8 Int´l NGOs granted €10m for human rights, development

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has granted a total of ten million euros to eight international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) for the promotion of human rights and development for the period 2019–2021, said an official press release.

More than one hundred organisations submitted applications for a discretionary government transfer, applying in total for over 100 million euros.

In the Call for Proposals, the focus was put on sexual and reproductive health and rights, tax justice, strengthening civil society, impunity, support for human right defenders and non-discrimination in the implementation of financial, social and cultural rights.

“Support for international non-governmental organisations is a part of Finland’s development cooperation. The organisations that we support are our partners in furthering the implementation of Finland’s development policy and human rights policy goals. Their expertise in their own fields of work is valuable,” said Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen.

In the 2019 Call for Proposals, discretionary government transfers were granted to the following organisations: International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Ipas, Publish What You Pay (PWYP), International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT), International Service for Human Rights, DefendDefenders – East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project and Minority Rights Group.

Through the International Planned Parenthood Federation and Ipas, the ministry reinforces its long-term work in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights. To Publish What You Pay, the ministry has granted a discretionary government transfer to be used in a project furthering tax justice and transparency to be implemented in Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda as well as in various regional and international fora.

The ICJ’s work focuses on the fight against impunity relating to gross human rights violations.

OMCT is the world organisation fighting against torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment. Human rights defenders work is specifically conducted in the least developed and fragile countries.

Digital threats aimed at human rights defenders, support to women’s human rights defenders and human rights defender questions relating to trade are emphasised. The Minority Rights Group promotes the economic, social and cultural rights of vulnerable groups, such as indigenous peoples, and prevents and reduces structural discrimination.