News
Èquité brings LGBTIQ+ people together in Sri Lanka
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…
From Rejection to Recognition: The Landmark Victory of NGLHRC in Kenya
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…
KIOS Supports LGBTIQ+ Activists in Africa and Asia
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…
Police Assault and Arrest Protesters in Kenya – Villagers Oppose Construction of Nuclear Power Plant
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…
When no one is listening: Reena Lama, advocate for the rights of sex workers in Nepal, is visiting Finland
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…
Interview with Reena Lama at the World Village Festival on sex workers’ rights in Nepal
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…
Business and human rights: Perspectives on the security of human rights defenders
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…
The Ongoing Struggle of Tibet: Insights from Political Leader Penpa Tsering on the Human Rights Situation and the Exile Population of Tibet
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…
Nearly 400 proposals received for the Rights, Governance, and Accountability Grants under the Haki Ni Yetu project
Thank you for your proposals! We have received nearly 400 proposals, showcasing the incredible interest and commitment to advancing human rights in Kenya.
The KIOS 2022 Annual Report has been published
The KIOS Annual Report 2022 shows that despite the challenges rising conflicts and questioning of the whole human rights systems around the globe, active civil society…
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza requires immediate action – KIOS joins in with over 600 NGOs calling for ceasefire
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is alarming and threatens the realization of people’s human rights. KIOS joins appeals with demands that an immediate ceasefire must be…
Right Livelihood Award to Phyllis Omido from KIOS long-term grantee CJGEA
Phyllis Omido, the founder and Executive Director of our long-standing grantee, the Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA), is one of this year’s Right…
KIOS supports Calls to Free Imprisoned Human Rights Defenders Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan
KIOS expresses solidarity with Odhikar, Khan and Elan and calls for their immediate release. On September 14th, Khan and Elan, members of the Bangladeshi NGO Odhikar,…
Developing the human rights responsibility of development banks
Development banks play a major role in financing development projects in the global south. However, their operation has raised important questions, especially about human rights. In…
KIOS and Siemenpuu join ALLIED Coalition
KIOS and its sister Siemenpuu Foundation recently joined the Alliance for Land, Indigenous and Environmental Defenders ALLIED. ALLIED is an international alliance of organisations, which works…
LGBTIQA+ Activists in the Spotlight during Helsinki Pride Week
During Helsinki Pride Week LGBTIQA+ activists from the Global South will give their own perspectives of the situation in their countries. On Wednesday 28 June activists…
Interview with Winnie Masai at the World Village Festival
Winnie Masai from KIOS’s partner organisation InformAction will be interviewed at the World Village Festival in Helsinki. The programme “From underdogs to a force for change”…
Terms of Reference for a consultancy to conduct a baseline study in Kenya
TOR for conducting a baseline survey and situation analysis on the development environment and capacity needs of grassroots based organisations in Kenya.
New Board of Directors appointed
KIOS Board of Directors for the year 2023 has been appointed. Ms. Auli Starcks continues as Chair of the Board and Mr. Juho Aalto was selected…
Statement: The KIOS Foundation stands with LGBTIQ+ activists
The KIOS Foundation stands in solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons across the globe. We are proud to fund activists fighting…
The KIOS 2021 Annual Report has been published
The KIOS Annual Report 2021 shows how activists managed to continue their human rights work, even in the situation where Covid-19 pandemic was still ongoing. Last…
The Environment and Its Defenders in Danger
Watch the recording of the conversation between Phyllis Omido and Iiris Lais from the World Village festival!
Elections in Kenya are being waited with bated breath
The elections to be held next week have already increased the amount of fake news spreading online. Kenya has often seen violence after the election results.…
Love is Legal
The decriminalization of homosexuality has and would affect the position of the LGBTIQ+ community in Finland and around the world. Two activists from Finland and Kenya…
How do we treat the environment as a human right?
The seminar organised by the KIOS Foundation and the Siemenpuu Foundation discussed, among other things, green colonialism, the rights of indigenous peoples and the safety of…
Seminar on Human Rights and the Environment – Environmental Defenders on the Frontline
Welcome to the international seminar organised by KIOS and the Siemenpuu Foundation on Tuesday 31.5.2022 in Helsinki and online.
Open call for grant proposals from Nepal
KIOS is opening a call for human rights grant proposals for organisations in Nepal. The focus is on gender equality, non-discrimination and the human right to…
Phyllis Omido, the “Erin Brockovich of East Africa”, to the World Village Festival in Helsinki
The Kenyan environmental human rights defender Phyllis Omido comes to Finland for the World Village Festival in Helsinki in May. Ms. Omido and will talk about…
KIOS joins campaign calling for the UN to open its doors to NGOs
Too often authoritarian states are denying human rights organisations entry to UN debates. KIOS has joined a global campaign that calls for states to take civil…
Kenyan government plans to issue 14 000 national identity cards for the double registered
Without an identity card, it is difficult to get a formal job in Kenya, for example. An NGO called Haki na Sheria helps the double registered…