The Human Rights & Equality Grant Scheme 2018 will support activities within the State that relate to one or both of the following themes:

A. Intercultural Understanding and Diversity – promoting awareness and understanding of interculturalism and supporting effective, positive intercultural relations in Ireland

B. Supporting implementation of the Public Sector Duty (Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014) and promoting awareness and understanding of the Duty.

The total grant fund under the Human Rights & Equality Grant Scheme 2018 is €350,000. Under this Scheme eligible organisations can submit a maximum of one application. Proposals for either (a) small grants of up to €6,000 or (b) general grants of up to €20,000 will be accepted.

Under theme A: Intercultural Understanding and Diversity

The development of a culture of respect for human rights, equality, and intercultural understanding is key to promoting positive intercultural relations in Ireland. This includes encouraging good practice in intercultural relations, promoting tolerance and acceptance of diversity and respect for the freedom and dignity of each person. This Grant Scheme aims to support activities that:

• Promote and enhance effective, positive intercultural relations, including the promotion of inter-faith dialogue;
• Encourage active engagement with different groups in society;
• Raise awareness of the impact of racism and related forms of intolerance;
• Oppose and address racism and related forms of intolerance;
• Promote pluralism and acceptance of differences, encouraging a culture of respect for freedom and dignity and understanding of human rights and equality in the State;
• Articulate and promote an understanding of interculturalism and diversity in society based on human rights and equality.

Under theme B: Supporting Implementation of the Public Sector Duty

The Public Sector Duty relates to Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. It places a positive duty on public sector bodies to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and protect human rights in their daily work. This Grant Scheme will support activities that:

• Support rights holders to understand and vindicate their rights when accessing public services;
• Support civil society capacity to engage with public bodies in relation to the implementation of the Public Sector Duty;
• Promote effective working partnerships that empower civil society and public bodies to advance aspects of human rights and/or equality;
• Ensure public bodies are more aware of their obligations to rights holders and more effectively held to account;
• Support public bodies to identify and address specific or multiple human rights and/or equality issues of relevance to their work for people accessing their services and for staff;
• Build capacity of public bodies to monitor aspects of equality and human rights compliance in service provision and in employment.

Irish based NGOs and civil society groups (including non-profit organisations, community groups and trade unions), academic institutions and public bodies as defined under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) Act 2014 are eligible to apply.

Section 2 of the IHREC Act 2014 broadly defines public bodies to include government departments, local authorities, Health Service Executive, universities and institutes of technologies, education and training boards, schools and semi-state bodies.

Eligible organisations must have a tax clearance certificate or charitable status or be a public body.

Applications involving a collaborative partnership between two or more organisations are welcome. However, such applications must be made in the name of one lead organisation.

Eligible organisations can submit a maximum of one application.

Please read the guidance manual before completing the application form.

Applications must be submitted using the application form provided.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 31st of July 2018 at 5.00pm.

Email applications to: grants@ihrec.ie (please use the subject line ‘Human Rights & Equality Grant Scheme 2018’)

Post applications to:
‘Human Rights & Equality Grant Scheme 2018’
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
16-22 Green St.
Dublin 7

Applications, whether submitted by email or post, must be received by the closing time and date indicated above. Applications after this time and date will not be considered. For postal applications a postage stamp with the closing date is not sufficient.

If you would like a hard copy of the Guidance Manual and the Application Form or if you have any queries please email grants@ihrec.ie or write to Human Rights & Equality Grant Scheme 2018, IHREC, 16-22 Green St., Dublin 7

If you would like to receive information about the Human Rights & Equality Grant Scheme 2018 in another format or in a language other than Irish or English, please contact grants@ihrec.ie.