International Human Rights Grant Programme

Overview

_NOTE: Oak Foundation has an invitation-only application process. The majority of awards are made to our long-standing partners or are invited to apply based on fieldwork and research._

_Although we operate an invitation-only application process, we want to hear about ideas and work that fit within our programme strategies. Therefore, if an organisation believes that strong alignment exists with Oak Foundation’s funding priorities, we encourage the organisation to submit an unsolicited letter of enquiry. We will invite the organisation to apply for a grant if we also find alignment with our funding priorities and if there is available budge_

Protecting And Promoting The Human Rights of all People

Since 1948 the global community has developed an extensive body of international law and principles to protect human rights. But the development and implementation of these standards has always faced opposition. There remains a gulf between human rights rhetoric and the lived experience of so many people. We seek to close that gap.

We provide core, project, and seed funding in multi-year grants to organisations that work on five key priorities. We support efforts that ensure:

* justice for victims of international crimes;
* detention as a last resort and zero-tolerance for torture;
* full dignity for LGBTQI people;
* a healthy information sphere; and
* strong human rights movements.

Eligibility

_We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's [website]().
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Application Details

International Human Rights Programme
Programme Strategy
Protecting and promoting the human rights of all people

Oak Foundation / International Human Rights Programme / Our Strategy
Overview Priority area 2
Detention as a last resort and
Since 1948 the international community has zero-tolerance for torture
developed an extensive body of laws and
International law states that detention should
principles to protect human rights. The laws
provide all of us with the tools to live full lives only be used as a last resort: it should be a
with access to justice. But, there remains a gulf necessary and proportionate response to
between human rights rhetoric and the lived concerns of public order and/or flight risk.
experience of so many people. We seek to
close that gap. But in recent decades, prolonged pre-trial
detention for those awaiting criminal trial and
We provide core, project, and seed funding
indefinite administrative detention for “irregular
in multi-year grants to organisations that work
migrants” have become the new normal.
on five key priorities. We support efforts that
ensure:
A growing detention estate (i.e., prisons and
other punitive facilities) has been established
(1) justice for victims of international crimes;
where detainees sometimes suffer
(2) detention as a last resort and zero-tolerance
overcrowding and poor conditions in which
for torture;
torture and inhuman treatment can also thrive.
(3) full dignity for LGBTQI people;
(4) a healthy information sphere; and
Our grant-making aims to:
(5) strong human rights movements.
• ensure independent and adequate oversight
of detention regimes;
• promote attitudinal change on the necessity
Priorities
of detention;
• promote, develop, and implement
Priority area 1 alternatives to detention;
• uphold the due process rights of detainees
Justice for victims of
including their right to challenge their
international crimes
(indefinite) detention;
Victims of gross human rights violations have • challenge the deployment of technology that
the right to truth, justice, and reparations. renders individuals especially vulnerable to
Efforts to secure accountability and redress detention; and
are hindered by significant gaps in evidence • uphold the absolute prohibition on torture
collection, legal capacity, and political and ensure victims can access justice.
commitment.
Our grant-making aims to:
• place accountability for international crimes
on the public and political agenda;
• research, document, and collect evidence
for the prosecution of international crimes;
and
• hold perpetrators to account either by
prosecution, civil suits or sanctions, and
ensuring reparations for victims.
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Oak Foundation / International Human Rights Programme / Our Strategy
Priority area 3 • support independent public interest
journalism and media pluralism, especially
Full dignity for LGBTQI
in restrictive environments where citizens
people
have little access to objective factual
reporting; and
Everyone should live free from discriminatory
• secure an open, transparent, and accountable
prosecution, persecution, and violence. Yet
digital information sphere.
many people around the world face repression
and discrimination based on their sexual
orientation and gender identity/expression.
Priority area 5
We support efforts to challenge the legal,
political, and social marginalisation of Lesbian,
Strong human rights
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex
movements
(LGBTQI) people.
Human rights defenders stand up for rights and
Our grant-making aims to: hold power to account. A defender can be
• strengthen the legal framework that anyone – from a community leader, journalist,
guarantees freedom from criminalisation, lawyer, student, trade union official, cartoonist
hate, and violence; or peaceful demonstrator. All deserve
• end stigmatisation and build public consensus protection. Around the world many are at risk
in support of ending the persecution of from physical attack, imprisonment, legal
LGBTQI communities; harassment, and public stigmatisation. In
• provide legal, psychosocial, and protective addition, many defenders cannot operate freely;
services for LGBTQI victims of hate and organisations are denied registration, blocked
violence; and from receiving funds and subject to excessive,
• build the documentation, advocacy, and unjustified regulatory controls. Our support and
management skills of LGBTQI advocates. solidarity are imperative.
Our grant-making aims to:
Priority area 4 • provide emergency support to human rights
defenders at risk;
A healthy information sphere
• support an enabling environment for human
rights activism including by equipping
Everyone has a right to reliable, trustworthy,
defenders with the necessary skills and
and accurate information. But developments in
technology to effectively pursue their work;
information technology including the
and
algorithmic curation of news are amplifying
• build a resilient human rights movement,
conspiracy theories and hate speech, and
supported by a broad public and supported
enabling malign interference in electoral
through diverse revenue streams.
processes. These produce real harms and
undermine trust in democratic institutions.
Our grant-making aims to:
• build an evidence base demonstrating the
means and harms of disinformation;
• reduce the commercial incentives which
drive disinformation;
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Oak Foundation / International Human Rights Programme / Our Strategy
Where we fund How we work with
our grantee partners
We work internationally at the global, regional,
and national levels. We remain committed to
the EU, USA, UK, and Brazil, and various Application process
geographies in the global East. There is limited
Our grants are usually multi-year and long term
capacity to expand our geographic coverage.
(three years or more). We discuss with
Exceptionally, we work with intermediary
applicants the size of the grant and whether it
organisations in those geographies where there
will be project support or core support (i.e.,
is potential to advance specific lines of work.
flexible and unrestricted funding). We develop
the application in partnership.
Our funding principles
Download this document to learn about the
grant-making timeline and process.
Our grant-making is underpinned by the
following:
Communications
Upholding the international legal framework
The best relationships are built on trust.
We support work that is based upon and
We seek to share learning and impact.
upholds, strengthens, and implements
We value honest, open, and frank exchange
international human rights law.
and invite feedback on how we can be better
grant-makers. We ask for formal reports on an
Promoting systemic change
annual basis. We strive to visit our partners in
We prioritise initiatives that deliver concrete
person when possible.
systemic change beyond individual redress.
Supporting activism Events and partner convenings
We support initiatives that create change
Where practical, we attend events organised by
through activism (e.g., advocacy, campaigning,
partners to listen and learn from their
strategic litigation, citizen participation).
experience. We also convene and consult
partners to better inform our grant-making and
Strengthening our partners
foster joint learning and connections.
Our grant-making is a partnership. We empower
and build the capacity of our partners.
Strengthening the global human rights Our budget and
movement
requests for support
We support and mobilise diverse constituencies
in support of human rights worldwide.
Our annual budget is currently USD 30 million.
Striving for justice, equity, diversity, and As a small team, we can only make up to 50
inclusion grants per year. This means that we must turn
We acknowledge the inherent power dynamic down many requests that come our way,
within grant-making and seek to reduce it by despite alignment with our strategy.
providing longer-term core support with Organisations that fit our current strategy can
flexibility. We seek to reflect a variety of voices submit an enquiry through our website:
and experiences in our programme and https://oakfnd.org/submit-enquiry/
encourage partners to do the same. This is an We value and consider all submissions.
ongoing process.
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Oak Foundation / International Human Rights Programme / Our Strategy
Additional
information
Our team
Our team is passionate, experienced,
knowledgeable, and diverse. We have
dedicated programme officers for each
priority area.
Contact us
If you would like to speak to us, please email
us on info@oakfnd.ch.
Connect with us on social
media
Through our social media channels, we amplify
the voices of our grantee partners and support
the work of our programmes. We want to
inspire hope and possibility.
Our grantee partners
For information on our current grantee
partners, visit our grant database on our
website or read our annual reports.
Visit our website page to learn more about
our partners’ work.
We publish stories on a regular basis that
explain our grant-making approaches.
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