From February 24 to 26, 2026, Abidjan hosted a brainstorming session dedicated to the complementarity of initiatives for the protection and relocation of human rights defenders, with a particular focus on women defenders.
Organized by the Ivorian Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (CIDDH) in partnership with the West African Network of Human Rights Defenders (ROADDH), on behalf of the Movement of Women Human Rights Defenders in West Africa, this meeting is part of a project aimed at strengthening the security of women defenders through the establishment of a sub-regional early warning mechanism.
The main objective of the workshop was to create a space for dialogue to harmonize existing protection and relocation initiatives and mechanisms. Participants—representatives of human rights organizations—shared their experiences and analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the mechanisms already in place.
Discussions also focused on crucial issues such as the inclusion of vulnerable groups, secure communication, and program funding. These exchanges led to concrete proposals and the drafting of a joint roadmap setting out key guidelines for strengthening the complementarity of actions.
In West Africa, women human rights defenders often face specific threats related to their activism. The meeting in Abidjan marks an important step in building a collective and coordinated response, placing at the heart of the discussions the need to guarantee their safety and their ability to continue their work.
Through this initiative, the IACHR and ROADDH reaffirm their commitment to building regional solidarity and strengthening protection mechanisms so that women defenders can continue to play their full role in promoting and defending human rights.
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