Overview
The MacArthur Foundation believes that respect for human rights is fundamental to human security, individual well-being, and good governance; that promotion of both international and local human rights is necessary for realizing rights in diverse geographies and cultures; and that an accessible, integrated system of international justice is essential for protecting human rights around the globe.
MacArthur’s grantmaking objectives in human rights and international justice include strengthening human rights inquiry and implementation internationally; encouraging the advancement of the rule of law and human rights protections in the countries of Russia, Nigeria, and Mexico; and facilitating the development of an international justice system.
In 2010, the grant budget for this program area is $17 million.
What MacArthur Funds
Anchor Institutions
To strengthen the human rights infrastructure, MacArthur assists selected internationally recognized organizations that work in many parts of the world to monitor and document human rights abuses. These groups attend to a range of major issues, such as the protection of civilians in conflict, the impunity of security forces, and patterns of discrimination leading to human rights violations. Grounded in evidence, their strategies include documentation, analysis, litigation, press freedom, and information dissemination to bring attention to rights abuses, contribute to human rights jurisprudence, and influence policy.
Human Rights in Russia, Nigeria, and Mexico
Through its offices in Moscow, Abuja, and Mexico City, MacArthur funds locally based human rights efforts in Russia, Nigeria, and Mexico. These countries were chosen because each is undergoing significant political, economic, and social transitions and because MacArthur has a strong presence in each through grantmaking in other program areas.
Russia
In Russia, grants are awarded to organizations engaged in research and practical work in the area of human rights. MacArthur supports human rights organizations working with a national scope and those based in the Foundation's ten focus regions of Krasnodar, Moscow oblast, Nizhnii Novgorod, Perm, Rostov, Samara, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, Tatarstan, and Voronezh. Issues addressed include police accountability, the ombudsman system as an effective voice for human rights promotion, and the use of Russian courts and the European Court of Human Rights as mechanisms for human rights protection.
Nigeria
The Foundation makes 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 to efforts to strengthen Nigeria's legal architecture through reform of national laws and domestication of international treaties.
Mexico
To strengthen 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 regional 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 to strengthen Mexico's ombudsman system are also a priority.
International Justice
There are growing opportunities to deny impunity to human rights abusers, to deter future abuses, and to redress the injuries of victims when domestic justice systems are unresponsive. When national courts are unable or unwilling to act, international judicial bodies such as regional human rights courts, ad hoc tribunals, and the International Criminal Court can hold accountable and deter state and individual perpetrators of human rights abuses and provide redress to victims. The Foundation funds activities by civil society organizations and networks to promote the development and use of international and regional mechanisms and to advance the alignment of international laws with national justice systems.
An organization interested in projects related to human rights and international justice may submit a letter of inquiry informing the Foundation of the proposed project. The format for these letters can be found in the section Applying for Grants. Based on this information, the Foundation may invite grant proposals from prospective projects and organizations.
Updated
March 16, 2010
Phone: (312) 726-8000