20th anniversary campaign reinforces commitment to defending human rights. (Antonio Mozeto/ Brazil Fund Archive)
The Brazil Human Rights Fund celebrates 20 years of activity in 2026. To mark the occasion, the institution is launching a campaign this Thursday (26), highlighting what lies at the core of the foundation: an unwavering commitment to defending human rights.
Developed in partnership with Agência Giz, the campaign plays on the organization’s name to highlight that, Fundamentally (a word that, in portuguese, has the same etymological origin as “Fund”, and conveys the idea of “deep down”) , we know what is essential: defending life, diversity, the right to free expression and to territories, and so many other fundamental guarantees for the construction of plural and democratic societies.
Over the past two decades, the Brazil Fund has worked to consolidate these guarantees. It did so by channeling resources to grassroots organizations that, operating across the country, fight setbacks and secure rights. More than R$120 million has been granted to over a thousand organizations.
“The Brazil Fund was created with the mission of strengthening Brazil’s organized civil society in all its diversity. Groups and collectives that stand up for fundamental rights. The 20-year campaign underscores this founding commitment to supporting what, at its core, is essential,” says Ana Valéria Araújo, executive director of the Foundation.
In addition to the static material, the campaign features a manifesto video that sums up Brazil Fund’s vocation: to be where it is needed, strengthening those who defend fundamental rights. “When the world risks going backwards, someone needs to make sure that the essence is preserved,” the video narrates.
Images that depict the fight for rights
All the material was produced from images submitted to the Brazil Fund photo contest. The award, now in its sixth edition, is dedicated to celebrating images that portray the fight for rights.
In producing the video, those same images were set in motion through AI-powered animation. More information and photo credits can be found at the end of this text.
With all their beauty, the photos depict the diversity of causes and forms of action of Brazil’s organized civil society. “The struggle in defense of human rights can also be beautiful; it can also be joyful. It is a proactive fight, seeking to build a better society for everyone. In Brazil Fund’s 20th anniversary, we want to remember just how essential it is to imagine—and build—these other possible worlds,” says Allyne Andrade e Silva, deputy executive director of the institution.
“The campaign also carries an invitation: we know what truly matters. The right to life, to democracy, to diversity. These are shared values that the Brazil Fund has defended for 20 years, and we call on the public to defend them as well,” says Gislene Aniceto, general manager of the institution.
Felipe Iruatã – Brazil Fund Archive
Two decades supporting civil society
When it was established in 2006, the Brazil Human Rights Fund took on the mission of implementing innovative mechanisms to support Brazil’s organized civil society. The Foundation was conceived by human rights activists who understood the challenges faced by our democracy and who were committed to building a fairer country. Since then, more than 2,300 projects have been supported, and more than 1,300 organizations have benefited.
The launch of the campaign and the manifesto video is one of the initiatives that the Brazil Fund has planned for 2026 to celebrate two decades of work. In January, the institution released a commemorative logo. Later this April, a section of the website will be dedicated to revisiting these 20 years of progress and achievements. In the following months, the foundation is planning a series of activities devoted to reflecting on the role of philanthropy in building democracy.
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About the photos featured in the video
The photos featured in the video “At the Fund, We Know What Matters” were animated using artificial intelligence, without altering the information they already contained.
The authors of the images, along with the organizations they were affiliated with at the time, are listed below in the order they appear in the video.
Monaiane Silva Sá
Thácio Coelho
Lucas de Godoy – A Sirene newspaper
Lucianna Ferreira – Cedeca Ceará
Ana Cláudia Talieri
Tânia Meinerz
Gustavo Aguirre
Danillo Santana
Mariana Cabral
Ana Carolina Lino Costa
Antonio Mozeto
Bianca Taranti
Felipe Iruatã
Danilo Vital Marroco
Weverton Santos – Cooperação das Comunidades Quilombolas (Quilombola Communities Cooperation)
