News
Call for tenders for End of Project Evaluation Consultant(s) for Haki Ni Yetu Project
The Haki Ni Yetu (HNY) Project is seeking qualified consultant(s) or consultancy companies to conduct the End of Project Evaluation…
Voices for Change — From Obstructed to Repressed: The Kenyan New Normal
Written by: Michelle Mwelesa June 25, 2024, is a date that will forever be etched in the memory of Kenya.…
KIOS at the World Village Festival – Lessons in Defending Civil Liberties
This year, KIOS has invited human rights defender and lawyer Michelle Mwelesa from KIOS grantee Civic Freedom Forum to talk…
Forced Evictions in Kathmandu Threaten Human Rights
A rapidly evolving situation in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley is raising serious human rights concerns, as large-scale forced evictions are displacing…
From Finland to Sri Lanka: Support After Cyclone Ditwah Reached Thousands
When Cyclone Ditwah triggered a nationwide emergency in Sri Lanka last November, KIOS moved quickly to channel extra funding to…
Upcoming open call for Sri Lanka
KIOS will be launching an open call for applications for civil society organisations working on human rights issues in Sri…
Taita Taveta County Government Pledges Action on SGBV and Economic Exclusion at International Women’s Day 2026
As communities across Taita Taveta County marked International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, the County Government reaffirmed its commitment to tackling…
Creating Safer Communities: Women Human Rights Defenders Strengthening Gender‑Based Violence Response Systems in Kenya’s Informal Settlements
Across Kenya’s informal settlements, gender-based violence (GBV) often remains hidden behind silence, stigma, and systemic barriers. Survivors frequently face intimidation,…
Stories of Change: Sex Workers are Pushing Nepal’s Decision-Makers Toward Responsibility
In Nepal, female and transgender sex workers continue to endure persistent violence, discrimination, and political invisibility. Their experiences seldom reach…
Nepal’s elections marked by both hope for reform and concern over human rights
Nepal is preparing for the 2026 parliamentary elections in a climate where civil society feels simultaneously optimistic and tense. Grassroots…
What Way Forward for Human Rights Work?
The landscape of human rights advocacy has quite shifted in the last few years. Arguably, while for many marginalised groups,…
Three Days at the UN Business and Human Rights Forum: Key Insights and Reflections
The UN Business and Human Rights Forum 2025, themed “Accelerating Action on Business and Human Rights Amidst Crises and Transformations,”…
Stories of Change – Safety and Community Through Freedom Centres
Nepal has made remarkable progress in recognising the rights of sexual and gender minorities, yet everyday realities often lag behind…
Sri Lanka Needs Our Help – The Aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah Is Devastating
A week ago, on November 28, Sri Lanka was struck by one of the worst natural disasters in its history.…
Let’s say together NO to digital violence and YES to equality!
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which also is a start to the 16…
LAHURNIP Receives Prestigious Human Rights and Business Award 2025
We are proud to share that KIOS grantee LAHURNIP (Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples) has been…
Stories of Change: Legal Pathways to Hope
Across the world, millions of people are forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and violence. In India,…
Stories of Change: Healing and Justice for LBQGNC Womxn in Western Kenya
For many LBQGNC (lesbian, bisexual, queer, and gender non-conforming) womxn* in Western Kenya, denied access to health care and justice has been…
Impact Story: Empowering Grassroots Advocacy through Youth Groups
Across Siaya, Homa Bay, and Kericho counties, the Haki Mashinani initiative sparked a grassroots movement that empowered youth, women, and…
Building Resilience and Regional Solidarity: Highlights from the 9th Annual Land and Environmental Defenders Workshop
From September 17–19, 2025, the Environmental Rights Organizations Network (EROG) hosted the 9th Annual Land and Environmental Defenders Workshop in…
Interview with Manoj Thushara: Supporting Queer Youth in Sri Lanka
Manoj Thushara is a Sri Lankan human rights defender who has dedicated his life to advancing the rights of sexual…
Nepal at a Turning Point: After Deadly Crackdown on Corruption Protests and Unrest, Can Democracy Recover?
Nepal is facing its gravest political crisis in decades. What began as peaceful, Gen Z-led protests against corruption, displays of…
Stories of Change: Towards a future free of torture through concrete action in Kenya
Kenya has witnessed many instances of torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and systemic human rights abuses. Fighting against these injustices…
Stories of Change: Legal Victories for Indigenous Voices in Nepal
According to the 2021 population census report, Indigenous Peoples, also known as Adivasi Janajati, make up around 35.08% of Nepal’s…
Stories of Change: Building Queer Solidarity and Advocacy in Sri Lanka
Since 2019, Équité, a grassroots LGBTQIA+ organisation in Sri Lanka, has been working to transform the experiences of young queer…
The KIOS 2024 Annual Report has been published
The KIOS Annual Report shows how, despite the world taking a turn from the perspective of human rights, our grantees…
From Discrimination to Solidarity: How Boda Boda Riders Are Becoming Allies for LGBTQIA+ Safety in Coastal Kenya
In Kenya’s coastal counties, boda boda and matatu operators are not just transport providers—they are community gatekeepers, influencing norms and…
Development Cooperation and Civil Societies Under the Squeeze of Funding Crisis and Political Change
The field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid is undergoing a profound transformation. The United States’ decision to freeze USAID…
Stories of Change: From Protest to Progress — The Paten Clan’s Fight for Land Rights
In Uganda’s oil-rich Albertine Rift region, development has brought both opportunity and challenge. Large-scale infrastructure and agricultural projects promise economic…
President Stubb’s Meeting with Civil Society Organisations Also Included Human Rights Organisations Supported by KIOS: Focus on Human Rights and the State of Civil Society in Kenya
Finnish President Alexander Stubb met with Kenyan civil society actors in Nairobi as part of his official state visit. Representatives…