In Kokotoni, Kilifi County in the Kenyan coast, residents are navigating the severe environmental and social challenges associated with mining while seeking stronger community participation in decisions around local resources. Through community dialogue, visual storytelling, and the newly gazetted Community Development Agreement (CDA) committee, residents are transforming local governance to ensure development responds directly to […]
Welcome to the online webinar on Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 10-11:30 Helsinki time (EEST Time). Across the world, a growing backlash against LGBTQIA+ people and rights is putting communities, activists and human rights defenders under increasing pressure. Civic space is shrinking, rights are being challenged, and hard-won progress is increasingly under threat. Yet alongside these challenges, […]
For many survivors of gender-based violence in Kwale County, escaping abuse did not guarantee safety. With no safe houses available, women and girls were often forced to return to abusive homes, seek temporary shelter with relatives, or stay in police stations ill-equipped to provide protection and psychosocial care. Despite these challenges, survivor protection remained largely […]
“Always use your voice and remain resilient.” With these words, Kenyan human rights defender and lawyer Michelle Mwelesa, who recently visited Finland, summed up her message while speaking at the World Village Festival in May. Mwelesa works as an advocacy officer at Civic Freedom Forum (CFF), a Kenyan human rights organisation supported by KIOS. Mwelesa […]
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 […]
For many LGBTIQA+ individuals in Mombasa County, the idea of seeking justice has long felt out of reach. While legal aid exists on paper, reality often tells a different story. Over time, this has created a climate of silence. But KIOS grantee Centre for Minority Rights and Strategic Litigation (CMRSL) is changing this one case […]
Written by: Malkilina Nyandieka, Haki Ni Yetu Grants Manager When many people hear Business and Human Rights (BHR), they often think about labour rights, corporate conduct, or legal accountability. Yet, through our work supporting grassroots actors, I have increasingly come to appreciate that Business and Human Rights is also deeply connected to environmental rights and […]
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, […]
The open call is now closed! KIOS received a total of 88 applications. Thank you to all for the interest in this open call and sharing it. 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 […]
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 […]
