On Thursday, June 25, during Helsinki Pride Week, Korjaamo Kino will host the Finnish premiere of the film Rafiki – love, resistance, and belonging. Following the screening, a panel discussion will delve into the film’s themes in relation to activism and lived experiences. Movie Night: Rafiki – Love, Resistance, and Belonging brings together culture, activism, […]
KIOS launches an open call for Expressions of Interest to support human rights work in Sri Lanka carried out by local civil society organisations. Smaller organisations with limited funding opportunities are encouraged to apply. A separate info session on the call will be held on June 10 at 13:30 Sri Lankan time via Zoom. Applications to this call must be submitted by 23 […]
The Haki Ni Yetu (HNY) Project is seeking qualified consultant(s) or consultancy companies to conduct the End of Project Evaluation (EPE) of its EU-funded project in Kenya.
This year, KIOS has invited human rights defender and lawyer Michelle Mwelesa from KIOS grantee Civic Freedom Forum to talk about defending the civil liberties. Michelle will be interviewed by journalist Liselott Lindström. The event is on the Sunday 17 May at 17:45 as part of the talks and discussions at the World Village Festival. […]
A rapidly evolving situation in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley is raising serious human rights concerns, as large-scale forced evictions are displacing thousands of people from long-established riverbank settlements. The evictions directly affect communities where Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS), a KIOS grantee, is currently implementing its work. The Government of Nepal has launched a demolition drive targeting so-called squatter settlements along major […]
When Cyclone Ditwah triggered a nationwide emergency in Sri Lanka last November, KIOS moved quickly to channel extra funding to three trusted local grantees. Through our grantees, help could reach people living in remote areas and those often left outside mainstream relief. Here’s what was achieved, and why locally rooted response mattered. A Climate Disaster […]
KIOS will be launching an open call for applications for civil society organisations working on human rights issues in Sri Lanka at end of May–early June. The focus will be on the three thematic areas of the current strategy: The call is scheduled to open at the end of May–early June and will remain open […]
As communities across Taita Taveta County marked International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, the County Government reaffirmed its commitment to tackling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) while promoting women’s rights and economic empowerment by ensuring gender responsive budgeting including analyzing revenue and expenditure to reduce gender inequalities, ensuring women benefit from employment, compensation, and community development, […]
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. […]
In Nepal, female and transgender sex workers continue to endure persistent violence, discrimination, and political invisibility. Their experiences seldom reach the spaces where laws are debated and decided, leaving a profound gap between the protection guaranteed by human rights frameworks and the realities of everyday life. Against this, KIOS grantee FAITH has chosen a path centred on […]
Nepal is preparing for the 2026 parliamentary elections in a climate where civil society feels simultaneously optimistic and tense. Grassroots organisations supported by KIOS describe the atmosphere as twofold: expectations for the elections are high, yet the civic space is narrowing due to increased polarisation, the spread of misinformation, and growing pressure on human rights […]
Nepal has made remarkable progress in recognising the rights of sexual and gender minorities, yet everyday realities often lag behind legal promises—especially for Dalit communities. When caste-based discrimination intersects with queer identity, vulnerability multiplies. To address this, Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS) brought together Dalit queer individuals from across Nepal, creating safe spaces, strengthening networks, and […]
A week ago, on November 28, Sri Lanka was struck by one of the worst natural disasters in its history. Cyclone Ditwah brought torrential rains, floods, and massive landslides. Thousands of homes have been destroyed, roads and bridges have collapsed, and entire regions have been cut off from communities – and from aid. President Anura […]
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 […]
We are proud to share that KIOS grantee LAHURNIP (Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples) has been honored with the 2025 Human Rights and Business Award, announced today in Geneva during the United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights. This global recognition celebrates LAHURNIP’s tireless work over the past 30 years. […]
Across the world, millions of people are forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and violence. In India, refugees and displaced persons face a unique challenge: there is no formal asylum framework, leaving them without legal status and vulnerable to exploitation, poverty, and uncertainty. Amid these systemic gaps, one women-led organisation is creating […]
For many LBQGNC (lesbian, bisexual, queer, and gender non-conforming) womxn* in Western Kenya, denied access to health care and justice has been a painful reality. Stigma and systemic exclusion have long stripped them of their right to health, safety, and dignity. Lake Region Womxn Health and Equal Rights (LARWHER), a community-based organisation supported by KIOS, is rewriting this narrative […]
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 […]
From September 17–19, 2025, the Environmental Rights Organizations Network (EROG) hosted the 9th Annual Land and Environmental Defenders Workshop in Mombasa, Kenya. With the theme of defending the defenders, the gathering brought together environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to share experiences, strengthen networks, and chart a path forward for environmental […]
Manoj Thushara is a Sri Lankan human rights defender who has dedicated his life to advancing the rights of sexual and gender minorities. He is the founder and director of the LGBTQIA+ organisation Équité. Équité has grown into one of the leading LGBTQIA+ organisations in Sri Lanka and now focuses on strengthening the LGBTQIA+ movement […]
