Former UN Special Rapporteur, Kenyan lawyer and human rights activist Maina Kiai argues that Nordic countries must take a lead in expanding civic space and standing up for human rights defenders.
In Pakistan, the children in prisons are a forgotten population. One day the Child Rights Unit (CRU) of the Dastak Charitable Trust decided to do something that had never been done in any prison in Pakistan: to bring a popular band to play for the children in prison.
Abilis, KIOS and Siemenpuu are looking for program evaluators for a joint foundation evaluation. The evaluation will feed into the planning of the next programme period (2022-2025) and the strategy processes of the Foundations. The objectives of this evaluation are To give recommendations to the development of the Foundations’ modality, To give recommendations to […]
Since the 1970s, the human rights situation has improved in many countries, but not everywhere. Every country has its own human rights challenges. To face these challenges, the role of human rights defenders (HRDs) is crucial, writes Mary Lawlor.
In Pakistan, all human rights defenders face severe risks, but women human rights defenders even more so. They need security measures and plans and a network of allies who can help them in times of crisis. Little things can save a life.
Brave women from around the world visited Helsinki at the end of August to share their experiences in being human rights defenders. They also offered their advice on how Finland and the EU could support human rights defenders more effectively.
Since the political crisis in Burundi started in 2015, most human rights defenders have been forced to flee the country to avoid persecution. With the help of DefendDefenders, Burundian defenders in exile have pushed the UN to investigate violations in Burundi.
Helsinki Pride Week was attended by Kenyan LGBTIQ+ activist Njeri Gateru as a guest of KIOS. She works to decriminalize homosexuality in Kenya.
What is life like for sexual minorities in a country that can impose a maximum sentence of 14 years for homosexuality? Njeri Gateru, a human rights lawyer who challenged Kenya’s criminal law system, comes to Finland on Pride Week to talk about Africa’s LGBTIQ movement. KIOS and Seta are organizing an evening with the National […]
The world came to visit at the World Village Festival KIOS participated at the World Village Festival and shared information about the work human rights defenders do. There was a buzz at the KIOS stand, which featured human rights -tote bags, information about human rights defenders, and KIOS publications. We asked festival-goers about the […]
Mr. Kim Remitz will continue leading the human rights work at the KIOS Foundation as permanent Executive Director. Kim has a long experience with human rights and development cooperation. Especially questions related to refugees both in Finland and abroad have been at the core of his work, and he served as Executive Director of the […]
Which human rights issues will be the most pressing ones in the near future? How should Finland promote human rights and civic space? These questions were discussed at the panel discussion celebrating the 20th anniversary of the KIOS Foundation. Around fifty participants gathered to discuss the future of human rights on the 28th January at […]
KIOS’ new publication “From little things big things grow” invites you to join in our celebration of the 20th anniversary of KIOS. The publication is a look into the human rights work that civil society organisations have undertaken with the support of KIOS. Countering risks and threats to human rights defenders in Pakistan, raising voices […]
The new KIOS board of directors is full of human rights and development expertise. The new KIOS board of Directors is elected. The board is again full of human rights and development expertise. The newly elected Chair is human rights activist and municipal politician Amu Urhonen, who is representing the KIOS founding organisation Amnesty International […]
Corporate accountability is one of the most powerful litmus tests of corporate and governmental willingness to direct markets to the common good and shared prosperity. At present, the litmus paper is showing a corrosive lack of attention, writes Phil Bloomer, Executive Director of the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.
![[:en]People on stage with instruments, children sitting on the floor in rows[:fi]Neljä ihmistä soittaa soittimia, kymmeniä lapsia istuu lattialla riveissä[:fr]People on stage with instruments[:]](https://kios.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/Faisalabad1-360x240.jpg)
