2024 Call for Applications to the Special Fund of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture

The OPCAT Special Fund will accept project applications aimed at implementing recommendations made by the Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) after a visit to a State party, provided these recommendations are contained in a report that has been made public in accordance with article 16(2) of OPCAT.

Who can apply:

· State parties having been visited by the SPT and have agreed to the publication of the SPT visit report, and NPMs of these State parties;

· NPMs having been visited by the SPT and having agreed to the publication of the subsequent SPT report addressed to them or requesting support for their educational programmes;

· National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) that are compliant with the Paris Principles and if the proposed projects are implemented in cooperation with the entity responsible for implementing the recommendations made by the SPT in the published visit report, be it the State party or the NPM.

· Non-governmental organizations if the proposed projects are implemented in cooperation with the entity responsible for implementing the recommendations made by the SPT in the published visit report, be it the State party or the NPM.

Activities: The proposed projects should aim to contribute to the establishment or effective functioning of national preventive mechanisms a) through implementation of country-specific recommendations that the SPT made after the country visit or NPM’s visit which are contained in the published SPT visit report or b) through educational programmes of national preventive mechanisms.

Grant applications seeking support for educational programmes of national preventive mechanisms may include the following activities relevant to prevention of torture and ill-treatment:

· trainings, workshops, seminars, conferences;

· research and teaching programmes;

· awareness raising activities (public campaigns, production of promotional materials, development of websites, media emissions);

· other activities aiming at education on prevention of torture and ill-treatment

Budget: up to 30,000 US$ per project/grantee.

Deadline: 1 March 2024.

How to apply: complete the requested form here. Then it needs to be returned with the requested documents. Find more information in the call.

Relevant links: 2024 call.