Maputo, Mozambique: The Provider of Justice (Ombudsman) of Mozambique, Mr. Isaque Chande, held a meeting with Mr. Adriano Nuvunga, President of the Mozambican Human Rights Defenders Network (RMDDH), to discuss opportunities for institutional cooperation aimed at strengthening the protection and promotion of human rights throughout the country.
The meeting, held on 1 June 2026, formed part of ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration among institutions working in the fields of human rights, access to justice, and protection of fundamental freedoms.
During the discussions, the parties explored potential areas of cooperation relating to the protection of human rights defenders, promotion of access to justice, and development of mechanisms to safeguard the rights and freedoms of citizens.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for RMDDH to present its institutional mandate and share information regarding the Human Rights Defenders Desk, an initiative implemented in coordination with the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) to support and protect human rights defenders.
Participants exchanged views on possible frameworks for institutional coordination and cooperation designed to strengthen responses to challenges affecting human rights defenders and to enhance the protection of fundamental rights across Mozambique.
Ombudsman Isaque Chande expressed the institution’s openness to identifying effective mechanisms of collaboration that contribute to the timely protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, with particular attention to individuals actively engaged in the promotion and defense of human rights.
During the meeting, concerns were also raised regarding reported cases of threats, intimidation, persecution, and aggression against human rights defenders, civil society actors, and social activists. The discussions emphasized the importance of safeguarding civic space and ensuring that human rights defenders can carry out their activities in a secure and enabling environment.
The engagement forms part of RMDDH’s broader initiative to strengthen institutional dialogue and cooperation with justice and human rights bodies across Mozambique, promoting coordinated efforts to advance human rights protection and access to justice.
The meeting reflects the continued commitment of the Provider of Justice of Mozambique, a member institution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ombudsman Association (OICOA), to fostering institutional partnerships, strengthening human rights protection mechanisms, and promoting citizen-centered justice and accountability.
