The Civic Advocacy Support Program (CASP) - a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project, implemented by Counterpart International announces its solicitation for Human Rights Small Grants’ competition from civil society organizations (registered and operating Armenian non governmental, non profit public organizations including NGOs, foundations, unions of legal entities).

CASP began its activities in September of 2004. The goal of CASP is the strengthening of advocacy capacities of non-governmental, non profit, public organizations through a broad range of grants and technical assistance programs.

The goal of Human Rights Small Grants (HRSG) is to support the Armenian civil society organizations in conducting projects aimed at protecting and promoting human rights in Armenia. Grant projects include but are not limited to the monitoring of human rights situation and/or of policy implementation, comparative legal analysis of current human rights related legislation, human rights advocacy, awareness raising initiatives on selected human rights and/or human rights education, capacity building of rights-holders and/or duty-bearers, legal assistance to individuals who seek for redress of their rights violated by state bodies etc.

The grant projects can choose to focus on one or two issues from a broad range of human rights issues including but not limited to prisoners’ and detainees’ rights, freedom of media and speech and access to information, access to justice and rule of law, freedom and rights of religious groups, right to healthy environment, equal access to and quality of education, employment conditions and rights and access to health care and social benefits.

Within the framework of HRSG CASP will award grants at up to 3, 500, 000 AMD each. All the projects presented in the framework of this grant will need to be completed by May 1, 2010. Full data and application form are attached.