Hope from human rights work: KIOS Annual Report 2025 published
KIOS annual report once again demonstrates how the human rights organisations supported by KIOS can bring about change despite ongoing opposition and the shrinking space for civil society. As funding declines, the operating environment for human rights work becomes increasingly challenging. However, hope lies in the courageous work of grassroots human rights defenders. In 2025, KIOS funded 88 human rights projects or programmes in East Africa and South Asia.
The year 2025 once again highlights the importance of human rights work. Attacks on the rules-based order, democracy and fundamental human rights continue and have intensified. The world appears to be moving from one crisis to another. At the same time, funding for human rights work is being reduced. Despite everything, brave human rights defenders continue their work and drive change forward. Young people are demanding accountability and respect for the rule of law and democracy. This was evident at the end of the year in Nepal for example, where Generation Z rose up in protest and forced the country’s Prime Minister to resign. However, in Nepal and elsewhere, growing authoritarianism has been met with the violent suppression of demonstrations.
Long-term work by human rights organisations offers hope. Organisations funded by KIOS achieved significant results. With KIOS support in 2025, progress was made across a wide range of human rights areas, including gender equality, LGBTIQA+ rights, the rule of law, political accountability, and the rights of marginalised groups.
“Human rights work must now move beyond crisis thinking and begin to strengthen the core foundations of democracy: freedom of expression and assembly, equality, and free and fair elections. We may disagree on issues and their priorities, but the ability to express one’s views safely and to bring about change peacefully are the fundamentals on which the future must be built,” says KIOS Executive Director Kim Remitz in the foreword to the annual report.
What did we achieve?
During the year, KIOS funded a total of 88 human rights projects or programmes, of which 66 were in East Africa and 22 in South Asia. In 2025, KIOS allocated a total of €1,435,000 to human rights work. In the 29 projects completed in 2025:
- 55 295 people directly benefited from KIOS-funded human rights work
- 21 387 human rights defenders and rights-holders increased their awareness of human rights
- 12 225 people received legal advice or assistance
- 1 555 public officials and political decision-makers received training on human rights issues
In 2025, the work of KIOS grantees in corporate accountability, land and environmental rights, and strengthening civil society produced tangible results. Grantees strengthened accountability, expanded civic space and improved access to justice, particularly for young people, Indigenous peoples and discriminated groups. The results included increased visibility, legal progress and stronger participation of marginalised groups in decision-making.
In Finland, KIOS continued its work as a bridge between international human rights defenders and the Finnish public, media and decision-makers, strengthening awareness and dialogue on key human rights issues.
Download the annual report and read more about our work in 2025!
For an accessible version, please read the summary on our website.