Celebrating International Day of Peace

Human rights defenders are people who take peaceful action - voluntarily or professionally, individually or collectively - to promote and protect human rights. They catalyse social change in their communities, countries, and globally.

What defenders have in common is their crucial role in making the world a better place, ensuring values of freedom, respect, justice and equality are reflected in policy and practice, and that democracy and the rule of law are universally upheld. They are regularly threatened, attacked, smeared and imprisoned just for taking a stand, which is why PBI works to keep them safe and heard.

On the International Day of Peace, join us in celebrating Kenyan human rights defenders bringing peace to their communities.

For years, the urban settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, have suffered structural violence, the population subject to land grabbing, forced evictions, police abuse and extrajudicial killing, political impunity and other economic, social and psychological violations. Those who speak out live in fear of the consequences.

Collectives of young community members and experienced social justice activists have come together across the settlements to build peace through Social Justice Centres. The Centres aim to promote social justice through community engagement and social movement platforms. Since 2015, the MSJC has organised with cross-sections of the community, focusing on the documentation of extrajudicial killings.

Since the founding of the first SJC in Mathare in 2015, the movement has grown to over sixty across the country. Beginning as true grassroots organisations, the Social Justice Centres are now visible beyond their communities, present alongside major NGOs in civil society dialogue on governance and human rights issues. PBI are honoured to be by their side as they fight for peace in Kenya.