From October 8th to 11th, WWAV’s Executive Director, Deon Haywood, joined 145 activists from 95 different countries for the 7th Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders.  Hosted by Front Line Defenders, this is a vital international forum for human rights defenders at risk, as many cannot speak freely in their own country.  Through plenary presentations and working group discussions, defenders shared experiences, learned from each other and came up with new and more effective strategies for their security and protection. This year’s Dublin Platform also included a specific focus on the risks faced by women human rights defenders.
When addressing this global community of activists during the Dublin Platform opening, Deon Haywood spoke of a choice that rang true for so many attendees:

“To be a human rights defender is to make a choice between standing up for what is right and defending the rights of others, or passively accepting that there is no other way. Being here with 145 other human rights defenders from every corner of the globe, all of whom face very similar risks, reminds me of the rightness of our cause. When you see the energy and the commitment of the people in this room, then there is a real cause for optimism for the future.”

WWAV will be posting further updates on the Dublin Platform.  For now, we thank you for your love, courage and support.