On December 9 and 10, 2025, the international community celebrated two important dates (International Human Rights Defenders Day and International Human Rights Day)
At the West African Network of Human Rights Defenders (ROADDH), member coalitions marked these days with various activities.
This was the case for the Liberian Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, which marked December 9 with a discussion forum where its president, Neidoteh Boye Torbor, praised the commitment of human rights defenders around the world and in Liberia. He made recommendations to the authorities before announcing the creation of an annual award for human rights defenders in honor of Archbishop Micheal Kpakala Francis, winner of the 1999 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award for his visionary leadership. He was a leading voice for peace, democracy, and reconstruction during and after Liberia's first civil war.
This award will be called the "Archbishop Micheal Kpakala Francis Award for the Defense of Human Rights" and will take effect on December 9, 2026.
Other recommendations were made to the authorities regarding respect for human rights in the country.
In Côte d'Ivoire, the Ivorian Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (CIDDH) sent a message of congratulations to human rights defenders in general and to human rights defenders in Côte d'Ivoire in particular for all their actions aimed at contributing to the respect for human rights. These actions are sometimes carried out in contexts marked by human rights challenges and risks for human rights defenders.
The CIDDH encourages human rights defenders in Côte d'Ivoire to continue this noble fight for human rights, to pool their efforts through synergistic actions, and to distinguish themselves through actions marked by objectivity and non-partisanship.
The CIDDH calls on government authorities to preserve civic space and strengthen the protection of human rights defenders in accordance with Law No. 2014-388 of June 20, 2014, on the promotion and protection of human rights defenders.
In Togo, the Togolese Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (CTDDH) held a coffee discussion with young activists from its member organization Amnesty International. The young people were fully engaged that day in collecting signatures, both physically and online, for the 2025 Letter Marathon.
President Bonaventure N. MAWUVI discussed the essential role of young human rights defenders in promoting justice, freedom, and dignity for all. He called on the authorities to uphold their commitment to adopt a national protection law.
In Benin, the focus was on factors that do not promote adequate work for HRDs. Participants mentioned, among other things: the legal environment for the protection of HRDs, which offers little or no security; degrading socio-cultural norms; interventionism/interference in cases pending before the courts; ignorance of the texts protecting HRDs and even victims of violations of their rights; leadership struggles between HRD structures; and the precarious living conditions of HRDs.
The celebrations for these two days continue within ROADDH, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
