Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders

Application Deadline: July 6, 2023

The Marianne Association for Human Rights Defenders was created to federate the actors involved in our country (State, organisations and associations for the promotion of human rights and reception, local authorities, qualified personalities, etc.) and to carry the initiative’s support pillar in France, for the benefit of about fifteen laureates per year (reception, personalised support, networking, etc.).

“France is and will remain a land of welcome for human rights defenders

French President Emmanuel Macron has made official the launch of the second class of the Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders. After receiving fifteen women last year, it is the turn of a mixed class to be hosted in France for six months as part of the initiative. The laureates will have access to a training program in order to strengthen their capacities and their commitment in their country of origin or in France, whether it be in favor of minority rights, civil and political rights, women’s rights or environmental rights.

Requirements

• You are committed to the promotion and defence of Human Rights in your country;
• You are a Human Rights Defender in the sense recognised by the United Nations;
• You are an adult, you do not hold the exclusive nationality of a member state of the European Union;
• You can provide document(s)/evidence, produced by others (recommendations, press articles, etc.), attesting to your commitment/action in favour of Human Rights;
• You can justify that participation in the Marianne Initiative’s French aid programme will strengthen your capacity for Human Rights action in your country and internationally, and that it will enable you to create or develop existing or planned links or projects with French organisations (see the online form at the link below);
• You have a valid passport (with a validity of at least six months) or you are willing to follow the procedures to obtain one;  You are not subject to any legal ban on leaving the territory;
• You are willing to travel to France from January 2024 to early July 2024.
• You are willing to participate fully to the programme and to all the proposed activities.

Benefits

The hosting programme in France provides for an accommodation near Paris, the payment of a monthly grant to cover daily needs, personalised support, and networking with Human Rights Defenders for a period of 6 months. After the 6 months, participants no longer benefit from the grant, the accommodation and the support provided in the programme.

The winners follow a complete program consisting of:

• Training in negotiation, leadership, advocacy, physical and digital security, project management, etc. ;
• Courses of the School of International Affairs of Sciences Po Paris and French language;
• Putting you in contact with French or international personalities involved in human rights and development issues;
• Meetings with inspiring personalities and potential partner organizations (NGOs, foundations, institutions, etc.);
• Conferences and cultural activities;
• Individual interviews to support the militant project;
• Visits to international institutions and organizations;
• Exchanges with members of the program’s alumni network.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2024 Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders