Defend International

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.

Defend International
FoundedJuly 2007 (2007-07)
Norway
TypeNon-profit
NGO
Location
  • Global
ServicesLobbying, awareness raising, research, human rights campaigns, peace-building
FieldsDefending human rights, diplomacy, peace, justice
Co-Founder
Widad Akreyi
Websitewww.defendinternational.org

Structure

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

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

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.

A beach event was held by Defend International in memory of Alan Kurdi and other refugees, 4 September 2015[16][17][18][19][20][21]

In collaboration with its partners, DI has advocated for and worked towards various humanitarian goals such as:

Humanitarian Campaigns and Activities

Women and Children
Defend International provided humanitarian aid to Yazidi refugees in the Kurdistan region, Iraq, in December 2014[36]

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

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]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to defend international.

References
  1. "About Defend International". Defend International. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  2. "Turkey: DI Condemns Sacking of Respected Journalist". Defend International. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  3. "Defend International website". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  4. "The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves: Partner Directory". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  5. "Peace Day NGO Coalition" (PDF). Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  6. "Peace Now". 5 February 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  7. "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.
  8. "Defend International 'concerned about the recent massive wave of arrests in Western Sahara'". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  9. "Euskal / Basque PEN awards two Kurdish journalists facing execution in Iran". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  10. "Everywoman Everywhere Coalition: Europe Regional Working Group". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  11. "Defend International Listed as member of International Action Network on Small Arms". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  12. "Defend International endorsed a global choral project for peace". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  13. "Defend International Condemns Bhutto Assassination". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  14. "Defend International: Morocco: Protect and Preserve Mass Grave Sites". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  15. "Syria: DI Calls For Release Of Two Kidnapped Church Leaders". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  16. "Refugee Crisis: Minutes of Morn For Alan Kurdi and other refugees". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  17. "May Alan Kurdi's Death Inspire Us to Create a World Without Borders". 11 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  18. "A Child's Body on a Turkish Beach". Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  19. "A child of three". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  20. "Alan Kurdi and Canada's Refugee Policy". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  21. "Berlin Must Reform or Abolish Its Refugee Policy". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  22. "IS "Price List" For Yazidi And Christian Females Verified By UN Official". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  23. "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  24. "DI Alarmed Over Humanitarian Tragedy in Iraq And Urges International Community To Intervene". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  25. "Iran: DI Speaks Out Against Death Penalty". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  26. "Defend International condemned Executions of Two Kurdish Activists". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  27. "Lebanon: Three Videos Confirm Torture of A Child & Two Men". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  28. "Prisoner of conscience: Al-Khaiwani". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  29. "End Juvenile Death Penalty". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  30. "Women's Rights Campaigner Negin Released on Bail". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  31. "Bahrain: Judicial Proceedings Against Mr. Mohamed Al-Maskati". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  32. "Mr. Bijan Ghahramani at Risk of Deportation to Iran". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  33. "About Defend International". Defend International. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  34. "Mosul Dam In Danger Of Deadly Collapse". Defend International. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  35. "NGO Presentation to the UN First Committee 2008". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  36. "Defend International reached out to Yazidi refugees in Kurdistan region, Iraq, providing humanitarian aid". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  37. "President of Defend International, Dr. Widad Akrawi, talks about women's rights and honor killing in Kurdistan". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  38. "Defend International Calls For An End To FGM". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  39. "DI 2013: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  40. "NY: DI Calls for Legally-Binding Provision on Preventing Armed Gender-Based Violence in ATT". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  41. "Everywoman Everywhere Coalition: Europe Regional Working Group". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  42. "Defend International reached out to Yazidi refugees in Kurdistan region, Iraq, providing humanitarian aid". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  43. "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  44. "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.
  45. "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 2014-09-12.
  46. "Pacem In Terris Peace and Freedom Award 2017: Dr. Widad Akreyi". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
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