HURIDOCS participated in the RELX SDG Inspiration Day to contribute to discussions on collaborative, scalable action to advance the SDGs at the important five-year mark. HURIDOCS’ Executive Director joined other thought leaders to discuss how philanthropy can drive progress toward SDG 16 by building just, inclusive, and accountable institutions.
The panel was hosted by BBC journalist Justine Webb, and Danna spoke alongside featured guests Ian McDougall (President, LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation), Katrina Crossley (CEO, International Law Book Facility (ILBF)) and Alasdair Stuart (Senior Advisor, BBC Media Action).
Find here a summary of Danna’s interventions:
“In a world of political turbulence, rising authoritarianism, and eroding trust in institutions, philanthropy continues to play a vital role in defending peace, justice, and the rule of law. Grounded in Sustainable Development Goal 16, this means supporting efforts that promote inclusive societies, ensure access to justice, and strengthen accountable institutions.
“At its best, philanthropy is an act of solidarity. When democracies face stormy winds, philanthropic support can serve as a steadying ballast by backing civil society and human rights defenders when governments can’t or won’t. It should resist chasing trends or reacting to every gust. Instead, it must stay focused on what matters most: human dignity, fairness, and voice.
“Attacks on the rule of law are not just a matter of human rights but deeply impact economic and governance issues as well. Where laws break down, corruption and instability follow. By investing in strong institutions and supporting accountability, philanthropy can safeguard not only justice but also public trust.
“At HURIDOCS, we urge the philanthropic community to consider the free and secure flow of information to be an essential element of an effective philanthropic strategy. Civil society depends on safe, open communication to hold power to account. Technology, when developed ethically and used strategically, can support this. Philanthropy can help by funding critical technical infrastructure, supporting platforms that amplify marginalised voices, and enabling tools that process complex data into actionable insights.
“In supporting critical technical infrastructure of civil society, the philanthropic community is doing more than simply funding the development of tools, it is funding resilience. Grassroots groups often need simple things: money, time, and trust. They need space to breathe, plan, and respond to changing realities. At HURIDOCS, for example, we support grassroots networks in Chiapas who navigate complex and dangerous environments daily. In that context, even the ability to securely share information across a province can build safety, access, and ultimately, a stronger rule of law.
“Technology, in particular open-source and community-led technology, has the potential to transform how civil society operates. We need infrastructure and tools that aren’t fully reliant on Big Tech, those that can withstand corporate shifts or licensing failures. The International Criminal Court’s recent loss of access to critical data due to platform dependency should be a wake-up call. We all have a role to play in ensuring that justice is not held hostage by commercial priorities.
“At HURIDOCS, our open-source platform Uwazi supports over 300 organisations globally in managing and structuring evidence, pursuing justice, and protecting the rule of law. We’re also using machine learning to help human rights defenders make sense of vast UN data sets, in collaboration with groups like UPR Info. But our innovation is not about the newest tools. It’s about building the right ones, hand-in-hand with partners.
“Looking ahead, the challenges civil society and the philanthropic sector face are real and rising. People are angry, bombarded with injustices and rapidly losing trust in institutions. We urge our philanthropic partners to meet this moment not just with money, but with patience, courage, and commitment. Fund the gaps left by governments pulling out. Use your influence to lift diverse voices and slow the noise. And above all, stay the course. Pick your partners. Listen to them. Back them for the long haul. And never lose sight of the human at the centre of it all.”