14 August 2026: 2025 brought extreme challenges for those working in international development and human rights. Many long-held values were questioned, and, indeed, rapidly jettisoned by some actors. The US’ rapid international funding shutdown jeopardized the lives and health of millions and ended thousands of vital education, poverty, governance and rights projects. MRG was thankful to escape relatively lightly, though we are affected by increased competition for every other funding source in our sector, and are aware of the grave impacts on many organizations with which we are in partnership or whose work complements our own.
We have welcomed the gathering pace of global social media regulation over the last year, having long highlighted social media’s power to propagate hate, discrimination, violence and polarization. Nevertheless, we have watched with alarm the explosive rise of Artificial Intelligence with its capacity to concoct falsehoods and make decisions with the inherited biases of our societies.
Climate change continues to devastate, with minorities and indigenous peoples often most affected despite contributing least. Renewed drought in Somalia. Intense tropical storms across Asia and the Caribbean. From the DRC to Myanmar, Palestine to Ukraine, conflicts devastating lives and lands. Some states continue to reject or undermine multilateralism, sidelining the UN and failing to pay their dues. Democratic backsliding has become more common than not. The bulwark the UN provided is needed now more than ever, and yet it is now more than ever in question.
This year has shown us just how deeply every struggle is intertwined.
Today’s conflicts will have grave environmental consequences for generations to come, not only where they are fought but across our shared world. Weakened and silenced multilateral institutions will struggle to protect peace in such precarity. History reminds us that when challenging circumstances prevail, those in power will scapegoat those who are different – aided no doubt, by new digital tools.
We are shifting power and funding to the global grassroots. In 2025, we renewed this commitment to localization by refreshing the statutes of our Africa office and beginning work towards new offices in Asia and the Middle East. Subgranting directly to minority and indigenous rights defenders is an evergrowing component of our strategy. We are cultivating new networks and partnerships to achieve louder voices in support of progress. We co-design with communities and influence decisionmakers at the local, national and international levels, to amplify the voices of those who so often go unheard and unheeded.
At MRG we refuse to give up. While seeking maximum impact, we continue to work towards the day our organization is no longer needed.-Claire Thomas, Executive Director, Minority Rights Group
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
Leave a comment