Advocacy

The Advocacy work of the NHRF takes as a starting point the NHRF mandate of being “a unique organisation that fills the dual role of a grantmaker and an international human rights actor” with our goal being “that marginalised and vulnerable individuals and other groups who experience human rights violations and injustices are able to claim their rights and have them fulfilled”.

We aim to be a flexible, courageous donor and partner, acting in solidarity with grassroots human rights organisations and human rights defenders around the world. This should also be visible in our advocacy work.

The NHRF is first and foremost a human rights fund. When it comes to advocacy, we prioritise supporting our grantee partners to carry out advocacy- and campaigning and to support them in any capacity-sharing and capacity building efforts they require in these areas. Additionally, we aim to facilitate space where grantee partners can learn and share advocacy strategies and create synergies with relevant actors and networks both within and across countries and regions. Thus, we can use the NHRF’s networks and links to open doors for partners to directly advocate for their own objectives to be met.

Our own advocacy will often focus on promoting the protection of human rights defenders globally, including environmental human rights defenders, advocating for increased and flexible funding for human rights and human rights defenders, fighting hate speech and false and negative narratives about human rights defenders, and ensuring that the right to defend human rights is protected. We aim to use our links to Norwegian civil society, the international human rights community, and the local and national human rights organisations we work with, to work in solidarity with the human rights defenders and organisations we support.

Our networks

The NHRF actively participates in national and international networks for advocacy and experience exchange, and to connect local human rights defenders to national and international actors. Through these networks, the NHRF provides professional input to decision makers, especially regarding the work for protection of human rights defenders and the right to defend rights.

Through its member organisations, the NHRF has access to experts in areas such as a protection, inclusion, research, worker’s rights and other, as well as on different countries and regions.

Furthermore, the NHRF engages with Norwegian and other diplomatic missions abroad, and with UN Special Procedures and special rapporteurs, such as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders. The NHRF meets regularly with other Nordic donors and is a member of international networks of human rights funders.

In addition, the NHRF is currently active in the following networks:

  • Norwegian Forum 1325 on Women, Peace and Security
  • Norwegian Dalit Solidarity Network
  • Norwegian Forum for Central America
  • Norwegian Colombia Forum