SUBJECT: Development Cooperation
Australian funding for small human rights programs
The Australian Embassy in Hanoi announced on 4 September the opening of applications for the 2009 Human Rights Small Grant Scheme (HRSGS). The scheme provides short-term funding for non-governmental organisations and human rights institutions in developing countries, including Vietnam, for projects that promote and protect human rights. The HRSGS is in addition to Australia’s significant human rights technical cooperation program with the Government of Vietnam.Grants are awarded to projects that complete one or more of the following objectives:
• educating and awareness raising in the area of human rights
• promoting democratic principles
• educating and training human rights workers
• promoting international human rights standards, including improved reporting to United Nations (UN) treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
• promoting and strengthening national or regional human rights institutions or policies.
Grants range from between A$20,000 and A$100,000 (VND320 million-VND1,400 million) for one-year projects. Projects of up to A$150,000 (VND2,100 million) over two years will also be considered.
Activities funded in previous years include training workshops on investigation of human
rights abuses in Indonesia, support for victims of child trafficking in Thailand, and a popular
theatre program to educate poor rural communities in Bangladesh on their legal and human
rights.
For further details on eligibility and application processes, please visit: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/business/other_opps/humanrights_scheme.cfm
Applications for the HRSGS must be submitted in English by 2 October 2009.