The KIOS 2022 Annual Report has been published
The KIOS Annual Report 2022 shows that despite the challenges rising conflicts and questioning of the whole human rights systems around the globe, active civil society actors can make an impact and are needed now more than ever. In 2022, KIOS funded 44 human rights projects or programmes in East Africa and South Asia.
The year 2022 was challenging in many ways. Just when the world was recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, in February 2022, Russia invaded and occupied parts of Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which had already begun in 2014. This has had substantial effects on our grantees in the Global South, too, for example, in terms of food security or funding. When the eyes of the entire global north are fixed on Ukraine, other crises receive less attention. This does not mean the other crises are non-existent or less relevant.
“As the state of human rights has clearly deteriorated in many countries, civil society actors are needed more than ever. We have been proud to see our grantees working relentlessly in very difficult situations.”, KIOS’s Executive Director Mr. Kim Remitz said in the foreword.
What did KIOS and our grantees achieve in 2022?
During the year, KIOS funded 44 human rights projects or programs, of which 28 were in East Africa and 16 in South Asia.
Last year, KIOS directed 999 375 € to human rights work in developing countries. Some of the results from 26 projects or programmes that ended last year include:
- 10 549 people learnt about their rights and how to defend them
- 1 223 authorities learnt about human rights and their duties
- 21 626 people received legal aid or counselling
- 12 human rights reports were published
- 16 strategic litigation cases proceeded in court.
KIOS grantees did human rights work, for example, by advancing economic and social justice in Uganda, promoting just peace after the civil war in Sri Lanka, and strengthening refugee rights in India.
Women and people in a vulnerable position in focus
The most common themes of our grantees’ work in 2022 were:
- People in a vulnerable position
- Women’s rights and gender equality
- Rule of law and democracy
- Business and human rights
KIOS focused its funding on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons who are in a vulnerable position or marginalised. Such groups include, for example, refugees and migrants, Dalits, sexual and gender minorities, victims of human rights violations, and human rights defenders.
In Finland, KIOS raised up several themes, for example civic freedom, role of civil society and LGBTQ-rights in a world, where those rights are more and more questioned.
Download the annual report and read more about our work in 2022!
For an accessible version, please read the summary on our website.