Multiple Crises: Must we do more with less? What ways forward to scale investment against torture?

To make things worse, we are also living through a financial crisis for international cooperation (supply side). Everywhere we are seeing weakening commitments to multilateralism – felt acutely in narrowing or disappearing budgets for human rights groups. In many countries, civic space continues shrinking or closing, funding for vulnerable groups is slashed, progressive foundations are not fully capable of filling these gaps, and only precious few corporations are choosing rights-based approaches and social responsibility, despite record-breaking inequities. 

In stark contrast to these crises, and despite a persistent stagnation of funding for human rights defenders already during the last 10 years, we are also seeing an increase in civil society creativity and innovation, strengthened and complemented by an increase in network building, collective action, new civil society consortia and collective impact initiatives. That this sector is achieving advances and building alliances in a context of scarcity also suggests an increase in efficiency and important depths of expertise. Thus, despite the multiple crises, the civil society human rights sector may be more ready than ever to scale – if investment can be brought to bear. 

Key questions and messages:

• Should human rights organisations do more with less? Should we rather aim to do less, better, but with less?
• What is your financial outlook for 2025 and for 2026 – and what are you changing in this new environment?
• Those who are giving and believe must give more, at least temporarily, to bridge the gap.
• We should change together – even if not merging, we have to join forces to expand resources rather than competing for limited resources.

Speakers and Structure:

• This 90-minute session will feature brief presentations by OMCT Executive Council and Network members
• Followed by a moderated discussion and audience Q&A. OMCT donors will be invited to co-convene and to consider a presentation (TBD).
• Audience members will be encouraged to share constructively on their challenges, but also on their ideas for organisational and movement evolution - reducing dependency of human rights organisations, increasing new connections with other sectors, sharing and pooling resources, communicating with new audiences, and changing their models of resourcing and engagement. 

Languages spoken: English
No interpretation available