The Dignity for All: LGBTI Assistance Program provides emergency funds, advocacy support, and security assistance to human rights defenders and civil society organizations under threat or attack due to their work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) human rights.

Dignity for All also supports targeted, time-bound advocacy campaigns to respond to threats or attacks on LGBTI human rights and human rights work, as well as assistance for individual victims or communities connected to funded advocacy campaigns. Security training is available to proactively assist organizations to continue their work more safely.

Who is eligible?  Human rights defenders or civil society organizations are eligible for support if they have come under attack because of their work for LGBTI human rights. A human rights defender (HRD) is an individual who peacefully works to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. A civil society organization (CSO) is defined as an established group of two or more activists working together on human rights.  A CSO does not need to be officially registered to be considered for support by Dignity for All, but must be able to document at least six months of activism.

What is the source of funding?  Dignity for All receives contributions through an international donor pool of several governments and independent foundations that support LGBTI human rights.

What is the Dignity Consortium?  Dignity for All is run by a consortium of international human rights organizations, including:

• Freedom House;
• Akahata;
• Equipo de Trabajo en Sexualidades y Géneros;
• the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality (AFE);
• the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe);
• Heartland Alliance (HA); and
• the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).­­

EMERGENCY FUNDS

What constitutes an emergency?  An emergency is an urgent need for assistance arising from threats to HRDs or CSOs for their work. Factors to be considered include: when the emergency arose and whether the HRD or CSO faces prosecution or other legal proceedings, security risks, loss of property or equipment, or injury or imprisonment.

What types of emergency support are provided?  Dignity for All will provide HRDs and CSOs with small, short-term emergency grants for medical expenses, legal representation, prison visits, trial monitoring, temporary relocation, dependent support, security, equipment replacement and other types of urgent expenses.  By definition, emergency assistance is finite and given to address a time-sensitive threat. An emergency may also encompass the need for more than one type of assistance (i.e. medical and legal, or prison visits and equipment replacement).

How can you submit an application for emergency support? Applications can be submitted by a CSO or HRD directly or referred on behalf of an HRD or CSO.  Please provide as much detailed information as possible on why emergency aid is needed. To inquire about submitting an application, please contactemergency.assistance.inquiries@gmail.com.

How do we process emergency requests?  We review all applications to determine whether they meet the eligibility criteria (described above) and whether the requested funds are justified.  The review process independently verifies the information provided by the applicant.

ADVOCACY SUPPORT

What types of advocacy support are provided?  Dignity will provide support to CSOs for small, short-term advocacy initiatives to counteract urgent threats such as proposed or recently passed legislation, sudden government crackdowns, increased levels of violence or other emergent dangers/trends or to take advantage of time-bound advocacy opportunities.

How do you request advocacy support? Contact a member organization of the Dignity Consortium with a proposal for an urgent, short-term advocacy activity designed to have a significant LGBTI human rights impact.  Applications should provide specific information on the issue the planned activity will address its location and timeframe, and a detailed budget.  Dignity for All cannot provide long-term programmatic support.