Deadline: 20-May-2026
The Netherlands Helsinki Committee Ukraine human rights accountability grants is a targeted funding initiative by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee. It supports Ukrainian civil society organisations engaged in documenting human rights violations, preserving legal evidence, and advancing international accountability processes related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Purpose and Core Objective
The main objective is to strengthen civil society capacity in Ukraine to document, analyse, and report human rights abuses and international crimes. The programme also aims to ensure that evidence and documentation efforts contribute effectively to international justice mechanisms and long-term accountability processes.
Key Focus Areas
The grant supports activities across several accountability and human rights domains, including:
- Documentation and verification of human rights violations and international crimes
- Collection, preservation, and management of legal evidence
- Legal research and analysis supporting criminal accountability
- Preparation of reports for international justice mechanisms
- Awareness-raising on human rights and accountability issues
- Networking and collaboration in international accountability frameworks
- Organisation of events supporting submissions to international bodies
Programme Rationale
This initiative responds to a decline in international funding for accountability-related work in Ukraine. It aims to maintain continuity of critical documentation and legal efforts carried out by civil society organisations working on justice and human rights protection.
Funding Details
The programme will support at least four Ukrainian civil society organisations. Each selected organisation may receive up to €23,000 in funding. The grants are designed to sustain ongoing accountability and documentation activities rather than large-scale infrastructure or unrelated programming.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities include:
- Legal documentation of human rights violations
- Evidence collection and verification processes
- Research on international crimes and justice mechanisms
- Reporting and advocacy for international accountability
- Engagement with legal and human rights institutions
- Organising conferences, workshops, and advocacy events
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants include Ukrainian civil society organisations working in human rights, legal advocacy, and accountability. The call is open to both existing partners of the Netherlands Helsinki Committee and new organisations outside its current network.
Selection Priorities
Priority is given to organisations with demonstrated experience in human rights documentation, legal research, and accountability processes. Applicants that contribute to strengthening international justice mechanisms and preserving reliable evidence of violations are particularly encouraged.
Expected Outcomes
The programme aims to ensure continued documentation of human rights abuses, stronger legal evidence systems, and improved civil society engagement in international accountability processes. It also seeks to enhance coordination among Ukrainian organisations working on justice and human rights.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common issues include weak evidence of prior accountability work, unclear documentation methodologies, insufficient legal expertise, or proposals not directly linked to international justice mechanisms. Applications lacking focus on human rights or legal accountability are less competitive.
Success Factors
Strong applications demonstrate clear experience in human rights documentation, robust evidence collection systems, and meaningful engagement with legal or international accountability frameworks. Collaboration with other civil society actors and strong analytical capacity also improve competitiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- The programme is implemented by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee.
- Grants support Ukrainian civil society organisations working on accountability.
- Each organisation may receive up to €23,000 in funding.
- At least four organisations will be supported under this call.
- Focus areas include documentation, legal research, and evidence preservation.
- The programme supports international justice and human rights mechanisms.
Conclusion
The Netherlands Helsinki Committee Ukraine human rights accountability grants strengthens Ukraine’s civil society response to human rights violations by funding documentation, legal analysis, and accountability work. Through support from the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, the programme helps preserve evidence, advance justice, and reinforce international accountability mechanisms.
For more information, visit Netherlands Helsinki Committee.
