Written by: Elle Khaoma Have you ever wondered what survival looks like in a country that insists upon your demise while simultaneously refusing to acknowledge your existence? Well, if you haven’t, I am here to tell you there is something to be said about the cognitive dissonance brought about by being constantly berated for supposedly […]
Written by: Hamida Isaac, Coordinator Kinango Human Rights Network Kinango and other parts of Kwale County, communities continue to bear the burden of environmental degradation linked to industrial activities, land disputes, extractive operations, and climate-related vulnerabilities. Through the support of the Haki Ni Yetu grant, efforts have been strengthened to advance environmental justice, climate action, […]
Written by: Fardosa Mustafa, Network Coordinator Environmental Rights Organisation (EROG) Across East Africa, communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis are increasingly facing environmental destruction, shrinking civic space, and threats linked to powerful private and political interests. Land and Environment Defenders (LEDs) who speak out against pollution, unsafe extractive activities, land grabbing, and environmental […]
Working at KIOS has really opened my eyes to what defending human rights actually means. It’s not just slogans, campaigns, or numbers in a report. It’s people who decide to act, even when it’s difficult or even dangerous. These are the people we wanted to highlight more strongly through the Support Brave Actions campaign. A […]
Written by: Michelle Mwelesa June 25, 2024, is a date that will forever be etched in the memory of Kenya. Why? Parliament was occupied. In the heart of Nairobi, the nation’s capital once dubbed the “city under the sun,” a haunting silence lingers around Parliament Road. It is the kind of silence born not […]
Across Kenya’s informal settlements, gender-based violence (GBV) often remains hidden behind silence, stigma, and systemic barriers. Survivors frequently face intimidation, limited access to justice, and inadequate support services. In communities already grappling with poverty and marginalization, many survivors struggle to find trusted pathways to report abuse or seek help. However, a powerful shift is underway. […]
The landscape of human rights advocacy has quite shifted in the last few years. Arguably, while for many marginalised groups, this exclusion has been present generally, human rights abuses and widespread discrimination have become particularly brazen. It is no surprise that in this climate, there have been many young people protesting for change of governments […]
The UN Business and Human Rights Forum 2025, themed “Accelerating Action on Business and Human Rights Amidst Crises and Transformations,” brought together over 4,600 participants from 146 countries. It is the world’s largest platform for dialogue on business and human rights—and for KIOS, it was an opportunity to learn, connect, and amplify the voices of […]
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which also is a start to the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign that runs until December 10th (Human Rights Day), which has a focus of ending gender-based digital violence this year. We asked from our grantees to share […]
Across Siaya, Homa Bay, and Kericho counties, the Haki Mashinani initiative sparked a grassroots movement that empowered youth, women, and marginalised communities to claim their rights and demand better governance. With support from the EU-funded Haki Ni Yetu project, the local organisation Siasa Place worked with youth groups to help young people transform informal networks […]
In Kenya’s coastal counties, boda boda and matatu operators are not just transport providers—they are community gatekeepers, influencing norms and shaping public spaces. Once seen as perpetrators of violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals, they are now becoming unexpected allies for inclusion and safety. Through targeted sensitisation programmes led by the Initiative for Equality and Non-Discrimination (INEND) […]
By Joseph Byomuhangyi – Coordinator, Uganda Consortium on Corporate Accountability (UCCA) The European Union (EU) has long positioned itself as a global leader in corporate accountability and sustainable business practices. However, recent developments surrounding the Omnibus amendment suggest a concerning retreat from these commitments. Reports indicate that the European Commission is considering reopening the Corporate […]
President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze the operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was shocking. It became clear during Trump’s first presidential term that he did not believe in soft power such as development cooperation, which builds partnerships, strengthens institutions, and works toward common values such as democracy and human rights. At […]
Pauliina Savola, chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Haki Ni Yetu project, reflects on the role of the project in strengthening civil society’s ability to advocate for human rights. The project embodies the belief that real change begins at the grassroots level.
KIOS has been actively involved with other civil society organizations in raising the importance of LGBTIQ+ rights within the framework of Finnish foreign and development policy. LGBTIQ+ individuals face discrimination and an increased threat of violence worldwide. Same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in over 60 countries, often as a colonial legacy. A significant factor behind […]
What is it like to advance LGBTIQ+ rights in a country that is still recovering from political turmoil and civil war? This is a situation where KIOS grantee Èquité is working on building up the LGBTIQ+ movement and trying to build bridges rather than walls between the nation. Èquité started working as an informal group, […]
The National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) in Kenya won a decade-long battle as they were granted the right to register under their current name. The ruling is much bigger than just the name, as it can be seen as a shield protecting constitutional liberties and that no human being in Kenya should […]
KIOS is one of the few Finnish civil society actors providing direct support to the LGBTIQ+ movement in Africa and Asia. The alarming situation in East Africa has made KIOS focus more intensely on supporting the LGBTIQ+ movement in the region. We had a chat with Elina Vuola, a long-time expert at KIOS, about her […]
The Executive Director of Business and Human Rights Resource Center (BHRRC) Phil Bloomer visited Finland at the end of March. KIOS had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Bloomer at our offices for a discussion regarding concerns relating to human rights in business. The discussions touched upon the BHRRC’s work on green energy transition, Indigenous peoples’ rights […]
KIOS expresses solidarity with Odhikar, Khan and Elan and calls for their immediate release. On September 14th, Khan and Elan, members of the Bangladeshi NGO Odhikar, were sentenced to two years in prison under the Information and Communication Technology Act of 2006 by the Cyber Tribunal in Bangladesh. Following their the sentencing, they were detained […]
