Human rights are championed by a growing web of civic organizations around the world, a network made possible in large part by advances in information and communication technology and a trend toward greater democracy in many countries.  Following a decade of civil wars in which human rights abuses were ignored or sanctioned by state leaders, there is also a growing consensus that the world needs a justice system to protect the rights of all citizens, not just those with benevolent governments. These trends present opportunities to strengthen and expand the human rights movement, to embed the body of norms and standards laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights within national legal systems, to establish the International Criminal Court, and to reconsider the international community's responsibility for protection of civilians at risk of grave human rights violations.

The Foundation makes grants to selected human rights organizations that work internationally and to projects that seek to further the development of an international justice system.

MacArthur also funds locally based human rights efforts in Russia, Nigeria, and Mexico through its country offices in Moscow, Abuja, and Mexico City.

Russia
In Russia, a limited number of grants are awarded to organizations engaged in research and practical work in the area of human rights. The Foundation is currently accepting letters of inquiry from organizations that provide training or resources for human rights organizations in Russia. Funding inquiries are invited from human rights organizations working in Moscow or one or more of the Foundation's 10 Russian focus regions of Krasnodar, Moscow oblast, Nizhnii Novgorod, Perm, Rostov, Samara, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, Tatarstan, and Voronezh.

Nigeria
Since 1999, the Foundation has been making grants to expand and strengthen the network of human rights organizations in Nigeria that provide the basic infrastructure for a national human rights culture based on the rule of law.  Grants support leading human rights organizations, both nationally and in selected states, including Rivers, Lagos, Plateau, and Kano.  Special attention is also given to the issue of police reform, including ways to improve accountability and address police abuse of human rights, and efforts to strengthen Nigeria's legal architecture through reform of national laws and domestication of international treaties.

Mexico
To consolidate the human rights movement in Mexico, grants are made to national and local organizations and networks to monitor and document human rights abuses and, when appropriate, to seek redress for violations through national and international courts.   Focus states include Jalisco and Guerrero Special attention is given to the issue of police reform, including efforts to develop baseline data on policing and human rights and to promote police accountability. Projects that seek to strengthen Mexico's ombudsman system are also a priority.

More details on the Human Rights and International Justice thematic and geographic priorities in Russia, Nigeria, and Mexico are available.

Funding
An organization wishing to approach the Foundation may submit a letter of inquiry informing the Foundation of the proposed project. The format for these letters can be found in the section How to Apply. Based on this information, the Foundation may invite proposals from prospective projects and organizations. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for human rights funding in Russia.

Questions about this grantmaking area can be e-mailed to 4answers@macfound.org.