations Foundation,[3][4] and a member of the Peace One Day NGO Coalition. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) asserts the right to life and security for all individuals, condemning arbitrary deprivation of life. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) obligates signatory countries to take measures to eliminate discrimination against women, including gender-based violence like honor killings. Several United Nations Resolutions have called for the elimination of honor-related violence and urged member states to enact and enforce laws against such practices.[5][6]
Since its establishment, DI has collaborated with many civic and humanitarian organisations and various governmental agencies.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
Objectives
DI's mission does not target any particular demographic within its geographic area of focus, but its work often concerns minority groups like the Yazidi and Middle Eastern Christians.
In collaboration with its partners, DI has advocated for and worked towards various humanitarian goals such as:
- Ending modern-day slavery[22][23][24]
- Ending capital punishment[25][26]
- Stopping torture[27]
- Protecting the rights of prisoners of conscience and civil society activists[28]
- Defending children's rights[29]
- Defending women's rights[30]
- Defending the rights of human rights defenders[31]
- Defending the rights of refugees[32]
- Reviewing healthcare policies and human rights legislation[33]
- Safeguarding the environment[34]
- Promoting disarmament and international security[35]
