Universal Rights
Promoting a More Informed Citizenry and Stronger Independent Media Sector to Cover Electoral Processes
$180,000
To promote transparency and informed citizens about electoral processes and governance issues in Central America. To cover upcoming electoral cycles and governance issues such as corruption and citizen insecurity, the grantee will produce in-depth reports, articles, and a series of podcasts and micro documentaries. The project will train independent journalists to strengthen their skills to produce investigative reporting on electoral processes.
Association of the Bar of the City of New York Fund, Inc.
Supporting Independent Judges and Judicial Independence
$250,000
To promote judicial independence and strengthen the capacity of judges to act independently and with integrity. The grantee will elevate the profile of independent judges’ associations from the region, hold multisector events to demonstrate support for independent judges, train journalists and CSOs on effective communication and advocacy around judicial independence, develop a manual for the defense and promotion of judicial independence, and collaborate with international law firms on best practices for accountable judiciaries.
Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
Women Empowered By A Central America Network (We – Can 2021)
$540,614
To cultivate a women’s business network in Central America to promote equal inclusion of women in the economy and democratic processes, and to strengthen the capacity of women’s business associations and women business owners to engage in collective action efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment and inclusion. As the first phase of a multi-year effort, the Center will support four women’s associations in Central America to consolidate a nascent women’s regional business network to improve the environment for women’s democratic participation and economic inclusion in the region. The Center will strengthen the Network to engage at the Central America regional level and enhance the organizational capacity of each Network member to be active participants in the Network and provide much needed member services. The Partner will also organize capacity building workshops to improve the business skills of women entrepreneurs and business owners in Nicaragua.
Centre pour les Droits Civils et Politiques – Centre CCPR
Maximizing the Role of CSO Coalitions in Central America
$219,500
To equip civil society coalitions and human rights defenders in Central America with specialized knowledge and capacities to more effectively advocate for and monitor implementation of universal human rights standards. The grantee will provide targeted high level trainings on UN human rights mechanisms and recommendations, disseminate information broadly to civil society and the public, and foster momentum of national and regional coalitions advocating for state accountability and the implementation of priority human rights recommendations. The grantee will also carry out activities meant to increase mutual awareness and synergies between the Inter-American human rights system and the universal human rights system.
Fundacion Cristosal
Defending Human Rights Against State Sponsored Violence
$260,000
The grantee will strengthen civil society’s capacity to defend human rights and oppose state violence through strategic litigation, support to victims and a public campaign on rights. The group will train CSOs from Central America, pursue strategic litigation cases and seek a regional human rights hearing. They will also produce a monthly report tracking state violence and launch a new online platform to publish pieces on democracy, rights, and the state as part of a public awareness campaign.
Solidarity Center (SC)
Building and Strengthening Democratic Unions in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
$1,689,000
To strengthen the capacity of trade unions in Central America to organize and democratically represent workers to ensure respect for labor rights and improve workers’ working and living conditions, the Center will support unions in the agricultural, apparel, domestic work, and call center sectors to educate and engage a broad base of workers to promote and defend freedom of association, establish inclusive and democratic worker-led organizations, engage in negotiations and workplace level dialogue in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. To strengthen the capacity of unions in Central America to defend fundamental labor rights, participate in public policy debates, and advocate for the implementation of policies and laws that represent workers’ positions and protect their rights, the Center will support unions to develop consensus-based policy positions with grassroots worker input that are broadly supported and advocated by a critical mass of each country’s national labor movement.
