2016 ANNUAL REPORT humanrightshouse.org PROTECT EMPOWER SUPPORT Network of Human Rights Houses Azerbaijan • Belarus (in exile) • Belgrade • Bergen • Chernihiv • London Moscow • Oslo • Sarajevo • Tbilisi • Voronezh • Warsaw • Yerevan • Zagreb Intigam Aliyev, pictured on the front cover as he is released from prison, is a prominent and widely respected Azerbaijani human rights lawyer. In April 2015, he was sentenced to seven “Human Rights House Foundation and a half years in prison on politically motivated charges, through its various programs, as before being conditionally well as through the Houses in Tbilisi, released in March 2016. He Vilnius, Belgrade and other places is an expert within the ILIA did everything to ensure that human programme established by the Human Rights Houses, which rights defenders, lawyers continued to provides education in human work and feel safe.” rights law. We celebrate his Intigam Aliyev release from prison, but regret Lawyer, human rights defender that he is still restricted by a travel ban. Contents Editorial: Maria Dahle, Director 3 Human Rights House Foundation at a glance 4 2016 at a glance 6 Impacts 8 Human Rights Houses 22 Financial overview 2016 38 Organisational overview 2017 40 Meeting the challenges ahead 42 Copyright 2017 Human Rights HRHF Oslo office humanrightshouse.org House Foundation. All photos Kirkegata 5 without credit: Human Rights 0153 Oslo @HRHFoundation House Foundation Norway [email protected] /humanrightshousenetwork/ HRHF Geneva office /humanrightshousenetwork/ Rue de Varembé 1, 5th floor PO Box 35, 1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland [email protected] Human Rights House Foundation 2016 More important than ever Civil society is a key driver for the protection circumstances, and refocus and mobilise and advancement of human rights at home resources and partnerships. Combined with and abroad. Yet the space for civil society greater influence on the human rights agenda, is shrinking, and human rights defenders we continue to defend civil society space are increasingly under threat around the and the fundamental rights to freedom of world. Repressions – present for many years association, assembly and expression – and the in countries such as Russia, Belarus, and right to be a human rights defender. Azerbaijan – are becoming more frequent and severe, and are spreading to countries such By empowering hundreds of human rights as Poland and Hungary. In this environment, defenders through protection, training, and the key principles of the universality and capacity building, we support their essential indivisibility of human rights are being eroded work and impact on the fulfilment of human and attacked. rights in their countries. Authoritarian governments seem to hold on We celebrated the release of our Azerbaijani to their political and financial power at all cost. colleagues from prison, a highlight of 2016, To do so, they seek to silence independent while calling for the release of those still critical voices who promote human rights, behind bars. In November, we came together document abuses of power and function as for the Network Assembly of Human Rights watchdogs. The role and legitimacy of civil Houses, hosted at Human Rights House society is undermined through harassment, Belgrade. Building on our joint successes, we attacks, legislation criminalising their work, addressed common challenges, including the restrictions on travel, funding and operation spread of illiberal democracy and restrictions of organisations. This pressure creates fear on foreign funding, and set out plans to further of retaliation, erodes trust among journalists, address these challenges in 2017. human rights defenders, and activists, and limits their ability to pursue legitimate Together, we aim to be even more closely human rights work. In addition, the space connected through joint projects and for independent civil society is increasingly cooperation. An external evaluation in 2017 occupied by GONGOs (governmental of the Human Rights House concept and our organised non-governmental organisations). advocacy work will inform our new strategies for meeting the present challenges, and will Against these trends, our values of solidarity ensure that we and our partners remain and cooperation in networks are more dynamic, effective and sustainable. important than ever. The resilience, braveness and creativity we see among our partners is inspiring and offers hope. We can and must adapt to changing and deteriorating Maria Dahle Director HRHF Annual Report 2016 3 Human Rights House Foundation at a glance Human Rights House Foundation at a glance 15 Human Rights Houses 12 Countries in Eastern Europe, Human Rights House Foundation Caucasus, The Balkans and and Human Rights Houses Western Europe 4 Human Rights House Foundation offices and Rafto Foundation (Bergen) representations What? HRH Oslo HRHF (Oslo office) We protect, empower and support Key human rights defenders and their organisations locally, and unite Human Rights Houses them in an international network of Human Rights House Foundation Human Rights Houses. Why? Russian Research Centre for Human Rights Everyone has the right to freedoms (Moscow) of assembly, association and Barys Zvozskau Belarusian HRH expression, and to be a human (in exile, Vilnius) rights defender. Helsinki Foundation How? HRH London for Human Rights HRH Voronezh We bring organisations together (Warsaw) in Human Rights Houses, and Educational HRH Chernihiv HRHF (Brussels representation) connect them in an international network based on cooperation and solidarity. This enables us to facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building, and to support joint projects. HRHF advocates with HRH Zagreb and for partner organisations to HRHF (Geneva office) HRH Belgrade promote and advance strong human rights standards, which are essential for human rights defenders and their HRH Sarajevo organisations to work freely and HRH Tbilisi openly. HRHF (Tbilisi representation) HRH Yerevan HRH Nakhchivan HRH Azerbaijan (Baku) 4 HRHF Annual Report 2016 HRHF Annual Report 2016 5 2016 at a glance Achieving impact Organisations100 work in Human15 Rights Houses Countries12 with Human Human Rights Houses connected Rights Houses Human400 rights defenders Human157 rights defenders Policy179 makers reached under threat supported and lawyers trained out to 6 HRHF Annual Report 2016 Impact 2016 IMPACT Stronger governance and more 1 sustainable Human Rights Houses IMPACT Increased cooperation with and among 2 Human Rights Houses IMPACT Greater visibility and political influence 3 on the human rights agenda IMPACT Better protection for human rights 4 defenders and their organisations HRHF Annual Report 2016 7 Impact 2016 Impact 1: Stronger together Achieving stronger governance and more sustainable Human Rights Houses Houses help to enhance solidarity, cut Challenge The space for independent civil society is administrative costs, further increase shrinking globally. member NGOs’ visibility, and make Restrictive legislation and policies have member NGOs more accessible to become more widespread, making it victims and human rights defenders. increasingly difficult for independent organisations to access resources, to In 2016, all of the Houses raised organise and associate, and to work sufficient funds to cover their running openly. costs. Member organisations in eight of the Houses were active in joint projects and initiatives with other members. Impact The Human Rights House concept is With the support of the Human Rights designed to be flexible, but the overall House Foundation (HRHF), Human purpose of every House is to serve the Rights House Yerevan purchased the human rights cause, as part of the effort premises for a House in 2016 and started to strengthen civil society as a whole. preparations for renovation of the This is achieved through stimulating building. collaboration between member NGOs In 2016 HRHF, also looked to expand on human rights education, legal aid, the network of Houses, undertaking networking and advocacy. feasibility studies for a House in Moldova, and for an Azerbaijani House in exile. A Human Rights House is a collaborative project of non-governmental organisations that work in partnership to promote human rights in their own country and abroad. It is a community of organisations, but also a physical structure – a building or an office that hosts the member organisations. A House is a long-term commitment to civil society. 8 HRHF Annual Report 2016 Impact 2016 Together we have impact 100%of Houses successfully of50% Houses received HRHF House58 organisations fundraised for office costs funding for projects signed letters of concern Houses with8 joint projects Premises 1for HRH Yerevan New House2 locations among their member purchased explored organisations HRHF Annual Report 2016 9 Impact 2016 Impact 2: Increased cooperation Strengthening the links among Human Rights Houses and HRHF through support, solidarity and expertise Advocacy (ILIA) programme marked 10 Challenge Authoritarian States learn from one years of education in international human another and often employ the same rights standards. repressive tools against civil society. Cooperation, solidarity, and shared In March, HRHF assisted Educational resources, knowledge, and expertise – Human Rights House Chernihiv and across borders and between organisations Human Rights House Tbilisi in holding a – are ways for civil society and human seminar on the prevention and treatment rights defenders to respond