Stand Speak Rise Up!

What Stand Speak Rise Up! does

Stand Speak Rise Up! is a Luxembourg-based non-profit association founded in 2019 by HRH the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg following the inaugural Luxembourg Forum on wartime sexual violence. Its mission is to fund and advocate for holistic support to survivors of sexual violence and children born of wartime rape, organized around five axes: access to health, justice, economic independence, education, and housing. The organization does not build technology products; its core offering is a portfolio of advocacy events (the Luxembourg Forum, the Biarritz Charity Gala, Survivor Week, conferences at the EIB and European Parliament, and the Simply Survivors photo exhibition), a research and publications program (multidisciplinary white papers in 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025 and a first multidisciplinary journal in 2025), and grant-making to local survivor-led implementing partners across 13 countries including Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Luxembourg, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ukraine.

The business model is donation- and partnership-driven rather than commercial. Stand Speak Rise Up! states it receives no public subsidies and is funded entirely by private generosity: one-off and recurring individual donations (tax-deductible at 100% above €120 in Luxembourg and 66% in France), corporate sponsorships (BGL BNP Paribas, ATOZ, Groupe Foyer, L'Oréal Fund for Women, Engie Foundation, Moët-Hennessy, Fondation Indosuez), cause-marketing and solidarity-product arrangements (Hermès Luxembourg scarf, Cactus coffee and chocolate, HEOH Payments point-of-sale rounding, MicroDon payroll rounding), and real-estate-linked giving (Together Immo, 1% of property fees). Implementation is delegated to established partners including the Dr Mukwege Foundation, Panzi Foundation, TRIAL International, Luxembourg Red Cross, Women Information Consultative Center (Ukraine), Sant'Egidio (Cuba), Golden Women Vision (Uganda), and Hiwyet Charity Association (Ethiopia). Since 2019 the organization reports supporting more than 6,000 women across 13 countries, with notable outcomes including 7,000 Ukrainian survivors reached via WICC, 20 homes constructed in South Kivu with Panzi and the Luxembourg Red Cross, and successful advocacy for the 2022 Federation of BiH law recognizing victim status of survivors and children born of wartime rape.

The organization operates with a lean staff of 6 from its Colmar-Berg headquarters, leveraging a high-profile board (HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa as President; Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege; Stéphane Bern as Secretary General; Chékéba Hachemi as Treasurer) and a multinational partner network to execute projects without building in-country infrastructure of its own. Distribution is event-driven and partnership-driven: biennial/annual flagship events for fundraising and awareness, complemented by digital channels (newsletter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook), press coverage (TF1, France 2, France 24, RTL, ELLE), and a structured mentorship program now active in six countries. The 2024 UN designation as "Champion of the Fight Against Conflict-Related Sexual Violence" and the November 2024 Luxair aircraft partnership mark the most recent institutional validations of the model.

Name

Stand Speak Rise Up!

Legal name

Stand Speak Rise Up!

Website

https://standspeakriseup.lu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stand Speak Rise Up! is a Luxembourg non-profit founded in 2019 by HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, funding holistic health, justice, economic, education, and housing projects for survivors of wartime sexual violence and children born of wartime rape across 13 countries via private donations and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Survivor Support Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Wartime sexual violence
• Survivor support services
• Humanitarian advocacy programs
• Conflict-related violence
• Nonprofit humanitarian aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Colmar-Berg

HQ country

Luxembourg

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and charitable contributions: Stand Speak Rise Up! is funded primarily through private donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization states it receives no public subsidies, relying entirely on private generosity and corporate partnerships to finance its field projects and advocacy work.
2. Corporate partnerships and sponsorships: Companies engage with Stand Speak Rise Up! through bespoke sponsorships, cause-marketing arrangements (e.g., rounded-up checkout donations via HEOH Payments), salary rounding programs via MicroDon, and the creation of solidarity products (e.g., Cactus coffee/chocolate, Hermès Luxembourg limited-edition silk scarf). These arrangements generate both funds and brand visibility for corporate partners.
3. Real estate solidarity partnerships: Through the Together Immo partnership, a percentage of real estate agency fees (1% of property value) is donated to the association when clients select Stand Speak Rise Up! as their charity of choice during property sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Stand Speak Rise Up! is a Luxembourg-based non-profit association that funds and operates a portfolio of holistic field projects supporting survivors of wartime sexual violence and children born of wartime rape across 13 countries. Its offering also includes international advocacy events (Luxembourg Forum, Biarritz Charity Gala, Survivor Week), research publications (white papers and a multidisciplinary journal), corporate partnership mechanisms (donation rounding, solidarity products, bespoke sponsorships), and awareness-raising initiatives such as the Simply Survivors photo exhibition.

Product overview

Stand Speak Rise Up! is a nonprofit humanitarian advocacy organization (not a technology product company) founded in 2019 by HRH the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. Its core offering consists of international advocacy events (the Luxembourg Forum, Biarritz Charity Gala, Survivor Week, conferences, and the Simply Survivors photo exhibition), a portfolio of holistic field projects supporting Survivors of sexual violence and children born of wartime rape across Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Luxembourg, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ukraine, and a publications program producing multidisciplinary white papers, annual reports, and a pluridisciplinary journal. Supporting channels include a library of digital resources, press kit, newsletter, and corporate engagement tools (point-of-sale and payroll giving mechanisms). The organization does not offer a technology platform, SaaS product, API, or mobile application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Field Projects Portfolio for Survivors Portfolio of holistic field projects supporting survivors of sexual violence and children born of wartime rape across multiple countries, organized around five axes: access to health, justice, economic independence, education, and housing. Country-specific projects operate in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Iraq/Sinjar, Luxembourg, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ukraine. Delivered through local implementing partners including Panzi Foundation, TRIAL International, WICC, Sant'Egidio Cuba, Golden Women Vision Uganda, and Hiwyet Charity Association.
• Luxembourg Forum International advocacy forum convening survivors, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, policymakers, NGOs, and international experts to advocate against wartime sexual violence and shape the organization's mission and projects. The founding forum was held on 26-27 March 2019 in Luxembourg and is referenced as an annual flagship event.
• Biarritz Charity Gala Charity gala held at Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz featuring survivor testimonies, auctions, and artistic performances to raise funds for field projects supporting survivors worldwide.
• Survivor Week Annual week-long program combining sharing sessions, workshops, and capacity-building activities for survivors, activists, and project leaders from multiple countries, alongside partner meetings, mentoring workshops, and public awareness events.
• White Papers and Research Publications Series of multidisciplinary white papers and a pluridisciplinary journal documenting conflict-related sexual violence, survivor advocacy, and the organization's activities and impact. Includes the 2022, 2024, and 2025 white papers and the first multidisciplinary journal published in 2025.
• Simply Survivors Photo Exhibition

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 6,000 women supported in 13 countries since 2019
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Groupe SOSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2024Co-organized the event 'Women in Exile, a Journey Marked by Violence: Understanding to Act Better' at the Learning Planet Institute on December 6, 2024. Produced a white paper on supporting women in exile who are victims of violence.
• LuxairminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 November 2024Entered a major partnership with Stand Speak Rise Up!, including the inauguration of an aircraft bearing Stand Speak Rise Up! colors and images of women victims of violence, symbolizing the borderless nature of the fight against war rape.
• Fondation du Grand-Duc et de la Grande-DuchessecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2024Co-organized the reception for survivors at Berg Castle on November 22, 2024, with key partners including Fondation Engie, BGL BNP Paribas, Luxair, and others in attendance alongside Prime Minister Luc Frieden.
• Zonta InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2024Participated in the discussion at the Fondation Grand-Ducale alongside Stand Speak Rise Up! survivors and project leaders, as part of Luxembourg associations involved in the fight against violence against women.
• Judicial Training Institute of BelgiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2024Collaborated with Stand Speak Rise Up! to organize an exceptional training session for magistrates on rape as a weapon of war, held November 13, 2024. Charles-Éric Clesse, Deputy Director of the Institute, is also a board member of Stand Speak Rise Up!
• European Investment Bank (EIB) GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 October 2024Hosted a conference on rape as a weapon of war on October 14, 2024, featuring HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and Chékéba Hachemi. EIB President Nadia Calviño emphasized investing in women to strengthen societies.
• HEOH PaymentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 April 2024Facilitates round-up at checkout donations for Stand Speak Rise Up! through point-of-sale terminals in partner retail locations.
• MicroDonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 April 2024Enables salary rounding programs for Stand Speak Rise Up!, allowing employees to donate small amounts from their paychecks, often matched by employers.
• Hiwyet Charity AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Local implementing partner for the economic empowerment project supporting 150 women survivors of sexual violence in Tigray, Ethiopia. Provides psychosocial care, medical support, legal assistance, and vocational training.
• Together ImmominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Luxembourg real estate agency enabling clients to donate 1% of property sale fees to Stand Speak Rise Up! at no extra cost.
• Golden Women Vision UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Local implementing partner for the education support project for children born of rape in Uganda. Stand Speak Rise Up! finances the education of 33 (later updated to 66) children from nursery to university level through this partnership.
• TRIAL InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Provides free legal assistance to survivors in Bosnia-Herzegovina and advocates for improvements to national legislation. Submitted a case to the UN Committee Against Torture on behalf of four survivors of conflict-related sexual violence who have not received awarded compensation.
• Sant'Egidio CubacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Implementing partner for vocational training and psychosocial support for women and adolescents in Havana, Cuba. Provides professional training in entrepreneurship, psychological support through dance therapy, and awareness programs.
• Hôtel du Palais (Biarritz)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 October 2022Hosted the charity gala on October 15, 2022, which gathered international personalities, survivors, and Nobel laureates to raise funds for Stand Speak Rise Up! field projects.
• Women Information Consultative Center (WICC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Partners with Stand Speak Rise Up! to provide psychological support and legal aid to Ukrainian survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Operates a peer-to-peer support model where pre-conflict survivors support newly affected women. Led by Olena Suslova, who also serves on the Stand Speak Rise Up! board.
• Panzi FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Develops holistic approaches to support victims of sexual violence in South Kivu, DRC. Stand Speak Rise Up! supports the Panzi Foundation in constructing individual homes for survivors. Dr. Denis Mukwege serves as Medical Director of Panzi Hospital and administrator of Stand Speak Rise Up!
• Luxembourg Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaborates with Stand Speak Rise Up! and Panzi Foundation on the construction of homes for survivors in South Kivu, DRC, and on reconstruction of the gynecology-obstetrics department at Irpin Hospital in Ukraine.
• Dr Mukwege FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2019Co-organized the founding Luxembourg Forum in March 2019 alongside Stand Speak Rise Up! and We are NOT Weapons of War. Dr. Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of the foundation, serves on the Stand Speak Rise Up! board. The foundation focuses on supporting survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond.
• We Are NOT Weapons of WarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2019Co-organized the founding Luxembourg Forum in March 2019 alongside Stand Speak Rise Up! and the Dr Mukwege Foundation. Céline Bardet, president of the organization, is a board member of Stand Speak Rise Up! and a featured speaker at events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Nobel Women's Initiative: Brings together female Nobel Peace Prize laureates (including Nadia Murad, who spoke at the 2019 Luxembourg Forum) to amplify women's rights and peace advocacy. Peer in the leadership/diplomatic-access model combining Nobel laureate credibility with cause-driven advocacy.
• Women's Refugee Commission: Advocates for the rights and protection of women and children displaced by conflict and crisis. Comparable in focus on refugee/displaced women survivors and in commissioning research and policy work to drive systemic change.
• MADRE: An international women's human rights organization that partners with grassroots women-led groups in conflict-affected countries. Peer in the survivor-led, grassroots-implementing-partner model and in focusing on holistic survivor support including economic empowerment and legal aid.

Broad incumbents

• UN Women: The UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, a recognized authority on conflict-related sexual violence and the body that awarded Stand Speak Rise Up! its 2024 Champion designation. Operates as a policy/advocacy counterpart with overlapping mandate on women in conflict settings.
• International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ): Global nonprofit working on accountability and redress for victims of war crimes and gross human rights violations, including conflict-related sexual violence. Comparable in policy/legal advocacy ambitions and survivor-centered approach, particularly around victim-status legislation.
• Women for Women International: A larger, established humanitarian NGO serving women survivors of war and conflict with training, livelihoods, and rights programming across multiple conflict-affected countries. Overlaps with Stand Speak Rise Up!'s survivor-economic empowerment and rights pillars but operates at much greater scale and broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• TRIAL International: Core legal partner of Stand Speak Rise Up! in Bosnia-Herzegovina, providing free legal assistance to survivors and litigating before bodies like the UN Committee Against Torture. Comparable in mission focus on accountability for wartime sexual violence and legal advocacy.
• Dr. Mukwege Foundation: Co-organizer of the founding 2019 Luxembourg Forum and closely aligned with Stand Speak Rise Up! on advocacy against sexual violence in conflict. Focuses on global awareness and survivor support, sharing the same founder figure and similar UN-level advocacy ambitions.
• Panzi Foundation / Panzi Hospital: Founded by Dr. Denis Mukwege (board member of Stand Speak Rise Up!), the Panzi Foundation operates one of the leading holistic models for survivors of sexual violence in DRC. It is both a direct implementing partner and a peer addressing the same survivor population with overlapping health, justice, and economic pillars.
• We Are NOT Weapons of War: Co-founded the 2019 Luxembourg Forum alongside Stand Speak Rise Up! and the Mukwege Foundation. President Céline Bardet sits on the Stand Speak Rise Up! board. The two organizations share an explicit survivor-led framing and operate in the same niche of conflict-related sexual violence advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfSVhzRZowh2yBPlBWQbWxQ/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/StandSpeakRise
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stand-speak-rise-up-asbl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stand Speak Rise Up!