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Human Rights Innovation Fund

Grandma GIL WonKorean survivor of Japan's WWII military sexual slavery system, Grandma GIL Won Ok, in Canberra to tell her story to a number of Members of Parliament. Her visit to A

Amnesty International Australia's Human Rights Innovation Fund allows anyone interested in promoting and defending human rights direct access to funding to support new, innovative, creative initiatives which will:

  • Promote the growth of a human rights constituency in Australia; and/or
  • Increase the diversity of Amnesty International supporters; and/or
  • Have a demonstrable positive human rights impact.

Examples of initiatives that the Fund may support include:

  • Innovative programs that educate and mobilise the public about human rights issues.
  • Recruiting Amnesty International supporters through a new method.
  • Stimulating Amnesty International supporter activity with a new form of activism.

Examples of possible project ideas include:

These are a small sample only - we encourage you to think outside the square!

  • Speaker tour.
  • Human Rights Defender tour (eg. A national tour of a defender of human rights, who has an inspiring story to tell).
  • A human rights photography project in remote Indigenous communities.
  • An Amnesty International program broadcast online.
  • Networking with human rights organisations for a particular outcome.
  • A human rights seminar/event.
  • Activism retreat held for high school students or other community sectors.
  • An interactive web-based human rights campaign.
  • Human rights awareness raising activity and/or outreach to new audiences.
  • Setting up a virtual action group around a particular human rights issue.
  • An innovative display or stall design for a local action group to attract new supporters.

See past recipients of the fund and learn more about their projects.

Who can apply?

Anyone - individuals, local action groups, community groups or networks.

How are applications made?

There are four quarterly grant rounds. The application form, download here (Microsoft Word Document, 92kb), must be emailed to Kaye Blackman by the following dates:

  • 28 February
  • 31 May
  • 31 August
  • 30 November

What are the funding criteria?

Projects must have the potential to advance one or more of the fund's objectives:

  • Promote the growth of a human rights constituency in Australia; and/or
  • Increase the diversity of Amnesty International supporters; and/or
  • Have a demonstrable human rights impact.
  • Projects must be undertaken by Australian-based individuals, groups, organisations etc. and must be for work in Australia.
  • Projects must be completed within one year of the project's start date.
  • If the project requires resources (time, labour, equipment, advice, support etc.) from any other person, group or organisation, the proposer of the project must get third party endorsement from that individual, group or organisation if your proposal is successful. To accompany your application, you will need a letter of 'in principle' support only - it does not need to be a concrete commitment.
  • Amnesty International Australia cannot pay wages. If wages form part of your project budget, you will need to be an employer or the person(s) to be paid will need to have an ABN.
  • If the project raises any funds directly, all funds raised must be remitted to Amnesty International for its general use.
  • No single project will be awarded more than $10,000.
  • Smaller projects, even very small, are welcome.
  • Successful applicants will be required to submit a project evaluation to Amnesty International within two months of the completion of their project

How are applications assessed?

Proposals will be assessed by the Human Rights Innovation Fund Committee (comprising staff and active Amnesty International supporters) and applicants will be contacted within eight weeks of a proposal being received.

More information

If you would like to discuss your ideas, please contact Supporter Relations on 1300 300 920 or supporterrelations@amnesty.org.au. They will put you in touch with the most appropriate activist or staff member in Amnesty International to discuss your idea.

Apply now

Download application form (Microsoft Word Document, 92kb)

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