Promote capacity building and awareness on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and activities on strategic litigation relating to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights breaches

- increased awareness and better use of the Charter by CSOs, NHRIs, equality bodies, Ombuds Institutions and Member State authorities;

- improved knowledge about available redress mechanisms and how to make the best use of them for the benefit of rights holders;

- improved cooperation between CSOs, NHRIs, Equality bodies, Ombuds Institutions and Member State authorities on Charter-related issues;

- increased ability of CSOs, NHRIs, equality bodies and Ombuds Institutions to develop a litigation strategy, and communicate and advocate around it, and to bring strategic litigation cases before national courts and the European Court of Justice.

The objective of this Call for proposals is to promote capacity building and awareness on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and activities on strategic litigation relating to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights breaches.

This call will protect, promote and raise awareness of rights by providing financial support to civil society organisations which are active at local, regional, national and transnational level in promoting and cultivating those rights, thereby also strengthening the protection and promotion of Union values and respect for the rule of law and contributing to the construction of a more democratic Union, democratic dialogue, transparency and good governance.

The EU policy initiatives supported under this call are the following: European democracy action plan, Rule of law report, Strategy to strenghten the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU

Projects must address one (or both) of the following policy priorities set for 2022:

1. Capacity-building and awareness raising on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

To contribute to the effective and coherent application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (the Charter), in line with the Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter in the EU and to foster a culture of fundamental rights in the Member States.

2. Activities on strategic litigation

To strengthen the knowledge and ability of practitioners, legal professionals, civil society organisations and independent human rights bodies to effectively engage in litigation practices at national and European level, and to improve access to justice and enforcement of rights under EU law, including the Charter, through training, knowledge sharing and exchange of good practices.