News
“It is a great honor to be involved in this important work,” says the new Chair of the Board of KIOS
KIOS has a new Board for 2022. Auli Starck was appointed as the chair of the Board and Mariko Sato was appointed as the vice-chair. Both…
New faces at the KIOS office
KIOS warmly welcomes our new staff members Kati Ruskola, Julia Koskinen, Nora Luoma and Lotta Jokinen. Ms. Kati Ruskola started as an expert in charge of…
Human Rights Violations in Development Project in Uganda
An irrigation project to help fight poverty in Uganda has led to conflicts between the authorities and the locals. The project, which is supported by the…
KIOS Annual Report 2020 published
KIOS Annual Report 2020 shows how activists managed to continue their human rights work, even in the midst of a pandemic. Last year, KIOS funded 40…
Has the Era of Human Rights Passed?
Watch the recording of Mr. Maina Kiai’s talk at the World Village Festival! Former UN Special Rapporteur Mr. Maina Kiai talked about the future of human…
Former UN Special Rapporteur Mr. Maina Kiai at the World Village Festival
Has the Era of Human Rights Passed? Kenyan human rights defender and former UN Special Rapporteur Mr. Maina Kiai talks about the future of human rights…
New Board of Directors appointed
KIOS Board of Directors for the year 2021 has been appointed. Ms. Nora Luoma acts as new chair of the Board and Ms. Auli Starck as…
![[:en]Tens of people raise a fist.[:fi]Kuvassa iso ryhmä aktivisteja istuu tai seisoo yhdessä nyrkit pystyssä.[:]](https://kios.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/IMG_4196-720x480.jpg)
A major court victory to CJGEA and victims of lead poisoning
KIOS-supported organization CJGEA has received a significant legal victory in Kenya. The court ordered the equivalent of 10M euros in compensation to a community whose health…
Dalits in Nepal amid lockdown
The national lockdown in Nepal has caused an immense downfall in people’s livelihoods. The Dalit community is one of the worst hit, since most of them…
KIOS Annual Report 2019 published
The annual report for 2019 of the KIOS Foundation presents our achievements from last year. In many countries, 2019 was a year of closing civil society…
Message to our partners during coronavirus (COVID-19)
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading across the world and affecting all of us, KIOS is working to see how we can best support our partners…
KIOS office is working remotely
KIOS has been preparing for the coronavirus outbreak in Finland by deciding to do remote work as much as possible. This means most of our staff…
Meet six women defending human rights
In our new video series Defending rights six brave women human rights defenders share their stories and tell about their work towards justice and equality.
Guest writer Maina Kiai: Nordic countries must lead in expanding civic space
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…
![[: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.jpg)
Music that Brought Solace to Troubled Minds: A Gift for Children in Prison
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…
Abilis, KIOS and Siemenpuu are looking for program evaluators
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…
Mary Lawlor: Human rights defenders are agents of social change
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…
Countering risks and threats to women human rights defenders in Pakistan
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…
Women human rights defenders in Helsinki: “Stand by us”
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…
Supporting human rights defenders in Burundi
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…
Helsinki Pride Week: Kenyan LGBTIQ+ activist: “I am marching for possibilities”
Helsinki Pride Week was attended by Kenyan LGBTIQ+ activist Njeri Gateru as a guest of KIOS. She works to decriminalize homosexuality in Kenya.
Kenyan LGBTIQ activist comes to Finland on Pride Week
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…
Finding new ways to defend human rights – KIOS at World Village Festival
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…
Mr. Kim Remitz appointed Executive Director of KIOS
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…
Celebrating the KIOS Foundation’s 20 years
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…
20th anniversary publication out
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…
The new KIOS Board of Directors elected
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…
Guest writer Phil Bloomer: Corporate Accountability – the orphan child of human rights in business
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…
Welcoming Kim Remitz as acting Executive Director of KIOS
Kim Remitz will lead the human rights work at KIOS from the beginning of October as KIOS acting Executive Director Terhi Aaltonen goes on maternity leave.…
KIOS 20 years – celebrating the achievements and the unyielding nature of human rights work
KIOS partner KISORA in the spotlight. Kisumu at the center of human rights development The new governance structures in Kenya give room for effective…