Ukraine: 2023 Human Rights Fund Call for Concept Notes

The Human Rights Fund (HRF) Programme of the Embassy invites NGOs to submit concept notes.

Promoting human rights and supporting Ukraine’s policy in this field is a priority for the Netherlands, because democracies governed by the rule of law provide the most fertile soil for prosperity, stability and development.

Priority Areas

• International accountability for the most serious crimes, with a focus on:

  • Reduced impunity for the most serious crimes, i.e. war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, notably through prosecution and convictions;

  • Inclusive engagement with victims and survivor groups to help them achieve (criminal) justice for international crimes, either in national, regional or international justice procedures;

  • Maintained or enhanced independence and effectiveness of international justice institutions.

• Equal rights for women and girls

  • Decreased occurrence of all forms of violence against women and girls in public and private life.

  • Strengthened women’s voice, agency, leadership and representative participation in decision-making processes in public, private and civic sphere.

  • Reinforced women’s economic rights and empowerment and female entrepreneurship encouraged.

  • Women’s and girls’ rights protected in crisis and conflict situations and women’s meaningful participation and leadership in peace- and state-building promoted.

  • Equal rights for women and girls is a cross-cutting theme and should preferably be integrated in all project proposals.

• Freedom of expression and internet freedom, with a focus on:

  • Increased access to information, through a free, open and secure Internet

  • Enhanced safety of journalists worldwide, with a particular focus on female journalists

  • Press freedom, including a diverse and open media landscape

• Human rights defenders and space for civil society, a.o. with a focus on:

  • Increased (holistic) security of human rights defenders and CSO’s, with specific attention for women HRD’s and the most vulnerable groups of HRDs such as land and environmental defenders and indigenous groups.

  • Enhanced legitimacy for human rights defenders at the local, national and international level.

  • CSO’s are able to address shrinking civic space and influence norms and decision-making

• Equal rights for LGBTI people, with a focus on:

  • Decreased criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity worldwide;

  • Decreased occurrence of violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity;

  • Increased levels of social acceptance of LGBTI people.

• Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), with a focus on:

  • Decreased FoRB-based persecution and discrimination, including for non-religious groups. (Religious) communities and faith based actors are more tolerant and inclusive.

Funding Information

• The requested contribution should range between UAH 5.000.000 and UAH 25.000.000; The projects that include sub-granting to NGOs in the regions or smaller communities may be supported if the applicant organization has past experience of coordinating re-granting mechanisms;

  • Minimum project duration: 12 months

  • Maximum project duration: 36 months.