Dignity for All: LGBTQI+ Assistance Program
The Dignity for All program provides emergency funds, support, and security assistance to human rights defenders and organizations under threat or attack due to their work for LGBTQI+ human rights.
The Dignity for All: LGBTQI+ Assistance Program provides emergency assistance; security, opportunity, and advocacy rapid response grants (SOAR grants); and security assessment and training to human rights defenders and civil society organizations under threat or attack due to their work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex human rights.
Who Supports Dignity?
Dignity for All receives contributions through an international donor pool of several governments, corporations and independent foundations that support LGBTQI+ human rights.
Who Is the Dignity Consortium?
Dignity for All is run by a consortium of international human rights organizations:
- Freedom House (Global)
- Akãhatã (Latin America)
- Synergía (Global)
- ILGA Europe (Europe)
- OutRight International (Global)
- UHAI (East Africa)
Dignity Emergency Assistance
Provides human rights defenders and civil society organizations, who are facing threats due to LGBTQI+ human rights work, with small, short-term emergency financial support to address urgent needs. Support includes, but is not limited to:
- Medical expenses
- Legal representation
- Prison visits
- Trial monitoring
- Temporary relocation
- Dependent support
- Security and equipment replacement
- Other types of urgent expenses
What Constitutes an Emergency?
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk arising from work on LGBTQI+ human rights. Consideration is given to the need, urgency, the level of significant ongoing security risk, and the threat of injury or imprisonment or other legal proceedings.
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.
Dignity Security, Opportunity, Advocacy and Rapid Response (SOAR) Grants
SOAR grants provide CSOs working in unpredictable environments with urgent short-term funding for rapid response. Grants are intended to provide local CSOs with resources to counteract urgent threats and to take advantage of unexpected opportunities to advance the rights of LGBTQI+ people. Grants are flexible and can help CSOs to address:
- Proposed or recently passed legislation
- Sudden government crackdowns
- Increased levels of violence
- Unexpected openings in civil society space
- Urgently needed security assistance and capacity-building for security
- Other emergent opportunities or dangers
- Security assessment & training
Dignity Security Trainings
Dignity Consortium partners conduct preventive security workshops and training designed to:
- improve the security and protection capacity of LGBTQI+ activists, organizations and communities;
- build awareness, knowledge and skills on assessing and mitigating risks; and
- develop and implement security plans.
As a result of these trainings, CSOs and HRDs increase their security awareness, develop security plans, and work to keep themselves and their communities safer from threats. Participants return home equipped with better knowledge on how to prevent and defend themselves against attacks.
Dignity Criteria & Applications
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible human rights defender or civil society organization applicants must be able to provide a history of LGBTQI+ activism. CSOs do not need to be officially registered.
Emergency Assistance
Civil Society Organizations and human rights defenders who are under attack or face imminent danger because of their LGBTQI+ human rights work are eligible for assistance.
Eligibility Check List for emergency assistance:
- Civil society organization or human rights defenders working on LGBTQI+ human rights
- Recent Urgent Threat related to LGBTQI+ work
- Significant and ongoing security risk
- Cases are verifiable and have strong references
SOAR Grants
Contact Freedom House or a member organization of the Dignity Consortium working in your region with a concept for any urgent, short-term advocacy or security initiative designed to have significant LGBTQI+ human rights impact.
Security Assessment & Training
Civil society organizations can contact a member organization of the Dignity Consortium to discuss what security options may be available to you.
More Freedom House Programs
Human Rights Support Mechanism
The Human Rights Support Mechanism is a project of the PROGRESS consortium, which provides technical assistance and support to partners and beneficiaries in developing countries around the world to protect and promote human rights.
Lifeline Emergency Assistance Programs
Freedom House administers several funds which offer emergency assistance to organizations and individuals around the world who are under threat because of their human rights work.
Africa Programs
Freedom House partners with civil society and human rights defenders throughout Africa to advance respect for human rights, strengthen democratic governance, and fortify just rule of law.
