Defend International
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Founded | July 2007 Norway |
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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.
Structure[edit]
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[edit]
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[5] and Peace Now.[6]
Since its establishment, DI has collaborated with many civic and humanitarian organisations as well as various governmental agencies.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
Objectives[edit]
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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Moments_of_Mourn_For_Alan_Kurdi_DI_September_2015.jpg/300px-Moments_of_Mourn_For_Alan_Kurdi_DI_September_2015.jpg)
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]
Humanitarian Campaigns and Activities[edit]
Women and Children[edit]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Defend_International_Donations_Delivered_to_Yazidis.jpg/300px-Defend_International_Donations_Delivered_to_Yazidis.jpg)
DI expressed that it has identified strategies to address violence against women and child marriages.[37]
DI has called for an end to female genital mutilation[38] and the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls.[39] In 2015, DI called on UN negotiators of the Arms Trade Treaty to include a legally-binding provision to prevent armed gender-based violence.[40]
Defend International has endorsed the Every Woman Treaty on violence against women and girls worldwide and is a member of the Everywoman Everywhere Coalition.[41]
Minorities[edit]
In a partnership with artists like Edison band, Claude Arfaras, Jane Adams and Daniel Dalopo, Defend International launched a worldwide campaign in September 2014 to raise awareness about the Yazidis, Kobanî and the Christians[42][43][44] and also called for the international community to intensify the efforts aimed at rescuing women and children enslaved by ISIL.[45]
Co-founder of Defend International Widad Akreyi stated that ISIL uses slavery and rape as weapons of war against Yazidis and Christians.[46]
External links[edit]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
References[edit]
- ^ "About Defend International". Defend International. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Turkey: DI Condemns Sacking of Respected Journalist". Defend International. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Defend International website". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves: Partner Directory". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Peace Day NGO Coalition" (PDF). Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Peace Now". 5 February 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Defend International and Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights are raising their concern regarding the physical and physiological attacks suffered by the young men in Bahrain". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Defend International 'concerned about the recent massive wave of arrests in Western Sahara'". Retrieved 24 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Euskal / Basque PEN awards two Kurdish journalists facing execution in Iran". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Everywoman Everywhere Coalition: Europe Regional Working Group". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Defend International Listed as member of International Action Network on Small Arms". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Defend International endorsed a global choral project for peace". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Defend International Condemns Bhutto Assassination". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Defend International: Morocco: Protect and Preserve Mass Grave Sites". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Syria: DI Calls For Release Of Two Kidnapped Church Leaders". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Refugee Crisis: Minutes of Morn For Alan Kurdi and other refugees". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "May Alan Kurdi's Death Inspire Us to Create a World Without Borders". 11 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "A Child's Body on a Turkish Beach". Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "A child of three". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Alan Kurdi and Canada's Refugee Policy". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Berlin Must Reform or Abolish Its Refugee Policy". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "IS "Price List" For Yazidi And Christian Females Verified By UN Official". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "DI Alarmed Over Humanitarian Tragedy in Iraq And Urges International Community To Intervene". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Iran: DI Speaks Out Against Death Penalty". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "Defend International condemned Executions of Two Kurdish Activists". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Lebanon: Three Videos Confirm Torture of A Child & Two Men". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "Prisoner of conscience: Al-Khaiwani". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "End Juvenile Death Penalty". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "Women's Rights Campaigner Negin Released on Bail". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "Bahrain: Judicial Proceedings Against Mr. Mohamed Al-Maskati". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "Mr. Bijan Ghahramani at Risk of Deportation to Iran". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "About Defend International". Defend International. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "Mosul Dam In Danger Of Deadly Collapse". Defend International. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "NGO Presentation to the UN First Committee 2008". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "Defend International reached out to Yazidi refugees in Kurdistan region, Iraq, providing humanitarian aid". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "President of Defend International, Dr. Widad Akrawi, talks about women's rights and honor killing in Kurdistan". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Defend International Calls For An End To FGM". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "DI 2013: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "NY: DI Calls for Legally-Binding Provision on Preventing Armed Gender-Based Violence in ATT". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Everywoman Everywhere Coalition: Europe Regional Working Group". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Defend International reached out to Yazidi refugees in Kurdistan region, Iraq, providing humanitarian aid". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "EDISUN SONG "WHILE THE WORLDS ASLEEP" RAISING AWARENESS TO THE PLIGHT OF THE YAZIDI REFUGEES". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 2014-09-12.
- ^ "Pacem In Terris Peace and Freedom Award 2017: Dr. Widad Akreyi". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 29 March 2018.