Annual Report 2025

Advocacy

Through targeted advocacy at national and international levels, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee promotes state compliance with human rights, democratic governance, accountability, and the rule of law.

In 2025, we have led and supported advocacy initiatives, advising partners and contributing to strategic campaigns. By exposing human rights violations, we shape public opinion and challenge hatred, intolerance, and harmful stereotypes. We prioritise the concerns of human rights defenders at risk and marginalised groups who lack the opportunity to speak for themselves. We engage with governments and parliamentarians to strengthen the understanding of human rights and democracy.

Through international advocacy and dialogue, we amplify voices on the ground and ensure their messages reach international organisations, governments, and legislators. We provide these stakeholders with critical information and help identify the most effective platforms to pursue justice for human rights violations.

Communications

The NHC’s communications are directed at both traditional and social media to raise awareness of key human rights, democracy, and rule-of-law issues. We seek to influence public opinion, especially among our target groups, to contribute to debate and reflection, and to be active participants in public discourse. We write op-eds for newspapers and digital media platforms, we participate in debates on radio and television, and we comment on issues and in areas where we have expertise and a strong commitment.

NHC’s output spans from reports, policy briefs, fact sheets, and statements – sometimes in collaboration with like-minded organisations – to campaigns and targeted social media content. We publish topical articles on our website and optimise key content for search engines. We organise events to raise awareness of essential matters and challenges in our regions, as well as related human rights issues.

Campaigns

• People First – The NHC is part of the international campaign for the release of captives held as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Civil society urges States to oppose ICC sanctions - Joint Civil Society Campaign oppose the United States’ efforts to impose sanctions related to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
• The Forbidden Times – In connection with Press Freedom Day, we joined a cooperation with Reitan Retail/Narvesen and the Nobel Peace Center and contributed to a newspaper containing articles that would be banned from publication in their home countries.
• Rainbow Campaign – A social media campaign during the Pride month of June, on the topic that the rainbow flag is a visible sign that you are safe here.
• 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence – We joined the worldwide campaign for a world where technology is a force for equality, not harm.
• December Campaign: ‘The Putin Problem’ – A series of videos/reels with human rights defenders to raise awareness of key human rights issues.

Finances and donors

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee’s total spending in 2025 was NOK 89 700 000, of which project support to partners accounted for NOK 60 220 000. The total income balance was NOK 93 300 000, including income transferred from last year. 

The NHC is primarily a project-funded organisation. Support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norad constitutes approximately 70 per cent of our income and covers all our work in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, as well as civil society support to Ukraine through the Nansen Programme. Other Norwegian donors are the Fritt Ord Foundation, the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi), and the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir). We actively and systematically seek supporters outside Norway as well. Through our initiatives, we have secured project support from donor organisations, including the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). We also receive funds from private donors and companies, including Yara International ASA, FERD AS, Peter Opsvik AS, and crowdfunding from the Norwegian Association of Lawyers. Gifts and contributions generated approximately NOK 1 900 000 in income. We also received pro bono support on IT and security from Itera ASA and Netsecurity AS, and legal advice from Wikborg & Rein and Selmer DA.

We are deeply thankful for all contributions, big or small, made during the year. Without your support, our work would not have been possible.

Security

The NHC operates in repressive environments that require strong security measures for both our partners and our internal infrastructure. The increasingly hostile digital landscape in which we need to operate is characterised by continuous phishing attempts, cyberattacks and other sophisticated threats, including advanced AI-driven threats. The NHC has not been spared these attempts, but with a solid IT provider that has our back, we have managed to minimise risks and potential damage. Our employees are continuously trained to be aware and vigilant, and we have strengthened and security-proofed all our routines and practices.

NGO Forum

The NHC hosts the secretariat of the NGO Forum for Human Rights, a network of more than 40 human rights and humanitarian organisations. The network regularly meets with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide input on Norwegian policies at the UN and the Council of Europe. The Forum also drafts alternative reports for the UN Universal Periodic Review of Norway and a few treaty bodies. It engages in dialogue with Norwegian authorities on implementing UN human rights recommendations.