The Andrew Blane Memorial Fund for Human Rights Defenders

The Andrew Blane Memorial Fund for Human Rights Defenders is a fund established in memory of Andrew Blane — a champion of human rights and human beings. Andrew spent over half his ninety years championing individuals who sought to make the world a better place. Through his work for Amnesty International and in his daily life, Andrew brought a compassionate heart, generosity of spirit, and passionate ideals for a better world.

Andrew’s family established this fund to continue the work of his life: to privately lift up individuals facing hardship, and to publicly build a more peaceful, just, and loving society by defending human rights. To honor him and ensure his legacy, we establish this fund to support at least one “human rights defender” each year.

You can also mail a check to The Kota Alliance, 43 Saint Nicholas Place, New York, NY 10031. Mark check “Andrew Blane Fund”

Criteria for the fund beneficiary:


- Must be a “Human Rights Defender”, working in some way to better our world
- Priority to those facing personal hardship (e.g. poverty, inability to work, exile, asylum seeking, grief, illness, crisis), who would benefit from financial support.
- Priority to women, in alignment with the Kota Alliance’s mission.

Electing the fund beneficiary:


- The beneficiary will be chosen by Andrew’s surviving family.
- A new beneficiary will be chosen yearly, on March 16, Andrew’s birthday.
- The community is welcome to suggest nominees for the fund, by email to andrewblanefund@gmail.com

Fund allocation


- There are no restrictions. The chosen person will have full freedom to use the funds however they want, in whatever way will most benefit their life.

Past recipients

2023 Haydée Castillo

On 15th March 2023, the Kota Alliance was proud present the Andrew Blane Human Rights Defenders Award of 2023 to Haydée Castillo for her relentless and lifelong work for Human Rights in Nicaragua.

Read more about Haydée

Picture: Mahbouba Seraj/Thomson Reuters Foundation

2022 Mahbouba Seraj

As per www.womenpeacesecurity.org:

“Ms. Mahbouba Seraj is the Executive Director of Afghan Women Skills Development Center presently. After 26 years in exile, she returned to her beloved Afghanistan at the end of 2003, and has been working with Afghan women and children ever since. She has been a tireless advocate for women’s rights, pushing for women’s participation in the Peace Jirga, as well as in the High Peace Council. Ms. Seraj and other women advocates were responsible for raising women’s participation at the 2011 BONN conference and 2012 Tokyo Conference on “Afghanistan after 2014,” as well as for their participation in the current Afghan Peace talks with Taliban and the US. She is the creator and announcer of a radio program for women by the name of “Our Beloved Afghanistan by Mahbouba Seraj,” which has been broadcasted all over Afghanistan. She also established Women’s Listening Circles, where women gather to discuss different topics of previously recorded radio programs.”

We are honoured to be able to support such a brave woman human rights defender, who has chosen to remain in her country under extremely difficult circumstances. 

Gulalai and Saba Ismail

Katherine Martinez of PreparaFamilia, Venezuela

Gradenet, Uganda

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

Adler Ann
Adler Oliver
Alitolppa-Niitamo Anne
Armstrong Patricia
Barmeyer Patricia
Bayer Alexei
Beaujour Elizabeth Berger Keen

Bolivar, Ligia Blane Quillin Claire
Blumenthal Gisela
Bucciarelli Eija
Carroll Jesse
Carroll Sherman
Carroll Tom
Chamberlin Lee and Win
Cohen Hallie and Levy Francis
Connell Dorothy Cox Theodore
Dauer Pajton
De Palchi Luce Eastcott John and Momatiuk Yva
Eiden Jannik and family
Ellsworth Priscilla
Enberg Sirkku
Estreich James
Evans Jaclyn Flint Aili

Forsberg Katariina Friedlander Keith Frye Blane
Frye Clark
Frye Kim and Jeff
Fuchs Lars
Gerard Celia
Grant Stefanie
Gronberg Helena, Anita and Tom Hagelstam, Kristina
Hameed and van der Welt Reeza and Elsa
Hawk David and Joan
Hill Samuel
Horowitz Minna Jeppson Elizabeth
Kang Ting-I Katz and Eskin Michelle and Barbara Kaufman Edy and Lisa
Keller Esterlinda
Kenter-Potty Karen
Kiesiläinen Kari
Kjellberg Ann
Klimowicz Henry
Kline Jill
Korbut Sasha
Koskialho Meeri
Kovalev Ivan and Tatiana

Kuhlenkamp Elizabeth
Lanman Neil La Sorte Jana Lehtolainen Leena Malmström Synnöve
McGrath Mark
Mellor Ruth
Middleton Gail
Moore Griffin
Moore Lenka
Muela Isabel
Munves David and Sarah
Naylor Hilary
Neuwirth Jessica
Nicholson Maggie
Noguera Nancy Nurmi Rea
Nussbaum Amanda
Ogita Yutaka
Ornstein Maggie
Ostlund Camille
Paavola Katriina
Palotie Laura
Picken Margo

Pope Barbara Price Don and Nancy
Rahmouni Anne

Rantanen Anssi Rehnstrom Jaana
Rehnstrom Joel Riggs Thomas Saarinen Moona and Risto Sanwick Elina and Robert
Samoylov Andre
Samoylova Zoya
Saslaw Minna and Eliisa
Scheinin - Salomon Martin and Margot
Schenkkan Frances and Pieter
Sellars Barbara Sharnak Debbie
Shirley Denise
Silva Al
Simonen Mari
Sirkin Susannah
Sproul Barbara
Swahn Irma
Terna - Shiffman Fred and Rebecca
Thompson Laura
Toivonen Leena
Trautman Jaimie
Young Gregor
Zalaquett Jose

Another resource for support for human rights defenders: PoC