This instrument is designed to help civil society to become an effective force for political reform and defence of human rights. In doing this, it will complement the new generation of geographical programmes, which will focus on public institution-building. The EIDHR will offer independence of action, which is a critical feature of cooperation with civil society organisations at national level, especially in the sensitive areas of democracy and human rights. Great flexibility and increased capacity to respond to changing circumstances or to support innovation are among the features of the new instrument.

The new instrument is global in scope. It is applied at national, regional and international levels and supports actions carried out in third countries throughout the world, and also in Member States if relevant to needs in third countries.

In this context, the specific objectives of the EIDHR, are defined in the 2007-2010 strategy paper which sets out five specific objectives:

1. Enhancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in countries and regions where they are most at risk.

2. Strengthening the role of civil society in promoting human rights and democratic reform, supporting the peaceful conciliation of group interests and consolidating political participation and representation.

3. Supporting actions on human‑rights and democracy issues in areas covered by EU guidelines, including dialogues on human rights, human‑rights defenders, the death penalty, torture, and children and armed conflict.

4. Supporting and strengthening the international and regional frameworks for the protection of human rights, justice, the rule of law and the promotion of democracy.

5. Building confidence in and enhancing the reliability and transparency of democratic electoral processes, in particular through election observation.

The current Strategy Paper for the period 2007-2010 can be consulted at the following address:

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/eidhr/documents/eidhr-strategy-paper-2007_en.pdf

This call for proposals is published with the aim of selecting actions concerning "Support for human rights and democracy-related actions in the field of human rights defenders".

More information is available : http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl

Call for Proposals - EIDHR - Support for Human Rights Defenders

Reference: EuropeAid/126412/C/ACT/Multi
Budget EUR: 8000000
Status: Open (until 04.03.2008)
Documents: Guidelines for grant applicants Annex A-Parts A B-Grant application form Annex B-Budget Annex C-Logical Framework Lignes directrices Annexe A-Formulaire de demande-Parties A et B Annexe B-Budget FR Annexe C-Cadre Logique Guia para los solicitantes Anexo A-Parte A B-Formulario de solicitud Anexo B-Presupuesto Anexo C-MarcoLogico