The institute's budget cut by 5.3 million kroner

The Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has today announced that the Danish Institute for Human Rights is to receive 5.3 million DKK less in 2016 for international activities than previously agreed.

The Framework Agreement is going to be reduced from 29.2 million DKK to 26.2 million DKK, and the grant from the Danish Arab Partnership Programme is going to be reduced from 10 million DKK to 7.7 million DKK.

"The very substantial spending cuts on foreign aid are regrettable and shortsighted. They mean that we, like so many other actors, have to cut back our activities," executive director, Jonas Christoffersen, explains.

The international work of the Danish Institute for Human Rights is focused on strengthening states' and authorities' ability to secure their citizens' rights to freedom of speech, education, health and accountable justice systems. These efforts help nations in, among other places, as the Middle East and Africa to accomplish predictability, stability and transparency.

"The institute is internationally renowned for creating sustainable and long-lasting solutions in the countries where we work. It is sad to cut back on these activities. It is essential that every human being can live a decent life with access to fundamental rights in the place they are born and grow up," Jonas Christoffersen stresses.

The board of directors will decide which activities will be affected by the budget cuts in the immediate future.