The Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA), a human rights organization supported by KIOS, achieved a significant legal victory after a prolonged battle. The legal struggle, which began in 2016, finally concluded when Kenya’s Supreme Court upheld million-dollar compensations for the Owino Uhuru community. Residents of the community had suffered health issues due […]
We are thrilled to announce the opening of call for proposals as part of our Civic Action and Community Empowerment Grants (CACEG) in Kenya. This grant program is specifically designed to support community-level initiatives. Grassroots and community-based organizations in Busia, Embu, Kakamega, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kwale, Siaya and Taita-Taveta counties are welcome to submit their proposal. […]
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.
We are thrilled to announce the opening of our Civic Action and Community Empowerment Grants (CACEG) in Kenya. This grant program is specifically designed to support community-level initiatives. Grassroots and community-based organizations in Migori and Isiolo counties are welcome to submit their Expression of Interest (EOI). The deadline for submissions is 31 July 2024.
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 […]
Last week, police assaulted members of the Uyombo village community and arbitrarily arrested two community activists. The Center for Justice Governance & Environmental Action (CJGEA), funded by KIOS, has supported the Uyombo village community in opposing the government’s plans to build a nuclear power plant in the area. The program manager of CJGEA was also […]
Reena Lama is a Nepalese human rights defender who promotes the rights of sex workers in Nepal. We interviewed Reena about the situation of sex workers in Nepal and the kind of courage it takes to defend their human rights. Reena Lama serves as the executive director of Friends Affected and Infected Together in Hand […]
Reena Lama from KIOS’s grantee organisation FAITH will be interviewed at the World Village Festival in Helsinki. The programme “Sex workers’ rights in Nepal” will be streamed online on Saturday 25 May at 18:25 pm EET.
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 […]
Civil society actors and friends of Tibet gathered for a discussion during the visit of Tibet’s President Sikyong Penpa Tsering in Finland. KIOS was involved in organizing the discussion event, where President Penpa Tsering, the political leader of the Tibetan exile community, shared valuable insights into the complex geopolitical situation surrounding Tibet. He touched upon […]
