Deadline: 6 August 2017
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor (DRL) is seeking applications for its program “Promoting Religious Freedom in Cuba” that analyze the legal framework regarding the registration of houses of worship, as well as the regulation of religious speech, assembly and activities.
This analysis should draw on the expertise of on-island experts and experienced legal professionals to analyze the legal and regulatory restrictions facing on-island religious groups and faith-based organizations, including but not limited to the use of the formal registration process, as a means to regulate religious institutions and restrict the practice of religion.
A highly competitive proposal would generally:
- Analyze religious-specific laws and other civil laws that are used to restrict the rights of religious groups and leaders in Cuba
- Analyze the adherence to those domestic laws and international standards and norms on religious freedom
- Document violations of religious freedom in Cuba, with a specific emphasis on the mechanisms used by the ORA and Cuban government to prohibit religious or faith-based organizations from registering or otherwise practicing their religion freely
- Analyze how the religious freedom of diverse groups including marginalized populations or those perceived to be political advocates are impeded in unique ways
- Provide information regarding the demolition of “unregistered” churches or other houses of worship
- Engage on-island religious and faith-based leaders who are experts on human rights and religious freedom violations and consider working with experienced legal experts based in the U.S. or Cuba to conduct the above-mentioned analyses
- Provide proof of a strong capacity to conduct a legal analysis on religious freedom violations and strong partners to assist in this work
- Advocate to on-island human rights groups that document abuses to include religious freedom violations in their reporting
- Conduct domestic, regional, and international advocacy efforts in front of regulatory bodies or networks of religious freedom advocates to raise awareness about religious freedom violations in Cuba.
Funding Information
Estimated Total Program Funding: $500,000
- Award Ceiling: $500,000
- Award Floor: $400,000
Eligibility Criteria
- DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
For more information, please visit Grants.gov.