Defend International

Defend International
Founded 2007 in Norway
Type Non-profit
NGO
Location
  • Global
Services Lobbying, awareness raising, research, human rights campaigns, peace-building
Fields Defending human rights, diplomacy, peace, justice
Website www.defendinternational.org

Defend International (commonly known as DI) is an international non-governmental organisation whose mission is "to respond to grave violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law, monitor the implementation of preventive measures that are designed to end impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes, conduct medical research that may either directly or indirectly improve the health standard of communities, and to promote peace and democracy through cultural relations and diplomacy."[1] Based in Norway, DI focuses on the Middle East and North Africa region and has as its main objective the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Defend International is made up of voluntary members and representatives.[2] Since its establishment in Oslo in 2007, Defend International has collaborated with many civic and humanitarian organizations as well as agencies of various nations.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

The structure of Defend International is based on national, sub-regional and regional networks of individuals and civil society organizations. Dr. Widad Akrawi is currently the president of Defend International.[11][12]

Defend International is a partner of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, an initiative led by the United Nations Foundation[13][14] and a member of the Peace One Day NGO Coalition[15] and Peace Now.[16]

Work

As a non-state actor, Defend International targets governments, parliaments, international institutions and non-governmental groups or organizations.[17]

A beach event was held by Defend International in memory of Alan Kurdi and other refugees, 4 September 2015[18][19][20][21][22][23]

DI works on the following key areas:

Humanitarian Campaigns and Charitable Activities

Defending Women and Girls

Defend International has identified strategies to address violence against women and child marriages[38]

It has called for an end to female genital mutilation,[39] the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls,[40] and called on UN negotiators of the Arms Trade Treaty to include a legally-binding provision to prevent armed gender-based violence.[41]

In 2014, it engaged in developing the proper "tools and resources that can be utilized and replicated by supporters to ultimately identify the key gender and empowerment activities that are required to ensure that the next generations" of victims like the Yazidis are empowered through better understanding of their peaceful religion and culture.[42]

Defend International has endorsed an international treaty on violence against women and girls worldwide and is a member of Everywoman Everywhere Coalition.[43]

Defend International provided humanitarian aid to Yazidi refugees in Kurdistan region, Iraq, December 2014[44]

Defending Yazidis, Christians and Kobane

Through partnerships 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, Kobane and the Christians.[45][46][47]

Speaking of women and girls kidnapped by ISIS, President of Defend International said that ISIL uses slavery and rape as weapons of war against Yazidis and Christians.[48] She asked the international community to intensify the efforts aimed at rescuing women and girls enslaved by ISIL.[49]

Asked about Kobane, Dr. Akrawi, said that “a massacre can be avoided, if there is a well-organized and well-defined plan on how to deal with IS – a plan that sets out the strategic and tactical activities to be undertaken at the international, regional and local levels,” adding that journalists, humanitarian- and human rights organizations are not allowed to pass through Turkish checkpoints near the border.[50]

Charity

In October 2014, President of Defend International was awarded the International Pfeffer Peace Award, which she dedicated to all victims of persecution, particularly the Yazidis, Christians and all residents of Kobane.[51][52][53][54][55][56]

References

  1. ↑ "About Defend International". Defend International. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Defend International". Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "Defend International 'concerned about the recent massive wave of arrests in Western Sahara'". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Euskal / Basque PEN awards two Kurdish journalists facing execution in Iran". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Everywoman Everywhere Coalition: Europe Regional Working Group". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "Defend International Listed as member of International Action Network on Small Arms". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Defend International endorsed a global choral project for peace". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "Defend International Condemns Bhutto Assassination". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "Defend International: Morocco: Protect and Preserve Mass Grave Sites". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  11. ↑ "FOR’s 2014 Award recipients are inspirational change-makers: The Pfeffer Peace Award goes to Dr. Widad Akrawi.". Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "Turkey: DI Condemns Sacking of Respected Journalist". Defend International. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Defend International website". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves: Partner Directory". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "Peace Day NGO Coalition" (PDF). Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  16. ↑ "Peace Now". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  17. ↑ "Syria: DI Calls For Release Of Two Kidnapped Church Leaders". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  18. ↑ "Refugee Crisis: Minutes of Morn For Alan Kurdi and other refugees". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  19. ↑ "May Alan Kurdi’s Death Inspire Us to Create a World Without Borders". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  20. ↑ "A Child's Body on a Turkish Beach". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  21. ↑ "A child of three". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  22. ↑ "Alan Kurdi and Canada's Refugee Policy". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  23. ↑ "Berlin Must Reform or Abolish Its Refugee Policy". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "IS “Price List” For Yazidi And Christian Females Verified By UN Official". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  25. ↑ "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  26. ↑ "DI Alarmed Over Humanitarian Tragedy in Iraq And Urges International Community To Intervene". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  27. ↑ "Iran: DI Speaks Out Against Death Penalty". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  28. ↑ "Defend International condemned Executions of Two Kurdish Activists". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  29. ↑ "Lebanon: Three Videos Confirm Torture of A Child & Two Men". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  30. ↑ "Prisoner of conscience: Al-Khaiwani". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  31. ↑ "End Juvenile Death Penalty". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  32. ↑ "Women’s Rights Campaigner Negin Released on Bail". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  33. ↑ "Bahrain: Judicial Proceedings Against Mr. Mohamed Al-Maskati". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  34. ↑ "Mr. Bijan Ghahramani at Risk of Deportation to Iran". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  35. ↑ "About Defend International". Defend International. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  36. ↑ "Mosul Dam In Danger Of Deadly Collapse". Defend International. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  37. ↑ "NGO Presentation to the UN First Committee 2008". Defend International. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  38. ↑ "President of Defend International, Dr. Widad Akrawi, talks about women's rights and honor killing in Kurdistan". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  39. ↑ "Defend International Calls For An End To FGM". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  40. ↑ "DI 2013: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  41. ↑ "NY: DI Calls for Legally-Binding Provision on Preventing Armed Gender-Based Violence in ATT". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  42. ↑ "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  43. ↑ "Everywoman Everywhere Coalition: Europe Regional Working Group". Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  44. ↑ "Defend International reached out to Yazidi refugees in Kurdistan region, Iraq, providing humanitarian aid". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  45. ↑ "Defend International reached out to Yazidi refugees in Kurdistan region, Iraq, providing humanitarian aid". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  46. ↑ "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  47. ↑ "EDISUN SONG “WHILE THE WORLDS ASLEEP” RAISING AWARENESS TO THE PLIGHT OF THE YAZIDI REFUGEES". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  48. ↑ "Dr. Widad Akrawi Interviewed at RojNews: How should the international community classify the systematic massacre of the Yezidi civilians in Sinjar by IS jihadists that included taking Yezidi girls as sex slaves". Retrieved 2015-09-26.
  49. ↑ "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now". Retrieved 2014-09-12.
  50. ↑ "Dr Widad Akrawi Interviewed at RojNews: Do you see a new Kurdish massacre looming in Kobane?". Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  51. ↑ "Dr Widad Akrawi awarded International Pfeffer Peace Prize". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  52. ↑ "Dr Akrawi Dedicated Peace Award to Yezidis, Christians and Kobane". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  53. ↑ "Dr. Widad Akrawi Barış ödülünü Kobanê ve Şengal'e adadı". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  54. ↑ "Peace award dedicated to Kobanî and Şengal". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  55. ↑ "Dr. Widad Akrawi Xelata Aştiyê pêşkêşî Kobanê û Şengalê hat kirin". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  56. ↑ "Xelata Aştiyê diyarî Kobanê hat kirin". Retrieved 20 October 2014.

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