Human Rights Defenders at Risk

Ador Akoy

My name is Ador Akoy, a human rights, youth and peace activist from South Sudan for 10 years. I am 36 years old, and I have been fighting for a better life not just for me, but for my children and their children’s sake. Over three decades now and like many others in South Sudan, I am yet to have a decent life.

In South Sudan, I am the Protection Officer for a protection-mandated organization to the many rights defenders, journalists and lawyers. I advocate and campaign for a protected & safe working environment for the defenders and activists. Additionally, I directly respond to emerging protection and security concerns of other activists, lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders who may find themselves in trouble or danger while executing their work duties. Supporting HRDs/activists at risk of losing their lives, coordinating their legal support, responding to relocation and evacuation calls, soliciting for psychosocial & medical support, advocating for their socio-cultural and religious right practices,  are some of the tasks that constitute my work. Above all, I constantly monitor and document violations against rights' defenders that we use for evidence-based advocacy at the national, regional and international/global human rights events, mechanisms and institutions.

I face numerous threats and challenges, some brought about by my direct activism but the majority arise indirectly from responding to daily emergency needs and protection concerns of rights’ defenders in danger across the entire South Sudan. I am therefore, what I will term “Defender of rights’ defenders”. For four cumulative years I have continued and still continuing to defend rights defenders’ work space in the extremely dangerous South Sudan.

At the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR), I have a conducive-relaxing yet resourceful and developmental platform to explore additional tools to improve my research & advocacy work. I am having the space to supplement and improve my research skills as well as networking in order to learn and apply new ways of working in order to advance my work.