Deadline: 27 January 2020
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) has announced an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support Religious Freedom globally.
DRL’s goal is to bring Uzbek national laws in line with international standards and help the government of Uzbekistan meet its stated commitments to improve religious freedom. Applicants should prioritize the following three recommendations:
- End punishment for peaceful religious activities by narrowing the Criminal Code.
- Simplify the registration process for religious groups, and avoid discrimination on the basis of religious beliefs. Ensure that unregistered but peaceful religious activities are not prohibited.
- Remove restrictions on and cease censorship of religious materials, including by ending government review and pre-approval of religious materials, and by revising laws that penalize the possession, importation, and distribution of religious materials.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $750,000
- Award Floor: $500,000
Activities
Program activities may include but are not limited to:
- Monitoring Uzbekistan’s implementation and adherence to the government’s May 2018 resolution to improve religious freedom and other relevant international obligations and commitments;
- Monitoring and reporting on court cases, detentions, raids, and fines in relation to religious freedom to hold governments and law enforcement accountable.
- Documenting implementation and reporting to regional and international regulatory bodies on adherence to the 2018 resolution and other international obligations and commitments regarding religious freedom;
- Increasing constructive engagement between government, law enforcement and religious organizations, including unregistered religious groups, to prevent discriminatory practices and laws and ensure that all peaceful religious organizations can operate freely;
- Forming multi-stakeholder working groups to offer recommendations on adhering to the resolution and related international commitments, and reforming current laws and/or recommendations for new laws to more effectively safeguard religious freedom;
- Advocating for improved national laws on religious freedom to bring in line with international standards;
- Provide training to increase the knowledge and understanding of judiciary actors and security services around the national and international legal framework towards freedom of religion or belief;
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.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=323027