September 2019 - Alliance magazine

Human rights philanthropy

At $2.8 billion per year, human rights funding amounts to 5 per cent of all giving.

Yet the very idea of the open, liberal, and democratic society underpinned by respect for human rights is under attack and refugees, people of colour, LGBT individuals and groups, women’s rights and environmental activists and individuals or groups denied basic economic and social rights – all those that human rights legislation protects – are in the firing line.

The September 2019 issue of Alliance highlights the eco-system of liberal funders and activists throwing everything at stemming the tide. Adrian Arena takes us inside the Oak Foundation’s human rights programme, Selmin Caliskan discusses OSF’s exile to Berlin, and Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri explains why funding for economic and social rights should be prioritised.

Elsewhere, Hans Schopflin shares the story of his foundation’s work on preventing drug abuse and promoting democracy in Germany and we feature reaction to the Notre-Dame fire from Fondation de France.

Special feature

Charting a new course for the human rights movement

3 September 2019
Julie Broome, Carola Carazzone and John Kabia

Philanthropy has a crucial role to play in supporting human rights groups to focus on people’s economic and social rights as well as promoting their civil and political freedoms Human rights philanthropy is not a straightforward business. Supporting people to claim their rights involves funding advocacy efforts which may not be successful, court cases which may go on for years, and campaigns which may struggle to achieve concrete results. Yet support for human rights causes …

Charles Keidan

Editorial

The battle to build a human rights movement fit for the times

The open, liberal, and democratic societies which human rights help to foster are under sustained attack. Right-wing governments and movements have harnessed popular discontent and trained fire on groups which human rights legislation was established to protect. Regrettably, a few conservative philanthropists and foundations have sometimes provided the ammunition. Their provision of long-term core funding, convening space and support for a talent pipeline have made these efforts more strategic, impactful and successful. In the US, for example, the Supreme Court appointment of Brett Kavanaugh and influx of conservatives into the commanding heights of law and public policy is a case …