In June 2017, OMCT pursued its efforts in order to raise the awareness of and call upon action from relevant stakeholders, including United Nations (UN) institutions, to address the situation of human rights defenders in Kenya. In that framework, OMCT invited Ms. Teresa Mutua, representative of the International Commission of Jurists — Kenya (ICJ-Kenya), to Geneva, Switzerland, to carry out an international advocacy mission in the margin of the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
During the mission, the main conclusions and recommendations of the Observatory mission report on the situation of human rights defenders in Kenya were discussed with key stakeholders, including representative of diplomatic missions as well as of various UN Special Procedures. OMCT also organised a side event during the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council on June 9, 2017, with the participation of Ms. Mutua, Mr. Maina Kiai, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Ms Manon Yard, PBI Switzerland Advocacy Coordinator, and Mr. Peter Zangl, OMCT Representative to the EU.
Through this advocacy mission, OMCT was able to give visibility and enhanced recognition to the situation of HRDs in Kenya, as well as to empower Ms. Mutua through building her capacity to better work with the UN.
