Ariadne News & Events

REGISTER NOW: ENVIRONMENTAL & HUMAN RIGHTS WORK UNDER THREAT – HOW FUNDERS CAN RESPOND TO CLOSING SPACE: Ariadne and the Environmental Funders Network invite you to a special meeting of human rights and environmental funders in the UK to discuss strategies and responses to the closing space for civil society. We will hear from Poonam Joshi, Executive Director of Sigrid Rausing Trust & Gillian Caldwell, CEO of Global Witness on what strategies and responses human rights funders have developed to continue to fund in closing spaces, and begin a cross-sectoral exchange between funders focused on both issues. The event will take place on 21^st March 2017, 14:00-16:00 followed by a tea reception. Please RSVP to Florence@greenfunders.org by 14 March COB.

REGISTER NOW: ARIADNE PORTAL TUITION: An hour tuition session to increase your skill in using the Ariadne Portal will be held on Thursday 23^rd March, 15:00 GMT. This is an online webinar you can participate in from your desk. To join, you will need a computer or tablet (iPad/Android) to watch the online demonstration. To register, please RSVP to Lori Stanciu.

FEW SPACES AVAILABLE: ARIADNE 2017 POLICY BRIEFING – APRIL 5^th-7^th 2017:  We invite you to register for the 8th Ariadne Annual Meeting and Policy Briefing between 5^th and 7th April 2017 in Turin.  Some of the issues that will be explored include the arrival of over a million new migrants in Europe and the role for Italian and European funders, the launch of a new study mapping funding for countering hatred and xenophobia in Europe, a look at defending human rights and outwitting organised crime through the social economy, a session on increasing restrictions on civil society in the Global North, and an explanation of non-financial support as a tool for building grantee resilience and other models that go beyond grant-making, as well as structured networking to enable you to meet as many new colleagues as possible. You can access a copy of the draft agenda here. Space is limited so please register soon to be sure of a place.

STAY TUNED: FUTURE WEBINARS: Ariadne will be running two additional webinars, one in mid-March looking at gender in the context of the refugee crisis and one in mid-April on unaccompanied children in Europe and across the MENA region – details to be published soon on the Ariadne portal.

The next Thread will go out on Thursday, March 16th. We would love to hear from you! Please contact Lori Stanciu by March 14^th if you would like to share announcements, events, or resources for the next issue. 

New Research, Articles and Judgements

The World’s Stateless Children Report – The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion: This report by The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion explores the urgency of and opportunities for addressing childhood statelessness. Over 50 experts and organisations from around the world have contributed material – essays, reflection pieces and interviews with affected families – to the report. In addition to six substantive chapters dealing with different dimensions of childhood statelessness, the report also offers a more general overview on the state of statelessness globally at the start of 2017. Here is a recording and further resources from the recent Ariadne and IHRFG webinar on “Statelessness in the Context of the Refugee Crisis”.

World Report 2017 – Human Rights Watch: World Report 2017 is Human Rights Watch’s 27th annual review of human rights practices around the globe. It summarises key human rights issues in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide, drawing on events from late 2015 through to November 2016. Some of the issues explored are “The Dangerous Rise of Populism”, “Global Attacks on Human Rights Values” and “The Internet is Not the Enemy”.

Arab Fractures: Citizens, States and Social Contracts: This new Carnegie report “Arab Fractures: Citizens, States and Social Contracts”, provides a detailed insight into the root causes of the anarchy and state disintegration in the Arab world, as well as presenting the potential solutions that are essential to any real change in the region. Focusing on the human, political and geopolitical landscape, the report presents 8 case studies from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Tunisia with an aim to shed light on socioeconomic, institutional and geopolitical trends driving events in the Arab world today.

“Do as I say, not as I do” Report – Charities Aid Foundation: The Charities Aid Foundation published a report entitled ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ which looks at UK policy and the closing space for civil society.  The report explores recent policy developments affecting the advocacy function of civil society organisations in the UK as well as the nature of the UK’s soft power and the different ways in which it can be wielded. Originally published in April 2016, this report has been updated in January 2017 in time for the Westminster Hall debate on ‘Protecting Civil Society Space Across the World’.

Entertainment-Education and Child Marriage: A scoping study for GIRLS NOT BRIDES: Developed by the Center for Media & Health for Girls Not Brides, this report looks at the opportunities and challenges of Entertainment-Education to address child marriage. Informed by a range of practical and theoretical insights, the report analyses a selection of current initiatives, draws out key lessons and provides top tips for practitioners and donors of Entertainment-Education initiatives.

Where are the missing victims of slavery? – UK Anti-Slavery Commissioner: The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner recently completed an inspection of UK Border Force’s identification and treatment of potential victims of modern slavery. Findings are detailed in this report. The UK estimates there are up to 13,000 victims of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK. The most recent official statistics show that there were 3,266 potential victims in 2015, 94% of whom come from outside the UK. And yet, Border Force had set their own target of identifying just 313 potential victims in 2015-2016 – a number the report describes as ‘modest’.

Lessons from Germany on successfully integrating refugees: In this article for the World Economic Forum, Norbert Winkeljohann, Senior Partner at PwC Germany, looks at Germany’s experience of integrating refugees. He argues that, through sustained effort and collaboration between government, business, and society, we can find ways to meet the needs of both refugees and the countries receiving them.

Escaping domestic violence: ‘according to the law, you are not here’ – In this article for Open Democracy, Halliki Voolma, Director of a national social impact programme ‘Action-Metre’ in Estonia, argues that many women survivors of violence in Europe cannot access support services because of their migration status. The right to live free from violence should be based on presence in a territory and not legal status.

National conversation on immigration launches: British Future has started the biggest exercise ever undertaken to listen to the public’s view on immigration.  Over the course of a year the national conversation on immigration will visit 60 towns and cities to ask people what they think about immigration and the immigration system.  You can take part by completing an online survey.

The data that turned the world upside down: This article from Motherboard looks at how big data was used in the Brexit and Trump elections. Psychologist Michal Kosinski developed a method to analyse people in minute detail based on their Facebook activity. Did a similar tool help propel Donald Trump to victory? Two reporters from Zurich-based Das Magazin gathered data.​

Blogs and Other Sites of Interest

PODCAST: Fighting hate in the age of Trump: This podcast from Open Society Foundations looks at what’s being done to turn back the rising tide of intolerance in America. See also “Votes For Women” by the Foundation for Women, a powerful video which reminds President-Elect Trump that women ‘Won’t Go Back’.

WATCH: Meanwhile in Belarus… To put an end to the death penalty in Europe: In 2017, Belarus remains the only country in Europe which continues to apply the death penalty. To denounce and inform the public of this grim reality, the International Federation for Human Rights released the video “Meanwhile in Belarus“.

SPREAD THE WORD: Request for Proposals – Disability Rights Fund: Disability Rights Fund launched a Request for Proposals process for Disabled Persons’ Organization’s from Haiti, Malawi and Myanmar. Application deadline is 16^th March 2017. Please share with anyone interested.

SPREAD THE WORD: Comic Relief funding initiative: Levelling the field: Comic Relief has launched the funding initiative ‘Levelling the Field’. The initiative uses sport as a tool to bring change in women and girls’ lives. It can support the development of essential life skills, deliver powerful messages, foster confidence and improve self-esteem. It can also be used to challenge gender roles and propel women and girls toward better lives. Applications are open until midday 16^th March 2017.

WATCH: #ShiftThePower: The rise of community philanthropy: This video from Alliance Magazine looks at the rise of community philanthropy – the idea that development should be owned by local people and that power should be shifted closer to the ground. This is a recording of Alliance Magazine’s breakfast club hosted by Charities Aid Foundation which brought together foundation professionals, academics, community activists, and NGOs to discuss the nature of community philanthropy.

WATCH: Two short documentaries on the situation for children in migration in Italy and in Greece: In the framework of the Sub-fund on long-term prospects and protection of children and youth on the move in Europe, EPIM has supported, together with the King Baudouin Foundation and the Belgian public TV channel VRT, the production of two documentaries on the situation for unaccompanied and separated children in Italy and Greece. The documentaries by the teams of journalists “Redhorse Reporters” and “Poolhert Productions” were broadcasted in December 2016 on Belgian TV. Please note that the two documentaries are for your internal use only (Ariadne portal login required).

PODCAST: Mark Leonard’s World in 30 Minutes – Discussing the Counter-revolution with Michael Ignatieff: In this World in 30 Minutes episode, Mark Leonard meets with Michael Ignatieff, the former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and an expert on the history of liberalism, to look at the future of the liberal order following Trump’s election and the rise of illiberal powers elsewhere in the world.

WATCH: I Am Not Who They Think I Am: This new film by The International Center for Transitional Justice and MediaStorm confronts stigma facing children born of war.  The film exposes the enduring consequences of the lack of accountability for wartime sexual violence, particularly for children born of rape. It chronicles the stigma mothers and their children face and their inspiring leadership in the struggle for redress.

For Widows, Life After Loss: Interesting article by Cynthia Gorney for National Geographic on society’s treatment of widows. See a selection of images of widows from countries such as India, Bosnia and Uganda.

The Museum of Everyday Objects that makes transgender lives visible: The Museum of Transology is the largest collection of trans-related objects in the UK. Curator E-J Scott tells us why trans people need to assert their place in museums everywhere.

PODCAST: It’s Working Out Very Nicely: This podcast from This American Life documents what happened when the President’s executive order went into effect temporarily banning travel from seven countries and the way it was implemented.

WATCH: UN guide for civil society on management of protests: UN Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai talks about the 10 principles for the proper management of assemblies. See also Maina’s article From funding projects to funding struggles: Reimagining the role of donors

Grant-Making

Seeking an Inclusive Europe: Foundation Grantmaking for Countering Ethnic and Religious Bias and Xenophobia: We are delighted to share with you our most recent report, Seeking an Inclusive Europe: Foundation Grantmaking for Countering Ethnic and Religious Bias and Xenophobia, produced with assistance from Ariadne’s Countering Hatred Steering Committee. This is the first-ever study of the philanthropic community’s response to ongoing discrimination and increasing violence and the need for greater cultural understanding, inclusion, and equity. It enables foundations active in addressing bias and promoting social change and rights across Europe to understand their grantmaking priorities in the context of the larger funder community. For foundations that want to become active, it offers numerous examples of approaches funders are taking to address these issues. The report was written by Steven Lawrence, Senior Research Affiliate, TCC Group and supported by Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and Open Society Foundations.

Advancing Human Rights: Update on Global Foundation Grantmaking: On 8^th February, The International Human Rights Funders Group and Foundation Center launched their most recent analysis of the scope and landscape of global human rights funding, “Advancing Human Rights: Update on Global Foundation Grantmaking”. This year’s report analyses $2.7 billion of human rights funding in 2014, the latest year in which complete data is available, by region, issue area, strategy, and population, revealing the priorities of foundations and bilateral and multilateral donors.

Theory of the Foundation European Initiative: Final Report: The Theory of the Foundation Initiative was started by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in 2013. Its aim is to enhance the capacity of foundations to align their resources for impact. In 2016, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors partnered with the LSE’s Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship to develop a European report as part of this initiative. The report, supported by ten European foundations, looks at the work of European foundations beyond their grants or operating charitable programmes and explores a variety of foundation practices on governance, external relationships, people development and beyond.

Survey results: Funding of work with refugees in the UK: Thank you to the 18 funders who responded to the refugee crisis survey we circulated in December. The results give a snapshot of the UK funding landscape regarding work with refugees, specifically work with unaccompanied children. If you would like to find out more, please contact Cristina Andreatta from the Association of Charitable Foundations. Ariadne will be running a tele-briefing in mid-April on unaccompanied children in Europe and across the MENA region – details to be published nearer the time. Ariadne will also be picking up the issue of unaccompanied refugee children as part of a plenary session ‘From Emergency Support to Long-Term Inclusion’ at its 2017 Annual Policy Briefing in Turin.

Mama Cash webinars for potential (grant) applicants: Mama Cash is organising informational webinars about their 2017 grantmaking window, which will be open from 15^th March – 15^th May. Their programmes team will share information about Mama Cash’s application procedure as well as elaborate on its funding criteria. The team will also answer questions on its application procedure and funding criteria. The next webinar will take place on 27^th February, on Facebook live, between 15.00-16.30 CET in French.

Working Paper No. 3 on better use of the law by the voluntary sector – The Baring Foundation: In this working paper by the Baring Foundation, Dr. Lisa Vanhala of School of Public Policy – University College London, looks at key cases from the UK on the successful use of strategic litigation by the voluntary sector on issues related to discrimination and disadvantage.

Renewable Freedom Foundation launches the European Digital Rights Fund: Based on discussions with several Ariadne members and others, and thanks to the initial support of the Open Society Foundations, the Renewable Freedom Foundation launched a Small Grants Programme tailored for the Digital Rights community in Europe on 1^st February, 2017. Over 100 leading digital rights experts from the European Digital Rights Initiative network have been invited to participate in an innovative peer-driven support platform. Each expert can put forward proposals for third parties, and quickly assess and vote on proposals submitted by the rest of the group.

Under threat: five countries in which civic space is rapidly closing: In this article for Open Democracy, Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, Secretary General of CIVICUS looks at five countries in which civic space is rapidly closing: Burundi, Honduras, Philippines, Turkey and the US. He argues that if funders do not help create the spaces and opportunities for people to vent their frustration towards the established political institutions and actors and articulate their aspirations in constructive ways, social conflict will intensify across the world. When this unrest spills across borders, especially when it stems from big powers like the United States, it creates a very real risk for further geopolitical instability.

Building the bicycle while we ride it: Five reflections on Nonprofit Co-Leadership: FRIDA’s Co-Directors, Ruby Johnson and Devi Leiper O’Malley, share their tips on how to make the virtual co-leadership structure work, and the experience of co-leading as young feminists.

Jobs and Tenders

Programme Manager, Funders’ Initiative for Civil Society: The Funders’ Initiative for Civil Society is a new programme at Global Dialogue, developing and coordinating a global response by private philanthropy to the closing of civil society space. FICs is seeking a Programme Manager to work alongside the newly recruited Director. The overall purpose of this role is to help lead communications and outreach to the FICs network and support the efficient day-to-day operations of FICS. Tasks will include working with the Director to shape FICS strategy and outputs, and managing and curating learning resources for the FICS network. Location: London, United Kingdom. Deadline for applications is 10th March 2017.

Interim Programme Manager for Labour Rights – Mama Cash: Mama Cash is looking to support its grantmaking in economic justice for women, girls and trans people by hiring an experienced feminist project manager to oversee the labour rights area of its ‘Money-Labour Rights’ grantmaking portfolio. This portfolio supports women’s, girls’ and trans people’s rights organisations and initiatives focused on social change in the realm of worker rights in a diverse range of labour situations. Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Deadline for applications is 26^th February 2017.

Programme Specialist – Open Society Foundations: OSF is seeking a Programme Specialist to join its Southeast Asia Programme, which works with local, regional and international partners to enhance governance and equity in economic practice, support civic engagement and participation in challenging environments, and strengthen regional mechanisms and platforms. The successful candidate will be responsible for performing a wide range of responsibilities that materially advance both portfolio and other programme strategies.  Location: London, United Kingdom. Deadline for applications is 11^th March 2017.

Grants Coordinator/Communications Officer – Bertha UK: Bertha UK is seeking a Grants Coordinator/Communications Officer. The successful candidate will coordinate the grant award process; from planning, organising and preparing documentation for quarterly Board Meetings and various internal funds, to administering and tracking approved grants. They will also be responsible for providing overall support for Bertha’s communications activities. This will include supporting the coordination and updating of the website and blog and managing social media channels. Location: London, United Kingdom. Deadline for applications is 28^th February 2017.

Technology Fellow – Ford Foundation: The Technology Fellows Programme is administered by the Internet Freedom unit at the Ford Foundation, which works globally to advance economic and social protections in the Internet environment. The Programme has three overarching goals: to enrich perspectives within the foundation by adding a technical lens, to increase technical capacity throughout each of the foundation’s seven thematic areas of work and to generate novel, innovative ideas and build new relationships and networks. Location: New York, United States of America. Deadline for applications is 11^th March 2017.

Consultant, Operations – Global Alliance for the Future of Food, New Venture Fund: The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is seeking an Operations Consultant to oversee its operations-related systems. This will include providing support to the Global Alliance, its initiatives and the Monitoring & Evaluation Committee. The successful candidate will provide critical support to the Executive Director and work collaboratively with the members and consultant team to develop a learning, collaborative, and impact-­driven culture helping to advance the alliance’s mission, principles, values, and strategic priorities. Location: Negotiable. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Projektmanager/in für das Transatlantische Cyber-Forum – Stiftung Neue Verantwortung: Die Stiftung Neue Verantwortung sucht ab dem 1. Mai 2017 zunächst für 12 Monate eine/n Projektmanager/in für das Transatlantische Cyber-Forum. Als Projektmanager/in „Transatlantisches Cyber-Forum“ arbeiten Sie an der Schnittstelle von Technologie und Sicherheitspolitik mit transatlantischem Bezugsrahmen. Dies beinhaltet sowohl deutsche und amerikanische Innenpolitik, Sicherheitspolitik als auch Verteidigungspolitik vor dem Hintergrund globaler Herausforderungen des Cyberraums. Standort: Berlin, Deutschland. Bewerbungsfrist ist 5 März 2017.

*For more jobs, see the ‘Career Opportunities’ section on the landing page of the Ariadne portal.

Public Meetings

BARCELONA

April 23^rd – 29^th
EDGE Funders Conference – Re/Organising Power for Systems Change: This conference will build on EDGE’s recent work around Just Transition, and explore the question of system change through the lenses of power, privilege and emancipatory struggles. The experience of Spanish and Catalonian social movements, particularly strong and dynamic in building systemic alternatives, will be woven into the conference design. Just Giving 2017 will seek to discuss how citizen action and system change philanthropy might re-organise power to build the new and overcome the extractive economy. Based on the pillars of people power, systemic alternatives and progressive philanthropy, the Just Giving programme will be designed to engage participants into deep debates about the systemic challenges the world is facing today and how to overcome them. The event will take place between 25^th and 28^th April 2017 in Barcelona, Spain.

BRUSSELS

March 5^th – 11^th
Protracted Conflict & Humanitarian Action: As an emerging theme of the World Humanitarian Summit held in May 2016, Guerrero Salom, Standing Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid (European Parliament Committee on Development) and the International Committee of the Red Cross are co-organising a Panel Debate focusing on Protracted Conflict and Humanitarian Action. The Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO) will also participate. The event will take place on 7^th March 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.

March 26th – April 1st
RightsCon Brussels 2017: Access Now invites you to attend its sixth RightsCon, which seeks to shape the conversation about how to keep the internet open, free and secure. RightsCon Brussels 2017 will gather the global digital rights community in the heart of European politics and policymaking to attempt to tackle the most pressing issues at the intersection of technology and human rights. The event will take place between 29th and 31st March, 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.

DUBLIN

February 26^th – March 4^th
Responding to the Human Rights of Older People and Adults who may be Vulnerable: Hosted by Sage, this event will take place in the context of the new Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, proposed Deprivation of Liberty provisions in the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 and developments in safeguarding and advocacy. The purpose of this event is to generate discussion and debate amongst a broad audience from varying perspectives on current and proposed legislative changes that will impact older people, adults who may be vulnerable and those within society who have a role in responding to and upholding their rights. The event will take place on February 28th, 2017 in Dublin, Ireland. RSVP Michelle Rooney – michelle.rooney@sage.thirdageireland.ie.

March 26^th – April 1^st
Ending Gender-Based Violence in Europe – Implementing Strategies for Protection and Prevention: This International Symposium will analyse the existing challenges in shaping a truly comprehensive strategy for tackling gender-based violence in the EU. It will examine the role of organisations at the local, national and supranational level in moving to eliminate all forms of domestic and gender-based violence. The symposium will also support the exchange of ideas and encourage delegates to engage in thought-provoking and topical debate with local and regional practitioners and policymakers at EU level. The event will take place on 29^th March 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.

GENEVA

February 26^th – March 4^th
Gender Parity: A Global Reality Check: The Graduate Institute Geneva invites you to join a conversation between members of the judiciary, executive and legislative branches and global policy experts on the progress, policies and leaders accelerating gender equality globally. Speakers will include: Hina Jilani, advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan; Melanne Verveer, former US Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues; Maria Lourdes Sereno, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and Susana Vilarán, former Mayor of Lima. The event will take place on 2^nd March 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.

March 5^th – 11^th
How Democracies Die: Stephen Holmes is the Walter E. Meyer Professor of Law at New York University and an expert on the evolution of liberalism and anti-liberalism in Europe. He has written extensively on the history of political thought, democratic and constitutional theory, state building in post-Communist Russia and the war on terror. ‘How Democracies Die’ has been organised to mark the launch of The Graduate Institute Geneva’s Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy; a research and debate centre which will explore democracies through global and comparative perspectives. The event will take place on 9^th March 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.

NAIROBI, KENYA

June 11^th – 17^th
The GPP-UHAI Africa Donors Pre-Conference: Co-organised by the Global Philanthropy Project and UHAI EASHRI, the Africa Donors Pre-Conference is a meeting of donors invested in Africa’s LGBTI and sex worker movements. The 2015 Donors Pre-Conference brought together 59 representatives of 33 funding agencies representing a diversity of public and private foundations, individual and corporate funders, and government agencies, embassies, bilateral and multilateral agencies. Pre-Conference sessions will focus on the role of public and private foundations in movement building, defence of open space, and exploration of indigenous, African-led research strategies. The event will take place between 12^th and 13^th June 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya. ‘CFCS VI: Creating a Just Resistance: Our Struggles, Our Strides…’ will take place between 14^th and 16^th June 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya.

LONDON

February 26^th – March 4^th
Street Spirit: The Power of Protest and Mischief: Human rights campaigner Steve Crawshaw has been an eye witness to some of the most dramatic demonstrations of recent years. His forthcoming book, Street Spirit: The Power of Protest and Mischief looks at the power of non-violent protest, drawing on his experience reporting on the east European revolutions, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Balkan wars – as well as a clutch of unusual examples from his work with human rights activists in recent years. Among the many instances of imaginative defiance explored, Crawshaw discovers the surprising impact of Lego figures in Siberia, red-hatted dwarves in Poland and a donkey holding a press conference in Azerbaijan – not to mention the story of how Darth Vader helped to affect a global arms treaty. But how effective are humour and creativity in bringing about social change? The discussion will be chaired by Channel 4 News Correspondent Fatima Manji. The event will take place on 27^th February 2017 in London, United Kingdom.

March 5^th – 18^th
Human Rights Watch Film Festival: The Human Rights Watch Film Festival is an opportunity for individuals to bear witness to human rights violations and creates a forum for courageous individuals on both sides of the lens to empower audiences with the knowledge that personal commitment can make a difference. The film festival brings to life human rights abuses through storytelling in a way that challenges individuals to empathise and demand justice for all people. This year’s films include All Governments Lie by Fred Peabody and Black Code by Nicholas de Pencier. The event will take place between 6^th and 17^th March 2017 in London, United Kingdom.

 March 5^th – 18^th
COMPLICIT: A courageous activist named Yi Yeting helps young Chinese workers poisoned whilst making smartphones. He inspires a 17-year-old girl poisoned by n-hexane to rise above her challenges and reach out to help the thousands of others in the same situation in China’s electronics zone. When Yi discovers an occupational leukaemia cluster in the neighbourhood surrounding Apple’s main supplier Foxconn, his search for justice unleashes powerful forces seeking to keep the cases hidden from the world. While struggling to survive his own occupational leukaemia, and undeterred by the government’s refusal to grant him an exit visa, he brings his fight from his hospital room where he helps other workers, to Silicon Valley and the international stage. The film will be screened at Picturehouse Central on 11^th March and at the Barbican on 13^th March 2017 in London, United Kingdom.

March 5th – 11^th
How does the Common Reporting Standard affect your Charity? With the new Common Reporting Standard (CRS) regime in full force and the May reporting deadline for 2016 fast approaching, charities will be anxious to know whether they are caught by the new rules and, if so, what their obligations are. Experts from Withers and Buzzacott will take participants through key aspects of the CRS, including: what the Common Reporting Standard is, whether a charity is classified as a Financial Institution, if a charity is a reporting organisation (trust vs other legal forms), grantee due diligence for some reporting charities, annual online reporting to HMRC, and whether solutions are available to remove or reduce the compliance burden. The event will take place on 9^th March 2017 in London, United Kingdom.

March 5th – 11^th
Women on the Move Awards: The Women on the Move Awards Ceremony will recognise and celebrate inspirational leadership from migrant and refugee women who help others integrate into and contribute to UK society. The Ceremony, hosted by Samira Ahmed and featuring special guest presenters, will recognise refugee and migrant champions as well as the work of a journalist whose reporting has promoted the protection needs of refugee, asylum seeking or migrant women, either in the UK or abroad. The event will take place on 10^th March, 2017 in London United Kingdom.

March 26^th – April 1^st
Securing Rights, Equality and Social Justice beyond Brexit – what Role for Strategic Communications? In the UK, Europe and beyond, liberalism, universalism and a commitment to inalienable rights appear to be being overtaken by authoritarian, nativist and contractarian values. They are increasingly shaping public attitudes and the policies of political parties on all sides of the political spectrum in areas as diverse as migration, gender equality, disability rights, climate justice, criminal justice, children’s rights, social security, data protection and the place of civil society. Traditional models of ‘education’ and ‘myth-busting’ seem less and less likely to succeed. What can be done to strive to reverse these attitudinal trends and to help build a more fertile world for human rights, equality and social justice to flourish? Where does strategic communications fit in to our response and what can be done to ensure that the values underpinning our collective goals are more widely owned and respected? To mark its re-launch the Thomas Paine Initiative invites you to take part in this important discussion. The event will take place on 27^th March, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. RSVP to Sarah Pugh – sarah@global-dialogue.eu.

March 26^th – April 1^st
Redefining Philanthropy: A Woman’s Game? The influence of women in philanthropy is rising. Today’s women are earning more money than ever before and are increasingly taking on decision making roles in family philanthropy. Women are also emerging as fundamental networkers and ambassadors in modern philanthropy. Nevertheless, women typically receive less recognition than men in the world of philanthropy, particularly when it comes to major gifts. The purpose of this event is to inspire and encourage more women to engage in strategic philanthropy. The event will take place on 30^th March 2017 in London, United Kingdom.

NEW YORK

July 9^th – 15^th
International Human Rights Funders Group 2017 New York Conference: IHRFG’s conferences are an opportunity for grantmakers to hear from and engage with leading human rights practitioners, policy makers and peers on timely human rights issues. These events serve as learning and networking forums that promote the exchange of information and collaboration among grantmakers. The event will take place between 10^th and 13^th July 2017 in New York, United States of America. Click here to submit a session proposal by 8^th March 2017.

NEW DELHI

May 7^th – 13^th
Annual Women Economic Forum 2017: The Women Economic Forum seeks to provide a space for ordinary women to rise to extraordinary heights. The main theme for the Women Economic Forum 2017 will be ‘Creating, Innovating, Understanding and Driving the Future.’ The event will take place between 8^th and 13^th May 2017 in New Delhi, India. Regional events are held throughout the year in different parts of the world, click here for more information.

ONLINE

February 26^th – March 4^th
Corporate Power and Women’s Economic Justice: As feminist activists prepare for the 61^st Commission on the Status of Women, AWID offers a space to think collectively about the kinds of transformations needed to make gender, economic and ecological justice a reality, moving beyond women’s economic empowerment to women and oppressed peoples’ power to determine the economy. Co-organised by AWID and the Gender and Development Network this webinar seeks to reclaim the debate around women’s economic justice from a human rights and feminist perspective and identify common advocacy messages which can be taken to CSW61 and beyond. The event will take place on 28^th February 2017 online.

February 26^th – March 4^th
Financial Access for Non-profits: New Empirical Data, Stakeholder Perspectives and Recommendations: This webinar will focus on a recent report published by the Charity & Security Network: ‘Financial Access for US Nonprofits.’ The first empirical data on this issue gives insight into the problem known as ‘derisking.’ Participants will hear from the report’s authors about the findings, stakeholder perspectives and possible solutions. The event will take place on 28^th February 2017 online.

February 26^th – March 4^th
Diversity Leads: How can Data on Leadership Drive Change? This webinar will focus on how diversity can be measured and tracked to drive change in the workplace. DiversityLeads is a multi-year, cross-sectoral analysis of the representation of women and visible minorities on boards and senior leadership of major public and private sector employers in Toronto and Montreal that has produced practical findings and tools to enable organisations to operate effectively and implement sustained change. Participants will be joined by Diversity Institute founder Dr Wendy Cukier, Ryerson University (Toronto, CA) and with Shaama Saggar-Malik, Diversity in Public Appointments (London, UK) to discuss learnings from the DiversityLeads project and strategies for advancing visible minorities and under-represented groups to senior leadership positions. The event will take place on 28^th February 2017 online.

 March 12^th – 18^th
Strategies for Sustaining LGBTI Movements in Closing/Closed Space Countries: As part of the global phenomenon of closing space, we witness increased repression of civil societies and democratic spaces, manifesting in a wide range of trends from the rise of right-wing extremism to increased surveillance on NGOs, from restrictions on registration and banking to criminalisation of fundraising. Social change and human rights movements are struggling to sustain their efforts and increase their impact, and in many cases funders are struggling to find ways to support them. This webinar will explore the practical tools that public/intermediary foundations use to move money into closing/closed space countries and how the changing formations of civil society funding are affecting dynamics and leadership within civil society itself. The webinar will create space for different types of funders to learn from each other, exchange strategies and think of creative ways for reaching human rights and social change actors in countries with closing/closed civil society spaces. The event will take place on 15^th March 2017 online.

PARIS

March 19^th – 25^th
Anxious Nations: Will the Presidential Elections be Won on Fear? Demos and Maison de l’Europe de Paris invite you to join a lively public debate to mark the launch of a major project examining how a rising culture of fear is sweeping Europe – fuelling populism, dividing societies, and threatening to destabilise democratic institutions. The discussion will explore the rise of far-right parties, the upcoming French and German elections, and how politicians can defend liberal democracy in the face of authoritarianism. Please note this meeting will take place in French. The event will take place on 20th March 2017 in Paris, France.

THE HAGUE

February 19^th – 8^th April
Expo: North Korean, Between Propaganda and Reality: How does the news influence the way we look at things? Out of our line of vision, hordes of journalists travel to North Korea every year. Almost all of them return with the same story, a story that serves to reinforce our clichéd image of the country. But what goes on outside the extreme images we see in the news? Does normal life carry on between the concentration camps and the military parades? To many people, North Korea is a total mystery. It is often referred to as the least democratic country on Earth. But the shield of bombastic propaganda conceals another, invisible world. A handful of scientists, filmmakers, writers and photographers have spent time studying the country that we know so little about. Their observant eye has helped to fill the gap between the propagandist North Korean imagery and the alarming news items. The event will take place between 19^th February and 8^th April, 2017 in The Hague, The Netherlands.

VALENCIA          

March 5^th – 11^th
Internet Freedom Festival: Joining Forces to Fight Censorship and Surveillance: The Global Unconference of the Internet Freedom Communities. Each year, the IFF brings together those who defend digital rights around the world – journalists, activists, technologists, policy advocates, digital safety trainers, and designers: to create an inclusive space and cultivate an atmosphere of trust for the Internet Freedom Community to pool resources, share knowledge, and network; to increase the diversity of the Internet Freedom community by engaging perspectives from a variety of backgrounds brought by underrepresented groups; and to collectively improve the services, strategies, and tools offered to the most vulnerable individuals on the frontlines by mapping censorship, surveillance and access obstacles faced in different regions in the world. The event will take place between 6^th and 10^th March 2017 in Valencia, Spain.

WASHINGTON

February 26^th – March 4^th
The Battle for China’s Spirit: Religious Revival, Repression and Resistance under Xi Jinping: Freedom House invites you to the launch of its report ‘The Battle for China’s Spirit on the Chinese government’s intensified controls over religion under President Xi Jinping.’ Panellists will discuss the scale and severity of persecution, the trajectory of citizen push-back, and the broader effects of these dynamics on Chinese society and politics. The event will take place on February 28th 2016 in Washington DC, United States of America.

April 30^th – May 6^th
Peace and Security Funders Group – Annual Meeting and Federal Policy Briefing: The Peace and Security Funders Group invites you to attend its Annual Meeting on ‘Global Politics, Peace and Security: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities’ and its Federal Policy Briefing. Participants will be invited to attend sessions such as: ‘effective grantmaking in difficult political environments’ and a debate on ‘effecting change: working inside and outside the system.’ The event will take place between 2^nd and 5^th May 2017 in Washington DC, The United States of America.