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 decisions around local resources. Through community dialogue, visual storytelling, and the newly gazetted Community Development Agreement (CDA) committee, residents are transforming local governance to ensure development responds directly to […]
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 rights is putting communities, activists and human rights defenders under increasing pressure. Civic space is shrinking, rights are being challenged, and hard-won progress is increasingly under threat. Yet alongside these challenges, […]
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 to return to abusive homes, seek temporary shelter with relatives, or stay in police stations ill-equipped to provide protection and psychosocial care. Despite these challenges, survivor protection remained largely […]
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 settled informally by relatives or councils of elders. While these traditional approaches sought to preserve family harmony, they frequently denied survivors justice, protection and access to essential support services. […]
“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 while speaking at the World Village Festival in May. Mwelesa works as an advocacy officer at Civic Freedom Forum (CFF), a Kenyan human rights organisation supported by KIOS. Mwelesa […]
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 declines, the operating environment for human rights work becomes increasingly challenging. However, hope lies in the courageous work of grassroots human rights defenders. In 2025, KIOS funded 88 human […]
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 tells a different story. Over time, this has created a climate of silence. But KIOS grantee Centre for Minority Rights and Strategic Litigation (CMRSL) is changing this one case […]
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, or legal accountability. Yet, through our work supporting grassroots actors, I have increasingly come to appreciate that Business and Human Rights is also deeply connected to environmental rights and […]
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 politically connected force shaping laws, public discourse, and international policy. In this blog we explore how anti-gender movements affect our everyday lives and realisation of human rights. And more […]
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 blasts shook their homes, dust blanketed their villages, and abandoned quarries left dangerous scars on the landscape. Respiratory illnesses became common, schools struggled with dusty classrooms, and local clinics […]
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 existence? Well, if you haven’t, I am here to tell you there is something to be said about the cognitive dissonance brought about by being constantly berated for supposedly […]
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 screening, a panel discussion will delve into the film’s themes in relation to activism and lived experiences. Movie Night: Rafiki – Love, Resistance, and Belonging brings together culture, activism, […]
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 to industrial activities, land disputes, extractive operations, and climate-related vulnerabilities. Through the support of the Haki Ni Yetu grant, efforts have been strengthened to advance environmental justice, climate action, […]
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, shrinking civic space, and threats linked to powerful private and political interests. Land and Environment Defenders (LEDs) who speak out against pollution, unsafe extractive activities, land grabbing, and environmental […]
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 it. KIOS launches an open call for Expressions of Interest to support human rights work in Sri Lanka carried out by local civil society organisations. Smaller organisations with limited funding opportunities are […]
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 people who decide to act, even when it’s difficult or even dangerous. These are the people we wanted to highlight more strongly through the Support Brave Actions campaign. A […]
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 the heart of Nairobi, the nation’s capital once dubbed the “city under the sun,” a haunting silence lingers around Parliament Road. It is the kind of silence born not […]
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 will be interviewed by journalist Liselott Lindström. The event is on the Sunday 17 May at 17:45 as part of the talks and discussions at the World Village Festival. […]
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 settlements. The evictions directly affect communities where Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS), a KIOS grantee, is currently implementing its work. The Government of Nepal has launched a demolition drive targeting so-called squatter settlements along major […]
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 grantees, help could reach people living in remote areas and those often left outside mainstream relief. Here’s what was achieved, and why locally rooted response mattered. A Climate Disaster […]
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