Grant call for local human rights organisations in Ukraine, identifying and documenting torture perpetrated in armed conflict

As a part of the United Against Torture Consortium (UATC), launched in 2023 by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and five other major anti-torture organisations - the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), the International Federation of ACATs (FIACAT), the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), Omega Research Foundation and REDRESS – the OMCT will provide targeted and strategic support to local human rights organisations in Ukraine to increase the impact and reach of their work, foster their sustainability and resilience in response to adversity, and stimulate the growth of the movement.

The UATC is funded by the European Union (EU).

ABOUT THE OMCT

The OMCT works with around 200 member organisations, which constitute its SOS-Torture Network, to end torture, fight impunity and protect human rights defenders worldwide. The SOS-Torture Network is the largest global group actively standing up to torture in more than 75 countries. Helping local voices be heard, the OMCT supports its field partners and directly assists victims. The international secretariat of the OMCT is based in Geneva, with offices in Brussels and Tunis.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

With the financial support of the EU, the OMCT supports the initiatives of Ukrainian human rights organisations identifying, documenting, investigating and taking legal and advocacy actions about torture and related international crimes committed during the armed conflict in the territory of Ukraine. The aim is to support civil society actors in providing crisis response to ongoing crimes and contributing to justice and support for victims.

The total amount available for this project is 10,000 EUR.

SCOPES OF APPLICATION AND METHODOLOGY

Since the beginning of Russia's wide-scale aggression against Ukraine, the Russian military has systematically committed torture and related crimes, including enforced disappearances, incommunicado detentions, and extrajudicial killings. The crime of torture is documented to be widespread and systematic and used against protected persons as a tactic. The OMCT concludes that the use of torture in armed conflict in Ukraine amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Since 2022, the OMCT has worked closely with the Ukrainian partners to document these patterns, support victims of torture and related crimes and take legal and advocacy actions to achieve justice for international crimes of torture. Within the scope of these activities, the OMCT aims to further support Ukrainian human rights organisations in identifying and documenting torture perpetrated in the context of armed conflict against protected persons.

Applicant organisations should submit proposals, which may include the following actions:

1. Identification and documentation of torture and related crimes perpetrated in armed conflict in the territory of Ukraine;
2. Investigation of torture incidents and patterns in the context of armed conflict;
3. Analyses of torture incidents and patterns in the context of armed conflict;
4. Preparation of statements, public reports, and other materials for international organisations on torture and related crimes;
5. Organisation of advocacy actions about torture and related crimes at the national or international level;
6. Organisation of public events on torture and related crimes in the context of armed conflict at the national or international level;
7. Conducting legal work on torture cases and cases of related international crimes at the national or global level;
8. Support and assistance to victims of torture.

The proposed activities must be implemented by 31 December 2024. OMCT may provide technical advice and participate in implementing the proposed activities. Please indicate in the application form if OMCT advice/participation is expected.

All tasks and actions should:

• Promote participatory and inclusive methodology and decision-making among anti-torture organisations;
• Assess appropriate safeguards for the safety of participating individuals/organisations.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

• The applicant must be a registered or unregistered civil society group, organisation or coalition;
• The applicant must be a local human rights organisation seeking to increase its work's impact and reach, foster its sustainability and resilience, and contribute to the movement's growth.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications made jointly by more than one organisation will be considered. In this case, it is necessary to identify a central applicant organisation. The leading applicant organisation will manage financial resources and promptly present narrative and financial reports. The division of tasks between the applicant organisations should be specified in the application. Personnel from the organisation/organisations/consultants may be hired to carry out the activities identified in the call.

Two applications (individual or joint) will be selected and supported based on an evaluation with indicators considering the eligibility criteria and the proposal's substance, scope and methodology.

Applications (available here) should be emailed to Eugenia Andreyuk, OMCT Coordinator for the Europe and Central Asia Programme: ean@omct.org. The deadline is 3 April 2024.

To have your application considered, please send an email mentioning "Grant Call—Ukraine" as the subject.

This Open Call for financing country projects has been made possible with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). They can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.