The Norwegian Human Rights Fund

655 seigmenn og bamsemums til partiene som forhandler budsjett med regjeringen. Vi håper det gir dem energi til å sikre reversering av de 655 millionene regjeringen foreslår å ta fra bistandsbudsjettet for å dekke kostnader knyttet til mottak av flyktninger i Norge. Takk til Redd Barna og de 24 andre organisasjonene vi i The Norwegian Human Rights Fund står sammen med om dette kravet!

Miljøpartiet De Grønne - MDG Senterpartiet Arbeiderpartiet SV - Sosialistisk Venstreparti Rødt

We are immensely grateful to everyone who joined us for the launch of our 2025 Annual Report. Special thanks to our donors for their continuous support. Your contributions are indispensable in supporting grassroot organisations that work tirelessly to defend their human rights.🙌

At a time when funding for human rights work is declining, the support given to these organisations is more important than ever. ✊

This year’s report highlights the fundamental role solidarity plays in the protection of human rights. For the NHRF, solidarity means building bridges between people, across borders, and finding common ground rooted in shared values. Those bridges have enabled the NHRF to support 153 projects through 131 grantee partners, reaching 9,791 human rights defenders.

These are not just numbers, but individuals whose work, strength, bravery, and unwavering commitment to protecting human rights in a world where respect and funding for human rights is declining, and authoritarianism is rising.

We invite you to stand with us in solidarity with those most affected remain central to the defense of human rights.

Click the link in BIO to read the full report and learn more about their stories!

Graphic design, layout and illustrations: Kevin Valenzuela

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Javier Roura, Head of Programmes and Partnerships at ProtectDefenders.eu, for a valuable exchange on the importance of temporary relocation programmes for human rights defenders. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for sustained support and funding, particularly in the current challenging context faced by defenders worldwide. If you are interested in this topic, we recommend having a look at our recent website article: https://nhrf.no/article/2026/protecting-those-who-protect-rights-why-temporary-relocation-programs-are-essential

We were also delighted that Javier shared a few words at our welcome gathering for the Spring 2026 participants of the Breathing Space City programme, offering insights into the vital role relocation initiatives play in protecting those at risk.

The Breathing Space City programme is part of the EU Temporary Relocation Platform coordinated by ProtectDefenders.eu, which is also a donor to the programme.

The activity was enabled with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Norwegian Human Rights Fund and can under no circumstance be regarded as reflecting the positions of the European Union.

Kan Norge ta seg råd til å satse mindre på menneskerettigheter i en verden preget av krig, uro og ledere med forakt for felles normer? Sammen med 5 andre organisasjoner skriver vi i dagens Altinget.no 👇
Utviklingspolitikken må ta menneskerettighetene på alvor - Altinget

https://www.altinget.no/artikkel/utviklingspolitikken-maa-ta-menneskerettighetene-paa-alvor

Amnesty International Norway Rafto Foundation for Human Rights Norwegian Helsinki Committee SAIH Norwegian Human Rights Fund Human Rights House Foundation

Utviklingspolitikken må ta menneskerettighetene på alvor - Altinget Dagens verden preges av krig, uro og ledere med forakt for felles normer. Norge kan ikke ta seg råd til å satse mindre på menneskerettigheter i en slik virkelighet, skriver seks menneskerettighetsorganisasjoner.

📣 Our Latest Newsletter Is Out!
In this edition, we take a closer look at our new Strategy for 2026–2030, alongside other updates from our work around the world. We hope you enjoy reading it and that the highlights provide inspiration, insight, and a clear view of where we’re headed.

👉 Read the full newsletter here:

Latest from the Norwegian Human Rights Fund: Introducing our new Strategy for 2026-2030 As of March 1, the Norwegian Human Rights Fund officially became a beneficiary of the Postcode Lottery! We are now one of 23 organisations receiving support from this charitable lottery, which provides flexible, non-earmarked funding. This strengthens our ability to support human rights defenders at...

We are so happy the Human Rights Council last week renewed the mandate for the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders! The decision was made by consensus, an important victory in such a difficult, global context for human rights.

We are profoundly grateful for Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders's excellent work and our collaboration with her over the last years. And now we celebrate and welcome the appointment of the first Latin American rapporteur, Colombian Andrea Bolaños Vargas!

The whole team at the NHRF are excited to continue supporting the mandate in its important work in all the ways we can. We also welcome Norway’s ongoing and principled support for the protection of human rights defenders and its continued commitment to strengthening this mandate at the UN level.

UN Unites Around Renewed Protection of Human Rights Defenders The UN Human Rights Council today adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders for another three years. The resolution was adopted by consensus and enjoys broad cross‑regional support.

📢 We’ve just published a new article: Protecting Those Who Protect Rights: Why Temporary Relocation Programs Are Essential.

Temporary relocation programs offer human rights defenders more than just safety; they provide space to breathe, recover, and rethink strategies when threats become overwhelming. These programs prevent burnout, support mental well-being, strengthen global solidarity networks, and help defenders return home with renewed energy and resilience.

🔗Learn more about how temporary relocation strengthens resilient human rights movements worldwide: https://nhrf.no/article/2026/protecting-those-who-protect-rights-why-temporary-relocation-programs-are-essential

💜 On this 8th of March, we celebrate women who defend rights, communicate from the territories, and transform realities.

Since 2020, we have collaborated with Boca de Polen, a women-led organisation in Chiapas that amplifies the voices of indigenous and peasant communicators.

🎙️ Through training, support, and radio production, they strengthen struggles for territory, food sovereignty, and the rights of indigenous peoples and women.

📻 We invite you to listen to their news programme Polen al Aire, also available on Spotify, and to learn more about their work.

As we conclude our relationship with them as partners, we wish them all the best as they continue on this path, and we will continue to accompany them in solidarity.

Illustrations by Boca de Polen

We are pleased to share moments from the launch of “Lighting Shadows – the women of Afghanistan,” now open at the Nobel Peace Center and free to visit from Feb 14–Mar 8, 2026.

The exhibition amplifies the voices of Afghan women through personal testimonies and symbolic imagery, revealing their resilience as they continue to learn, work, and support their families under severe repression. Created by Story Impact Collective and PROOF: Media for Social Justice, the exhibition invites all of us to witness both the shadows and the light within Afghan women’s lives.

At the opening, a panel discussion brought together Gaisu Yari, Sahraa Karimi, and Gerald Folkvord, who offered powerful reflections on the stories featured in the exhibition. The event also included a moving musical performance by Ghawgha Taban.

The launch was co‑organised by the Norwegian Human Rights Fund (NHRF), Amnesty International Norway, Story Impact Collective and Proof: Media for Social Justice

🔗 Learn more: https://www.nobelpeacecenter.org/en/exhibitions/lighting-shadows-the-women-of-afghanistan
📷 by Aina Ferretti Sardà