Annual Report
2023
Maria Dahle, Director
In 2023, the human rights situation across the regions where we work was further influenced by military conflict and crackdowns against independent civil society. In these difficult times, we continue to draw inspiration from the work of our brave partners.
Among them are political prisoners, those relentlessly documenting human rights violations and war crimes, and those calling out injustice and advocating for accountability at home and abroad.
In 2023, we witnessed the power of the Georgian civil society as authorities attempted to introduce Russian-style “foreign agent” legislation. Unprecedented mobilisation and the biggest mass demonstrations in the country’s recent history resulted in the draft bill being withdrawn two days after its first reading. The withdrawal of the foreign agent law would not have happened without a strategic and united civil society response, which had the members of the Network of Human Rights Houses at the heart of it. In the Balkans, Human Rights Houses Banja Luka, Belgrade and Zagreb and other members of civil society in the region are united in calling for similar proposed legislation to be dropped by authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska.
In Poland, a new government came to power following parliamentary elections, which offered hope for improved rule of law and women’s rights in particular. Civil society’s role in raising awareness about what was at stake ahead of the elections cannot be underestimated.
In Ukraine, civil society was instrumental in the aftermath of 2014 Russia's invasion in building up resistance, raising awareness of the population, and cooperating with local authorities to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Civil society continue to play a vital role in shielding Ukraine’s democracy, gearing international support and painstakingly documenting violations to make accountability possible.
Time and time again, we see that amidst the challenges and the risks, the perseverance, resilience and mobilisation of civil society brings results.
Our work in 2023
June 2023: Network colleagues Branislav Ristić and Sara Sinčić from Human Rights Houses Banja Luka and Zagreb meet for the first time in-person during HRHF’s “From Idea to Impact” workshop in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) envisions a world in which everyone can freely and safely promote and enjoy all human rights. Empowered human rights defenders and a strong and independent civil society are key to this vision.
Our vision
June 2023: HRHF works with Human Rights House Tbilisi representatives on joint advocacy plans.
How we work to achieve our vision
In 2023, HRHF worked towards the following objectives as part of its 2019-23 five-year strategy:
Looking ahead at the next five years
May 2023: At an internal seminar in Oslo, HRHF staff discuss and provide input to the new 5-year strategy for 2024-28.
2023 was the final year of HRHF’s 5-year strategy (2019-23). This period was marked by unprecedented global challenges and crises, yet we look back on it with pride for the work and progress that we have achieved alongside the Network of Human Rights Houses.
In 2023, HRHF embarked on a consultative process to devise a new strategy for the upcoming five-year period: 2024-28. The new strategy reaffirms the added value of the Human Rights House concept and builds on the strength of the Network of Human Rights Houses in order to advance and protect fundamental rights that underpin independent civil society and make it possible to hold institutions and individuals accountable.
Read more about our plans for the next five years here.
Establish and support Human Rights Houses
June 2023: 20 participants from the Network of Human Rights Houses improved their project-planning skills during the “From Idea to Impact” workshop in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Addressing human rights in Azerbaijan through UPR process
In 2023, HRHF worked with civil society organisations in Azerbaijan to engage with their country’s review during the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review. A series of in-person and virtual workshops, a 3-month programme focused on UPR pre-session participation, and an event in Geneva allowing HRDs to engage directly with diplomats led to strong recommendations to the Azerbaijani authorities and other state delegations, reflecting human rights challenges on the ground.
Learning to build impactful human rights projects
Between 12-15 June 2023, 20 participants from the Network of Human Rights Houses gathered in Vilnius, Lithuania, for “From Idea to Impact”, a workshop organised by HRHF focused on designing and implementing impactful human rights projects.
The workshop was co-funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union.
Building the capacity of the next generation of COE changemakers
Throughout 2023, 14 human rights defenders refined their advocacy skills and deepened their knowledge of Council of Europe (CoE) advocacy as part of the HRHF’s Advocacy Capacity Building Programme, co-funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union.
New Human Rights House established in Bosnia and Herzegovina
In April, Human Rights House Banja Luka became the newest member of the Network of Human Rights Houses, uniting five member organisations with decades of combined experience in promoting and protecting human rights with a particular focus on the rights of women, children, whistleblowers and environmental activists.
November 2023: Ratko Pilipović (Center for the Environment) and Tanja Boromisa (Zdravo da ste – Hi Neighbour) attend their first Network meeting as representatives of Human Rights House Banja Luka.
Of capacity building participants reported expanded advocacy skills and knowledge.
0
%
Of capacity building activity participants report expanded skills and knowledge to respond to human rights needs.
0
%
New Human Rights House established.
0
In 2023, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) and the Network of Human Rights Houses celebrated the establishment of a new Human Rights House in Banja Luka, and its addition to the Network as its newest member. Throughout the year, HRHF extended its efforts to strengthen the capacity of Human Rights Houses and their member organisations to address human rights challenges locally and internationally. Thanks to the generous financial support of our donors, HRHF was able to support the work of Houses and their member organisations through core and project grants, empowering them to serve as platforms for human rights work and respond to local human rights needs.
Connect Human Rights Houses
November 2023: Colleagues from 28 CSOs representing Human Rights Houses in 12 countries reunited in Warsaw, Poland for the first in-person Human Rights Houses Network Meeting since 2019.
Stories from Occupied Crimea exhibition
Through its House-to-House fund, HRHF supported Human Rights House Crimea, its member organisation ZMINA Human Rights Centre, and the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House to organise the “Stories from occupied Crimea” in Vilnius, Lithuania, as part of a wider exhibition that also took place in Kyiv and Brussels.
Why we defend human rights
In 2023, we interviewed several human rights defenders throughout the year, including in a set of interviews marking Human Rights Day. These brave HRDs spoke about their challenges, and their motivations for continuing their work, often at risk.
Advocating with a connected Network of Human Rights House
The Network of Human Rights Houses works together to protect and advance the freedoms of assembly, association, and expression and the right to be an HRD, which are essential for an independent civil society to function. Throughout 2023, HRHF and the Network jointly raised awareness about attacks on these rights and stood together in calls for action.
Reunited: Human Rights Houses Network Meeting 2023
After several years of unprecedented global events, the Network of Human Rights Houses convened in Warsaw between 20-24 November for the first in-person Network meeting since 2019. Colleagues representing 28 NGOs from 12 countries reconnected to discuss successes, common challenges, and emerging human rights trends.
Of participants in network-wide capacity building activities continue being in touch with each other.
0
%
Organisations supported through project-based grants.
0
Network members involved in advocacy and capacity building activities.
0
+
In 2023, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) continued strengthening connections in the Network of Human Rights Houses. Together, Network members participated in solidarity campaigns, learned from each other at events and through joint projects, and jointly advocated for stronger human rights standards internationally. In November in Warsaw, the Network reunited for its first in-person Network Meeting since 2019.
In the Balkans, Human Rights Houses Banja Luka, Belgrade and Zagreb, as well as the Sarajevo Open Centre formed a coalition aiming to develop a regional network of Human Rights Houses. Together, they have worked to develop a report on the situation for human rights defenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia - this report also serves as a pilot for the wider Network.
Protect human rights defenders
June 2023: representatives from the Network of Human Rights Houses gathered near the Belarusian embassy in Vilnius for a solidarity action in support of their imprisoned colleagues and all political prisoners in the country.
Emergency support for Ukrainian Civil Society
Through the ERIM-led ESU regional project, HRHF and several members of the Network were able to continue supporting civil society in Ukraine with a wide range of emergency assistance including support for human rights lawyer Serghiy Zayets to continue his work through power outages caused by shelling, mental health support and retreats for Ukrainian civil society, and evacuations of human rights defenders like Oksana Tropina.
Solidarity with political prisoners
HRHF and Network members led and joined several actions and campaigns in the year calling for the release of political prisoners in Belarus and Ukrainian political prisoners held by Russia.
Working to generate public awareness and support for solidarity campaigns, HRHF amplified the voices of human rights defenders at risk, including former political prisoners such as Human Rights House Azerbaijan representatives Intigam Aliyev and Anar Mammadli, as well as the relatives of political prisoners, where possible, such as Natalia Pinchuk, wife of imprisoned Nobel Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.
Spotlighting HRDs at risk on the international stage
Throughout 2023, HRHF and partners in the Network and beyond continued to raise pertinent cases of human rights defenders at risk, and warn of alarming trends in our region, through statements and side events at institutions including the UN, CoE, EU, and OSCE.
Increasing sustainability of Network Protection Programme
In November 2023, HRHF and members of the Network Protection Programme met in Warsaw for a seminar discussing strengthening the Programme amidst multiple human rights crises affecting the region. Looking forward, partners underlined the continued need to prioritise the protection of HRDs at risk, and committed to further develop protection infrastructure in the Network.
% Gender breakdown (M/F) of beneficiaries of Network's protection programme.
0
/
0
HRDs and their family members supported by 5 Human Rights Houses and HRHF.
0
+
HRDs and their work spotlighted in HRHF’s advocacy and communications.
0
+
Throughout the year, HRHF continued its work alongside several Human Rights Houses to protect human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus through the Network Protection Programme. Together, HRHF and Network members called for the release of political prisoners in Belarus and Ukrainian political prisoners held by Russia. HRHF raised cases of HRDs at risk in its communications and advocated with Network partners at the national and international levels for policies and international mechanisms to support HRDs. HRHF continued to support Ukrainian civil society in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country through the ESU regional project, implemented by a coalition led by ERIM.
March 2023: Human Rights House Foundation and Ukrainian civil society partners hosted “Ukraine: Accountability for war crimes & serious human rights violations”, a side event at the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Advance four rights core to human rights work
Combatting SLAPPs
HRHF continued to call for attention and action on the rising issue of SLAPPs in 2023 including as part of the CASE Coalition. Together, we provided input to the Council of Europe (CoE) recommendation and PACE report on the issue, as well as called for a robust EU Anti-SLAPP directive. HRHF supported and participated in the first Tbilisi anti-SLAPP conference with the CoE office in Georgia, leading to the launch of the anti-SLAPP platform in Georgia, of which Human Rights House Tbilisi is a member.
Rights of Defenders
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), HRHF updated and relaunched its Rights of Defenders booklet. This revised edition builds on the original publication which was widely used as an advocacy tool by the Network. The booklet outlines 20 key standards and principles protecting HRDs, informed by the UN Declaration and other international resolutions.
Standing with partners against “Foreign Agent” legislation
In 2023, authorities in Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina attempted to introduce Russia-style “foreign agent” laws. The proposed legislation in Georgia was dropped following mass protests and campaigning by Georgian civil society including Human Rights House Tbilisi, while a coalition of civil society in the Balkans including Human Rights Houses Banja Luka, Belgrade, and Zagreb called for similar legislation to be dropped in Republika Srpska. HRHF supported its partners with international advocacy and joint statements.
Keeping the human rights crisis in Eastern Europe in the spotlight
Throughout the year, HRHF and partners from the Network and beyond continued calling for strong international mechanisms for civil society in Belarus and Russia to engage with. We welcomed the renewal of the UN Special Rapporteur mandate on Belarus, and the renewal of the mandate on Russia with increased resources, both are processes to which we have worked extensively. At the UN, CoE, EU, and OSCE, we continued to work with Ukrainian partners to highlight Russia’s human rights violations and call for accountability in the context of the full-scale invasion.
Statements calling for the protection and support of human rights and HRDs at the international level.
0
Joint international advocacy activities and events organised in partnership with Network members.
+
0
New Network members engaging in European advocacy for the first time.
0
+
In 2023, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) and partners in the Network and beyond played central roles in advocating for key human rights mechanisms and standards on the international level. Together, we worked to advance the protection of four rights that underpin civil society: the freedoms of assembly, association, and expression and the right to be a human rights defender. HRHF supported local partners to advance national-level advocacy priorities and worked to ensure that the evolving human rights-related needs of Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian civil society were being heard consistently internationally as the situation in the region continued to be dire.
The year in pictures
June 2023: Human Rights House Oslo hosted representatives from The Community of Democracies as well as Norwegian civil society for discussions on human rights and democracy in Norway.
November 2023: Human Rights House Crimea representatives during an advocacy mission supported by HRHF to the UN General Assembly. Left to right: Mariia Sulialina (ALMENDA), Olha Skrypnyk (Crimea Human Rights Group), Tetiana Zhukova (ZMINA), Kateryna Rashevska (Regional Centre for Human Rights).
November 2023: UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor and Norwegian Ambassador to Georgia and Armenia Bergljot Hovland joined the ceremony of 2023 Lekso Award, established by Human Rights House Tbilisi.
September 2023: HRHF and People in Need hosted an evening devoted to the human rights situation in occupied Crimea in the context of the Human Rights Council’s 54th session, and interactive dialogues with the International Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the High Commissioner on Human Rights.
March 2023: HRHF hosted a virtual side event on the on-going human rights crisis in Russia during the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
November 2023: HRHF’s Nora Wehofsits spoke at a panel on SLAPPs advocacy and ECtHR judgements during the 2023 conference of the European Implementation Network in Leipzig, Germany.
November 2023: Representatives from HRHF, Human Rights Houses Banja Luka, Belgrade, and Zagreb gathered to plan the launch of a new Regional Network of Human Rights Houses in the Balkans.
June 2023: Over the course of three days, HRHF's "From Idea to Impact" workshop provided participants representing 18 CSOs from around the Network of Human Rights Houses with the opportunity to focus on the theory and practice behind developing and implementing projects that aim for positive human rights impact.
April 2023: Ahead of the Universal Periodic Review of Serbia, HRHF worked with partners from Human Rights House Belgrade to discuss recommendations with state delegations. L-R Milica Mutavdžić (Belgrade Centre), Katarina Golubovic (Yucom), Dušan Pokuševski (Belgrade Centre).
March 2023: HRHF and partners from Human Rights Houses Tbilisi and Crimea during the first OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting of 2023 in Vienna.
28 February - 1 March 2023: HRHF and representatives of Human Rights Houses in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Serbia, and Ukraine engaged in the first-ever Council of Europe (CoE) Civil Society Summit in The Hague, raising issues and discussing recommendations on how to improve the CoE in light of ongoing challenges in the region and preparing the CoE Summit in May 2023. Photo: L-R Ucha Nanuashvili (Human Rights House Tbilisi), Kateryna Rashevska (Human Rights House Crimea), Tetiana Zhukova (Human Rights House Crimea & Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv). Milan Filipovic (Human Rights House Belgrade), Anar Mammadli (Human Rights House Azerbaijan), Nora Wehofsits (HRHF).
April 2024: HRHF’s Nina Pániková with representatives of Human Rights House Zagreb member organisations to discuss support needs and joint work.
March 2023: HRHF hosted “Accountability for international crimes and serious human rights violations in Belarus” on the sidelines of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
September 2023: Ukraine's Lesia Ukrainka Theatre visited Oslo to perform at the National Theatre its first play since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as participate in the panel discussion “When Art Rebels”. The visit of the Lesia Ukrainka Theatre was organised by HRHF and Norway’s National Theatre, and was made possible thanks to the support of Fritt Ord, the European Union, Mental Health and Human Rights Info (member organisation of Human Rights House Oslo) the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and is a part of the Nobel Peace Centre’s “Nobel Peace Talks”.
April 2023: HRHF's Maria Dahle met with CoE Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge ahead of the 4th CoE Summit to discuss ideas for a more inclusive role for civil society.
In 2023, HRHF joined a coalition of Norwegian NGOs led by the Norwegian Human Rights Fund to launch Oslo Breathing Space City, a temporary relocation programme aimed at creating a “breathing space” for human rights defenders facing repression. The programme’s first two participants were Azerbaijani human rights lawyer, and Network-member Intigam Aliyev (left), and Pakistani human rights defender Naghma Iqtidar (right), pictured with mayor of Oslo, Marianne Borgen (centre).
October 2023: Participants from civil society organisations in the Network of Human Rights Houses in 8 countries took part in a hands-on advocacy trip to the CoE in Strasbourg during the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) as part of HRHF's Advocacy Capacity Building Programme, co-funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union.
March 2023: At HRC52, HRHF and representatives of Human Rights House Crimea advocated for accountability for human rights violations in the context of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo L-R: Matthew Jones (HRHF), Mariia Sulialina and Maria Kurinna (Human Rights House Crimea).
October 2023: Human Rights House Banja Luka hosted its first-ever workshop at its new premises.
November 2023: After several years of unprecedented global events, the Network of Human Rights Houses convened in Warsaw between 20-24 November for the first in-person Network meeting since 2019. Colleagues from 28 CSOs from 12 countries reconnected to discuss successes, common challenges, and emerging human rights trends.
The Network of Human Rights Houses
Resource Centre Nakhchivan
Status: Forced to cease activities
The Resource Centre in Nakhchivan was forced to cease its activities in 2014 when its founder had to flee Azerbaijan. The doors of the Centre may be closed, but the dream is to one day return to Nakchivan and re-open the doors as a home for local civil society.
Index on Censorship
Location: London, United Kingdom
Index on Censorship is a nonprofit that campaigns for and defends free expression worldwide. Index publishes work by censored writers and artists, promotes debate, and monitors threats to free speech.
Human Rights House Crimea
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine.
Established in exile in Kyiv, Human Rights House Crimea aims to develop, strengthen, and coordinate the capacity of organisations involved in human rights protection in Crimea, ensuring more effective and systematic human rights work. Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Human Rights House Crimea and its member organisations have taken a leading role in documenting human rights violations and alleged war crimes, as well as advocating for accountability.
Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv
Location: Chernihiv, Ukraine.
Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv unites organisations, human rights defenders, and civil activists, who believe that education can secure long-term positive changes in the field of human rights.
The Chernihiv House has worked tirelessly to assist repairs and humanitarian work in Ukraine as well as well as to document Russia’s continued military aggression.
Read about Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv and its member organisations.
Human Rights House Belgrade
Location: Belgrade, Serbia.
Supporting civil society, Human Rights House Belgrade has a focus on economic and social rights, discrimination, hate crime, minority issues, and access to justice. The House supports human rights defenders, providing free legal aid in the first instance. It is also a leader in Serbia’s EU negotiation process, coordinating with the National Convention on the EU – the platform for discussion on Serbian accession – as a genuine civil society movement for reforms and further EU integration.
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights
Location: Warsaw, Poland
The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights is one of the original founding members of the Network of Human Rights Houses. HFHR is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations involved in the protection of human rights in Poland and across Eastern Europe.
Human Rights House Oslo
Location: Oslo, Norway
The first Human Rights House was founded in Oslo in 1989, during a time of great change and hope for human rights in Europe. Human Rights House Oslo is today home to six diverse organisations that champion a variety of thematic and geographical human rights issues. These range from women’s rights in Norway, to the human rights situations of Tibet, Eastern Europe, and the entire African continent.
Read about Human Rights House Oslo and its member organisations.
Rafto Foundation
Location: Bergen, Norway
The Rafto Foundation works to promote human rights by presenting the Rafto Prize, empowering human rights defenders, challenging authorities and the business community and by providing education in democracy and human rights.
Human Rights House Tbilisi
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
Human Rights House Tbilisi unites five civil society organisations working on issues including media freedom, gender-based violence, rehabilitation of victims of torture, and other human rights topics. The House is an important regional resource working to increase capacity and protection for regional HRDs.
Read about Human Rights House Tbilisi and its member organisations.
Human Rights House Zagreb
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Human Rights House Zagreb was established in 2008 with a goal to contribute to building a democratic, pluralistic and inclusive society based on the values of human rights, social justice and solidarity. Today, the House in Zagreb is renowned as the centre of expertise on human rights in Croatia. The House works on research, monitoring, advocacy and education within three programs: democracy and human rights; justice and human rights; and socio-economic rights.
Read about Human Rights House Zagreb and its seven member organisations.
Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House
Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
The Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House (BHRH) was registered in 2006 in Lithuania due to the impossibility to register in Belarus. BHRH advances human rights through four strategic directions: human rights education, capacity building for human rights defenders and their organisations, protection and support of human rights defenders, and human rights advocacy.
Read more about the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House.
Human Rights House Banja Luka
Location: Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Established in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023, Human Rights House Banja Luka unites five organisations with decades of combined experience in promoting and protecting human rights with a particular focus on the rights of women, children, whistleblowers and environmental activists.
Read more about Human Rights House Yerevan and its member organisations.
Human Rights House Azerbaijan
Location: Azerbaijan
Established in 2007, the original Human Rights House Azerbaijan was forced to close its doors in 2011. After a crackdown on civil society in the country in 2014, three independent human rights organisations formed a new core group for the House in 2017. Alongside HRHF, House members have developed a roadmap with a view to relaunching the activities of the House in Baku.
Read more about Human Rights House Azerbaijan and its member organisations.
Human Rights House Yerevan
Location: Yerevan, Armenia
Established in Armenia in 2012, Human Rights House Yerevan unites six organisations that focus on human rights issues including freedom of expression, LGBT+ & women's rights, gender-based violence, and more.
Read more about Human Rights House Yerevan and its member organisations.
Human Rights Houses in 2023
Concept
The Human Rights House concept is built around the enduring values of solidarity & partnership. It remains as important today as when the first House opened its doors in Oslo in 1989.
Human Rights House Foundation establishes, supports, and connects Human Rights Houses – coalitions of civil society organisations working together to advance human rights at home and abroad. In 2023, over 80 NGOs were united in an international Network of Human Rights Houses.
Human Rights House Foundation
Human Rights House Foundation is an international non-profit organisation headquartered in Oslo with an office in Geneva and representation in Brussels and Tbilisi. HRHF holds consultative status at the United Nations and participatory status at the Council of Europe.
This financial data has been summarised from HRHF’s annual accounts. For a complete copy of the annual accounts and the accompanying independent audit report click here.
% Expense distribution per organisational objective: Direct support / HRHF-led initiatives
1. Establish and support Human Rights Houses (62% / 38%)
2. Connect Human Rights Houses (34% / 66%)
3. Protect Human Rights Defenders (64% / 36%)
4. Advance 4 rights core to human rights work (20% / 80%)
5. Build & maintain organisational capacity (0% / 100%)
Direct Support to Partners
HRHF-led Initatives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
% Expenses per organisational objective
1. Establish and support Human Rights Houses (37%)
2. Connect Human Rights Houses (14%)
3. Protect Human Rights Defenders (19%)
4. Advance 4 rights core to human rights work (15%)
5. Build & maintain organisational capacity (15%)
Allocation of expenses 2023
% Revenue by donor
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (69%)
European Union (21%)
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland (4%)
Foundation Open Society Institute (2%)
Ministry For Foreign Affairs of Finland (1%)
Other (2%)
For the fiscal year ending 31 December 2023, Human Rights House Foundation’s revenue totalled NOK 40.2 mln (EUR 3.5 mln).
Revenue 2023
Donate
We seek new partnerships in order to expand our ability to advance human rights through empowering human rights defenders and strengthening independent civil society.
We offer our sincere thanks for the generous financial support that we received from donors.
In 2023, our donors included the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, European Union, Foundation Open Society Institute, Ministry For Foreign Affairs of Finland, Fritt Ord, European Endowment for Democracy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
We also thank Mental Health and Human Rights Info for supporting our work.
Financial information
% Gender balance (Male / Female)
0
/
0
Locations: Headquarters in Oslo with an office in Geneva and representation in Brussels and Tbilisi.
0
Languages spoken in our offices
0
Nationalities represented in our organisation
0
Members of staff
0
Our people in 2023
Tamar Zakaidze
Project Financial Officer
Mushegh Yekmalyan
Senior Human Rights Officer
Elaine Sabourin
Senior Grants Officer
Nina Pániková
Senior Capacity Building Officer
Kateryna Oleinikova
Administrative Assistant
Ekaterine Keburia
Project Financial Officer
Matthew Jones
Senior International Advocacy Officer
Prisca Jaobelison
Administrative Officer
Craig Jackson
Senior Communication Officer
Thomas Engebretsen
Financial Accountant
Pasha Bystrova
Communication Consultant
Staff
Daiva Petkevičiūtė
Head of House Development and Support
Iryna Pavlovska
Head of Administration and Finance
Management
Nina Pániková
(Staff elected
Board member)
Senior Capacity Building Officer, HRHF
Minda Holm
Research fellow with the research group on foreign policy and diplomacy, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)
Karen-Anna Eggen
Researcher, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies
Laila Bokhari
Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Pål Lieungh
(Deputy Chair)
Partner, Thommessen law firm
Christopher
Hansteen
(Deputy Chair)
Partner, Hjort law firm
Bernt Hagtvet
(Chairperson)
Professor emeritus, Institute of political science, University of Oslo
Board members