NEW YORK—On International Human Rights Day, the Open Society Foundations reaffirm their vision for a shared humanity where everyone can thrive, continuing the philanthropy’s role as the world’s largest private funder promoting rights, equity, and justice.
As the world faces rapidly evolving challenges and increasing threats to core open society values, Open Society made several multiyear commitments in 2024 to support a broad range of critical human rights actors at all levels from community-based activists to national, regional, and international human rights groups.
Open Society will also forge strategic relationships with values-aligned governments, multilateral bodies, and other nontraditional partners that demonstrate leadership, promote accountable institutions, and advance far-sighted ideas.
Under the leadership of Chair Alex Soros, the philanthropy is streamlining its programming to support new voices and approaches that align with today’s emerging forms of organizing and leadership. The Foundations will pursue targeted time-bound efforts, provide long-term institutional support, and retain the flexibility to respond to crises through rapid response funds.
Binaifer Nowrojee, president of the Open Society Foundations, said:
Across the world, we are seeing inspiring and powerful movements working to shape a future framed by human rights. Standing with them as allies, we will deepen, broaden, reimagine, and catalyze efforts to advance a new vision of human rights that is not bounded by historic double standards, exclusions, and inequities.
We are crafting and implementing thoughtful, future-focused strategies for change that will leverage gains made through key openings and convert them into wins. Our investments will aim to work with groups to build on and sustain these wins over time. We are committed to listening and to being informed by the needs of allies leading the fights for rights, equity, and justice.
The commitments include multiyear investments across a broad range of issues and geographies, including:
- Rights protection: Supporting human rights advocacy as well as protection of rights defenders at risk, particularly environmental and women’s groups
- Inclusion: Ensuring marginalized and vulnerable groups can fully exercise their rights without fear of violence or discrimination
- Public safety: Promoting communities-centered approaches to tackling repressive or militarized responses to violence and public safety
- Accountability: Supporting human rights–based litigation in national, regional, and international courts
- Political participation: Supporting new champions and nonpartisan movements of inclusive and accountable democratic practice in specific countries and globally
- Economic rights: Developing and promoting new state-led economic models for a green transformation to advance economic and social rights
In 2025, Open Society will be approving further programming to promote rights, equity, and justice.
Open Society has also approved funding across other areas, including ideas, impact investing, advocacy, and higher education.
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