Meet Eritrean human rights activist Vanessa Tsehaye (@vanessatsehaye). In 2001, VanessaтАЩs photojournalist uncle, Seyoum Tsehaye, and his colleagues were imprisoned for demanding democracy in Eritrea. At 16, she launched One Day Seyoum to advocate for her uncle and other prisoners of conscience.
In 2018, Vanessa shared her story on the Oslo Freedom Forum stage. Later on, Vanessa participated in the Human Rights Foundation (HRF)тАЩs Freedom Fellowship, a one-year program that provides hands-on, expert mentorship across seven critical areas: leadership, movement-building, organizing, fundraising, media, mental health, and digital security.
HRF sat down with Vanessa to learn more about the situation in Eritrea and her work with One Day Seyoum.