WITNESS Awarded Core Support Grant from the Oak Foundation

The Oak Foundation, a core supporter of WITNESS since 2004, has provided a renewal grant of $400,000 over 18 months – nearly doubling its support to the organization. The grant will support the implementation of WITNESS’ new strategic vision by strengthening key networks of grassroots activists and citizen witnesses using video and technology for human rights.

While the grant is unrestricted, this increased investment will enable WITNESS to accelerate capacity building within two priority regions – Africa and Asia.  This deepened regional focus comes at a critical moment when threats to human rights are proliferating and communities and activists are increasingly turning to mobile phones and social media platforms to advance their causes.  Increased capacity in these regions will also allow WITNESS to create new tools and resources that will strengthen human rights movements throughout the world around such pervasive issues as natural resource extraction, gender rights, state violence and impunity, and marginalization. Together, we are ensuring that the voices of marginalized communities reverberate loudly and clearly around the world to demand change.

About Oak Foundation

Oak Foundation commits its resources to address issues of global, social and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. With offices in Europe, Africa, India and North America, Oak Foundation makes grants to organizations in approximately 40 countries worldwide.