Request for Applications for the Grants Program

 Request for Applications for the Grants Program

“Defending vulnerable people against hate crimes and discrimination in Moldova” 

The Millennium Partners Consulting, LLC (MP)/Addressing Hate-Based Crimes in Moldova project intends to award several grants to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to promote, protect and advocate to effectively address discrimination and hate crimes, as well as to support institutions and legal professionals to combat such crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.

Open to: qualified CSOs representing and defending people with disabilities, CSOs representing and defending the rights of the Jewish minority and/or actively fighting against the propagation of antisemitism, and CSOs representing and defending people facing multiple type discrimination and hate crimes (e.g. Roma refugee women, disabled refugees, Roma/Jewish disabled etc.)

Application submission deadline: April 14, 2024.

1. Project Background

Addressing Hate-Based Crimes in Moldova Project (AHC) is a 21-months project being implemented in Moldova from October 1, 2023 until June 30, 2025. Its purpose is to raise national awareness of hate crimes and discrimination, strengthen accountability for perpetrators through stronger legal frameworks, advocacy, and hate crimes data, and empower affected groups and individuals to seek human rights protections and legal remedies.

1. Grant Program objectives

AHC/MP invites qualified CSOs representing and defending people with disabilities, CSOs representing and defending the rights of the Jewish minority and/or actively fighting against the propagation of antisemitism, and CSOs representing and defending people facing multiple type discrimination and hate crimes (e.g. Roma refugee women, disabled refugees, Roma/Jewish disabled etc.) to propose their unique approaches to reach the following objectives:

Objective 1. Promote, protect and advocate to effectively address discrimination and hate-based crimes

The applicants are invited to propose activities aimed to achieve the following key priorities:

1. Raising the level of legal culture and awareness of Moldovans, especially about discrimination and hate crimes/offenses.
2. Increasing the protection of rights and freedoms of people with disabilities, people facing multiple types of discrimination and hate crimes, and the Jewish minority through building strong and sustainable connections (networks) of civil society organizations, community leaders and legal professionals to leverage resources and develop innovative approaches for addressing discrimination and hate crimes/offenses, and fighting against the perpetuation of antisemitism.
3. Promoting and advocating for new necessary developments and legislative amendments to address discrimination and hate crimes.
4. Holistically supporting victims of hate-based crimes and discrimination, particularly people with disabilities, the Jewish minority and people facing multiple type discrimination and hate crimes: offering them legal assistance, referring the victims to relevant psychological support, supporting and offering assistance to the victims to defend their rights in the judicial system.

Objective 2. Support institutions and legal professionals to effectively address hate crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.

Illustrative support includes, but is not limited to:

• establish connections with both law enforcement bodies, local NGOs and vulnerable groups to facilitate regular meetings, active dialogues, and information exchange;
• strengthen the ability of institutions and legal professionals, particularly those involved in judicial area (judges, prosecutors, lawyers) from North, Centre, and South Moldova to effectively address hate crimes/offenses;
• collaborate with the Ombudsperson’s office and the Equality Council for strengthening the capacity of these institutions at regional level (North, Centre, South);
• collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Research, Republican Center for Psycho-pedagogical Assistance, District psycho-pedagogical assistance services, as well as other relevant Local Public Authorities in the field of education, to strengthen the capacity of these institutions to effectively address discrimination and hate crimes in educational system.

Application conditions are described in the Request for Applications (RFA), at the following link: https://www.justitietransparenta.md/request-applications-grants-program/

Applications should be submitted in English, no later than April 14, 2024, 23.59 Chisinau time, at the following email: moldovaprogram@gmail.com