News
Beyond the Screen: How Kokotoni Communities in Kilifi County Are Turning Stories into Action
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…
Webinar: Resistance and Hope – Strengthening LGBTQIA+ Solidarity in a Time of Global Backlash
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…
A Safe Place to Heal: How Community Voices Secured Protection for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence in Kwale County
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…
Connecting Communities to Support and Justice: How a Mobile App Is Transforming GBV Response in Embu
For years, violence against women and girls in many communities across Embu was rarely reported beyond the family compound. Survivors often suffered in silence, with cases…
“Use your voice and remain resilient” – Michelle Mwelesa’s Message from Helsinki
“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…
Hope from human rights work: KIOS Annual Report 2025 published
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…
From Silence to Justice: How Human Rights Monitoring Is Transforming Lives in Mombasa
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…
Why Supporting Business and Human Rights Organizations Matters for Environmental Justice and Climate Action
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,…
Anti‑Gender Movements: A Global Threat to Human Rights and Civil Society
Anti‑gender movements have rapidly gained visibility and influence across the world. What began as loosely coordinated opposition to “gender ideology” has evolved into a well‑funded and…
Calling Back Life in Kokotoni: How a Community Found Its Voice
Written by: Elphic Tossi, Founder and Director, OneMillionTrees4Kilifi For years, the communities of Kokotoni and Rabai in Kilifi County endured the harsh realities of limestone mining. Daily…
Voices for Change – The Wins They Can’t Legislate
Written by: Elle Khaoma Have you ever wondered what survival looks like in a country that insists upon your demise while simultaneously refusing to acknowledge your…
Movie night “Rafiki” and discussion at Korjaamo
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…
Growing Threats to Environmental Rights Defenders in Kinango: Why Safe Civic Space Matters for Climate Justice
Written by: Hamida Isaac, Coordinator Kinango Human Rights Network Kinango and other parts of Kwale County, communities continue to bear the burden of environmental degradation linked…
Protecting Environmental Defenders in the Climate Crisis: Why Regional Solidarity and Policy Action Matter
Written by: Fardosa Mustafa, Network Coordinator Environmental Rights Organisation (EROG) Across East Africa, communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis are increasingly facing environmental destruction,…
Open call for Expressions of Interest to support human rights work in Sri Lanka
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…
Every Brave Act Begins with a Person
Working at KIOS has really opened my eyes to what defending human rights actually means. It’s not just slogans, campaigns, or numbers in a report. It’s…
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. Why? Parliament was occupied. In…
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 about defending the civil liberties. Michelle…
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 thousands of people from long-established riverbank…
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 three trusted local grantees. Through our…
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 Lanka at end of May–early June. …
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 sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) while…
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, limited access to justice, and inadequate…
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 the spaces where laws are debated…
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 organisations supported by KIOS describe the…
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, this exclusion has been present generally,…
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,” brought together over 4,600 participants from…
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 legal promises—especially for Dalit communities. When…
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. Cyclone Ditwah brought torrential rains, floods,…
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 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,…