Tag: Europe

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Democracy, Human Rights

Call for Proposals: Europe Offers Grant to Civil Society Organizations

Oct 31, 2024 by RMN Foundation 0 Comments #Democracy, #Europe, #Human Rights
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Representational Image of People Created with Meta AI Image Generator.

Call for Proposals: Europe Offers Grant to Civil Society Organizations

The total budget of 120,000 euros will be divided into three separate grants.

The Council of Europe’s Democratic Institutions and Civil Society Division has launched a grant for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It aims to foster democratic culture and strengthen the engagement of citizens in decision making in their countries, and to enhance the mutual engagement between the Council of Europe and civil society organizations. 

The total budget of 120,000 euros will be divided into three separate grants. This call for proposals aims to co-fund projects designed to strengthen the interaction, dialogue and exchanges between the Council of Europe and European civil society. The deadline for submitting offers is 1 December 2024. Project proposals must meet two main criteria:

raise awareness about the work and standards of the Council of Europe to make member states more resilient to pressures undermining democratic values, promote democratic governance and enhance civil participation in political decision-making, including the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy, and how these can be used by civil society actors to advance their causes

raise awareness about existing cooperation and interaction between the Council of Europe and civil society and help to identify new opportunities in this regard. 

The projects shall be carried out by an international non-governmental organization (INGO), umbrella non-governmental organization or coalition or network of NGOs with strong expertise and experience in advocacy, policymaking, and representation of interests in the areas of democracy, human rights and/or the rule of law and with expertise in the Council of Europe standards and/or with experience in cooperation with the Council of Europe.

Courtesy: Council of Europe

Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. Photo courtesy: Council of Europe
Human Rights

Human Rights: Three Candidates Shortlisted for the 2024 Václav Havel Prize

Aug 30, 2024 by RMN Foundation 0 Comments #Europe, #Human Rights, #Václav Havel
2024 Václav Havel Prize. Photo courtesy: Council of Europe
2024 Václav Havel Prize. Photo courtesy: Council of Europe

Human Rights: Three Candidates Shortlisted for the 2024 Václav Havel Prize

The overall winner of the 2024 Prize is due to be announced at the opening of PACE’s Autumn plenary session in Strasbourg on 30 September.

The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which rewards outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, has announced the shortlist for the 2024 Award.

Meeting in Prague, the panel – made up of independent figures from the world of human rights and chaired by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Theodoros Rousopoulos – decided to shortlist the following three nominees, in alphabetical order:

Akif Gurbanov, Azerbaijan

The nominee is a human rights defender, political activist and active member of the Azerbaijani civil society. He is the co-founder of the Institute of Democratic Initiative (IDI) and of the Third Republic Platform. He was arrested in March 2024 in a wave of arrests targeting journalists and activists in the country.

María Corina Machado, Venezuela

The nominee is a leading political figure in Venezuela engaged in denouncing human rights abuses in her country and defending democracy and the rule of law. She is the co-founder of the Venezuelan volunteer civil organization ‘Súmate’ for civil and political freedom, rights and citizen participation.

Babutsa Pataraia, Georgia

The nominee is a leading feminist activist and human rights lawyer in Georgia. She is the Director of ‘Sapari’, an NGO focusing on women’s rights and providing support for victims of violence since 2013. She has worked for over a decade to fight against feminicide, sexual violence against women, and sexual harassment.

Announcing the panel’s choice, the PACE President paid tribute to all defenders of human rights who, sometimes at the cost of their lives, stand firm to protect and promote fundamental freedoms and human rights. 

“Today, more than ever, it is of paramount importance to celebrate the women and men who, by their courage, determination and strength, show us the path to freedom. Their fight is an example for all of us, and I am happy that the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize has celebrated their action since its creation eleven years ago.”

The overall winner of the 2024 Prize is due to be announced at the opening of PACE’s Autumn plenary session in Strasbourg on 30 September. The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize is awarded each year by PACE, in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation. It consists of a sum of 60,000 euros, a trophy and a diploma.

Since its creation, the Prize has been awarded in turn to Osman Kavala (2023), Vladimir Kara-Murza (2022), Maria Kalesnikava (2021), Loujain Alhathloul (2020), jointly to Ilham Tohti and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (2019), Oyub Titiev (2018), Murat Arslan (2017), Nadia Murad (2016), Ludmilla Alexeeva (2015), Anar Mammadli (2014) and Ales Bialiatski (2013).

Courtesy: Council of Europe