Protecting and Promoting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in South America and Panama: The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open source competition for a program for disability advocates and organizations in South America and Panama to more effectively ensure governments meet their obligations to protect all people in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol, including but not limited to implementation, enforcement or revision of local and national laws. Program design must include partnering with Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs) and persons with disabilities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs.
Persons with disabilities are the world’s largest minority group and one of the most isolated from public life. The U.S. Department of State focuses on advancing a rights-based approach to empowering persons with disabilities around the world and supporting DPOs to pave the way for broader human rights dialogue with the entire community. Additionally, issues impacting the human rights of persons with disabilities are outlined in the Department’s annual Human Rights Report (HRR) reports.
DRL’s goal for this project is to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people by strengthening the capacity of DPOs to effectively promote the implementation and enforcement of national and local disability rights laws and policies.
The objective of this project is to support local DPOs in their efforts to achieve full and equal participation in society through equal protection under the law and through other initiatives identified as most critical to local needs.
Proposals should include a component of engaging on national or local level laws and policies that promote equal opportunity in accordance with UN CRPD standards. Other activities may include but are not limited to: reducing the barriers and increasing the number of people with disabilities participating in human rights programs and activities; strengthening of local DPOs; supporting more effective advocacy campaigns and initiatives by DPOs; increasing participation in political processes and effective governance; ending institutionalization practices; increasing access to justice; improving communications and outreach, including strategically online and in person; and distributing small grants and opportunities for local leaders to engage in international gatherings related to their focus areas.
Application Deadline: 11:59 PM EST on 10, April, 2020
You can also access this notice at the following locations: mygrants.service-now.com, grants.gov, and the DRL website at https://www.state.gov/drl-fy19-protecting-and-promoting-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-in-south-america-and-panama/. Please note the DRL website has templates and additional program resources for anyone interested in submitting an application.
