Community Voices Blog

Human rights reports highlight impunity, violence in the region – The Seattle International Foundation

Originally published on the Seattle International Foundation’s blog on June 6, 2012 – On May 17th, The U.S. Department of State released its 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The reports highlight widespread corruption and violence throughout Latin America, and include statistics on the frightening levels of impunity and sexual and gender based violence…

The Learning Visit to the Arab Region from an Arab Perspective

By Dr. Elie Abouaoun, Executive Director at Arab Human Rights Fund

Almost two weeks ago, a group of funders successfully concluded the “Funder Learning Visit to the Arab Region” (Tunis, May 8-10) organized by the International Human Rights Funders Group (IHRFG) and Ariadne- European Human Rights Funders Network. The visit took place during a critical and historical time for the Arab region. Currently, at least one…

Raising Awareness about Corporate Power and the Supreme Court

By Hilda Vega at Libra Foundation

Back on February 28th, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Kiobel v Royal Dutch Shell, which for the first time placed before the court the question of corporate accountability for internationally recognized human rights abuses.  The case involves allegations of Shell’s complicity in the torture and execution of members of the Ogoni Nine, who were…

Defending Defenders: Providing Support to Grantees at Risk

By Jessica Wrenn and Rosalie Nezien at American Jewish World Service

Originally published on Re:Philanthropy! The Council on Foundations’ Blog on April 26, 2012. In mid-March, following the news that Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, a warlord from the DRC, had been convicted of war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), activists lauded the long-awaited verdict, calling on the ICC and the Congolese government to implement the…

Investing in the Unseen Environmental Movement

By Peter Kostishack, Director of Programs at Global Greengrants Fund

Originally published on Re:Philanthropy! The Council on Foundations’ Blog on March 21, 2012. Roughly 80 percent of the coastal mangroves around the coastal Colombian town of Tumaco have been lost through deforestation, urban development, and contamination from frequent oil spills. The area is a hub for industrial storage and transportation of petroleum, and during most…

Is it possible to shift philanthropy practice from the middle?

By Hilda Vega, Senior Advisor at Strategic Philanthropy

Originally published on Latest from Alliance Magazine on February 23, 2012. Last month I attended the International Human Rights Funders Group conference in San Francisco, which began with a day-long institute on cultural competency in grantmaking titled ‘What’s Power Got To Do With It?’. The training was facilitated by Vini Bhansali of IDEX and Akaya…