Open Society Foundations

Read Abramovay’s full piece in Project Syndicate: project-syndicate.org/commentary/ira…

Amid a flimsy Iran-U.S. ceasefire, hundreds of ships stranded in the now reopened Strait of Hormuz, and the decline of U.S. hegemony, countries of the Global South have what it takes to show another world is possible and lead it out of crisis, writes Open Society’s @pedroabramovay in @ProSyn. Even as Israeli bombs rained down on Lebanon, most of the world breathed a cautious sigh of relief last week when news broke that Pakistan had mediated a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with the goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The war against Iran highlights the unsustainability of a global order built on ultimatums and military might. While the system’s fragility has become unmistakable under Trump, this moment has been long in the making. Tariffs, threats of invasion, the kidnapping of a foreign leader, and an illegal and ill-conceived war, whose aftershocks have been felt across the global economy, are all evidence of this escalation. Powerful Western nations are no longer the keepers of global stability as they might have been—and indeed their actions have been unsettling. As shown by Pakistan mediating the ceasefire and Türkiye and the UN brokering an agreement to release stranded Ukrainian grain, countries in the Global South have played more active roles in forging a new global order and finding ways out of crisis.

“What we need is a politics defined less by emotion and rage, and more by a strategic ability to critically dissect the forces set against social gains,” writes @AdHabb about maximalism in social movements in @TheIdeasLetter: theideasletter.org/essay/maximali…

In my latest piece for @ProSyn I discuss how oil exporting countries have a window of opportunity to invest in a resilience agenda

📅 Today starting at 2pm EDT: The war in the Middle East is impacting countries around the world and has put a clear focus on geoeconomics. @ForeignPolicy's Geoeconomics Forum, sponsored by us and taking place alongside the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank, explores how countries are using economic tools in a changed global order. Panels include @pedroabramovay, our vice president of Programs, discussing “Middle Powers and the Future of Multilateralism” at 2:40pm EDT, and @lauraabcarvalho, who leads our economic and climate prosperity work, discussing “Crafting a Resilience Agenda in a Shock-Prone World” at 4:10pm EDT. Register to attend virtually and see the rest of the lineup: foreignpolicy.com/events/fp-the-…

“The Iran ceasefire has exposed the limits of American power, as the United States was forced to rely on others to contain a crisis of its own making.” Our @pedroabramovay writes in @ProSyn:

We’re proud to support this lawsuit against telecoms giant Telenor to get justice for customers in Myanmar whose sensitive data was shared with the Myanmar military during its crackdown on activists following the 2021 coup.

Register to attend in person in Washington, DC or virtually: foreignpolicy.com/events/fp-the-…

On April 15, our @pedroabramovay and @lauraabcarvalho join @ForeignPolicy’s Geoeconomics Forum 2026: Solutions for a Changing World, which gathers government ministers, legislators, finance leaders, academics, journalists, and other experts for discussions on how strategic investments can reinforce stability in a more fragmented world. Sponsored by us, the forum takes place on the side of the Spring Meetings of the IMG and World Bank.

We hope the ceasefire holds, but can't ignore that conflict continues in Lebanon. @OpenSociety stands with this coalition in affirming our calls for the laws of war to be upheld, especially the protection of civilians, and accountability for those who violate international law.

Learn more: opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/inside-…

On International Roma Day, we celebrate the Roma people—their identity, dignity, and extraordinary spirit. For over 40 years, our founder George Soros has been the leading private supporter of Europe’s Roma—the continent’s largest and most excluded ethnic minority—championing Roma leaders in their fight for equality and against deep-rooted discrimination.

On International Roma Day, my father George Soros and I celebrate the Roma people — their identity, dignity, and extraordinary spirit. On April 8, 1971, in the face of centuries of suppression, the Roma came together and declared this day for themselves. That act of unity still echoes across the world. For over 40 years, my father has been the leading private supporter of Roma communities, helping build institutions like the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture that carry this legacy forward. Proud of my father's work and inspired by Roma leaders, I am committed to expand what he started. The work continues. @OpenSociety will never waver. OPRE ROMA!

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” These were the words that Hansa Mehta, the Indian feminist and freedom fighter, added to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They affirmed that human rights are for everyone, everywhere.

Trans rights are human rights, and that is reflected in the first line of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” But, originally, the line read, “All men are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Hansa Mehta, an Indian freedom fighter, feminist, and education leader, challenged this and proposed the change to “all human beings.” This change made the world’s foremost human rights document more universal and declare that rights belong to all people—regardless of gender identity. An important reminder on this Trans Day of Visibility.

#DíaDeLaVisibilidadTrans 🌍🏳️‍⚧️ A nivel global, millones de personas trans siguen enfrentando barreras para el reconocimiento de su identidad, el acceso a derechos y una vida digna. Pero también, en todos los territorios, hay liderazgos que están disputando el poder y reescribiendo la historia. 📢 Esta campaña pone al centro a liderazgos políticos trans que están transformando instituciones, comunidades y narrativas. Porque la visibilidad no es solo ser vistas: es tener voz, es tener poder, es decidir. #DiaDaVisibilidadeTrans #DerechosTransYa #ResistenciaTrans

Read the full article in @NationAfrica: nation.africa/kenya/blogs-op…

The Sahel region of West Africa has seen increasing repression, especially against lawyers, journalists, and civil society activists who speak out, expose wrongdoing, and protest peacefully, writes Open Society’s Adama Dembele. Imprisonment, disappearances, and forced conscription are all prices human rights defenders have paid for standing up for everyone’s rights in the Sahel. But there’s hope: Innovators across West Africa are leading efforts to build protections by reaching across borders, offering prevention tips, and responding collectively to attacks on defenders. These solidarity efforts need coordinated support from donors and the international community to reach many more defenders. This is especially true as existing protection mechanisms often fall short of what these defenders need. @opensocietyafr

Fifteen years ago today, widespread pro-democracy protests erupted across Syria, with Syrians demanding dignity, human rights, and a future free from repression. From violent government crackdowns on citizens, to at least 580,000 people killed in the conflict that ensued, 150,000 forcibly disappeared, and millions more displaced, to the ultimate fall of the Assad regime, Syrians are marking the anniversary of the Syrian Uprising and sharing the realities on the ground. Advocates reflect on the moment Syria is living through now—from the long pursuit of justice for victims, to the resilience of women leading their communities, to the ongoing struggle against poverty, displacement, and political marginalization. The conflict currently engulfing the entire region is causing further insecurity and uncertainty for millions of people. But civil society remains a source of hope, working toward justice, accountability, and recovery. That means addressing the deep socioeconomic wounds of the conflict—pushing for inclusive rebuilding that centers affected communities, expands access to opportunity, and ensures that Syrians across the country can claim their place in shaping its future. Though the situation in the region is fragile, the resilience of advocates remains strong.  #SyrianUprising #StandwithSyria

Read more about how Indigenous land defenders are speaking out: osf.to/4bFyjHQ

In the past two years, hundreds of people in the region have been forcibly displaced, armed groups have started to recruit children, and Indigenous leaders have faced death threats for speaking out against environmental destruction.

Colombia has suffered the highest number of murders of environmental defenders for three years in a row. In the country’s Sierra Nevada, Indigenous land defenders face a dilemma: speak out now or cease to exist. Across Colombia, illegal groups have driven a surge in violence, and the government has struggled to quell the violence, particularly in remote rural areas.