EU offers P95-M grant for human rights projects

The European Union (EU) is offering a total of P95-million grant for project proposals in the field of human rights.

According to the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, civil society organizations (CSOs), both from the Philippines and EU, may now avail themselves of grants worth €200,000 to € 500,000–P10 million to P 26 million per project–for a duration of 24 to 36 months for projects involving human rights in the Philippines.

The fund is made available through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)-Country-Based Support Scheme, a thematic grant facility established by the EU in 2006 to provide support for the promotion of democracy and human rights in non-EU countries.

One of its aims is to strengthen the role of civil society in promoting human rights and democratic reform, and in supporting the peaceful conciliation of group interests and in consolidating political participation and representation.

EIDHR-supported projects are ongoing in 101 countries, including the Philippines.

“The Call for Proposal reaffirms the commitment of the European Union in promoting human rights as an essential element underlying all its external relations including political dialogues and development cooperation,” EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said in a statement.

Ledoux said eligible projects include human rights awareness raising toward concrete policy changes or improved claim-making by rights-holders that are poor, socially-excluded and vulnerable, including independent media initiatives for better public accountability; legal and psycho-social assistance to local human rights defenders; support efforts in the field of human rights documentation and monitoring, campaigns and claim-making; capacity-building training and education activities including gender and human rights-based approaches to organizational development and management and learning exchanges between and among rights-holders and duty-bearers; and participatory action research or policy research or media activities as part of a wider range of public advocacy or human rights accountability activities.

The EU diplomat pointed out that particular emphasis is placed on integration of rights-based approaches and broad-based participation including mainstreaming of gender equality, children’s rights and rights of persons with disabilities in all proposed actions.

He said partnerships or consortiums of CSOs are encouraged to apply.

Ledoux noted that the EU provides about P2 billion annually as grants for development and humanitarian assistance to the Philippines. –ROY C. MABASA, Manila Bulletin