Statement on the drastic reduction of US foreign assistance and development cooperation

Civil Rights Defenders statement on the US funding freeze, March 3rd 2025

Human rights organisations around the world are affected by the drastic reduction of US foreign assistance and development cooperation. The impact of this sudden disappearance of crucial funding for the global human rights movement standing up for justice, peace, freedom of expression and democracy is difficult to take in and fully assess at this time. Civil Rights Defenders and many of our partners are directly affected by the US funding freeze. Without civil society, there will be a continued deterioration in the respect and protection of our fundamental freedoms. 

As always, the human rights community across the world will continue its work despite challenges. Standing up for human rights for all is never an easy path and we will together find ways of handling also this new reality. Because we have to – for a world of democratic societies in which we all enjoy our civil and political rights.