CALL FOR NOMINATIONS OR APPLICATIONS FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER AWARD FROM ADVANCING HUMAN RIGHTS IN RWANDA (AHRR) PROJECT

1.  INTRODUCTION TO RWANDA BRIDGES TO JUSTICE 

Rwanda Bridges to Justice (RBJ) is a local non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting human rights through adequate legal representation and a fair trial, and is an advocate for fundamental rights. 

The Human Rights Council examined Rwanda's human rights record and issued scores of recommendations during its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in January 2021. In contrast to the 2015 UPR, the Rwandan government accepted 160 of the 284 recommendations and pledged to implement them. 

RBJ and our consortium partners Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (iPeace), Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR), and International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) are acting to support defenders and government actors in their efforts to create an equitable, transparent, and accountable system that complies with its obligations under Rwandan and international human rights law. This is based on Rwanda's pledge to take action on a significant number of accepted UPR recommendations. 

There is a need to acknowledge efforts made by local CSOs or individuals towards influencing UPR aligned reforms in Rwanda given the number of acknowledged UPR recommendations that need to be executed while also reflecting a whole-of-society approach with government initiatives. This also serves to promote the UPR Advocacy Agenda.

This will be accomplished by establishing the Human Rights Defender Award in Rwanda to support Human Rights Defenders' (HRDs') ongoing and significant contributions to Rwanda's implementation of approved UPR recommendations. 

2. ALL FOR NOMINATION OR APPLICATION FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFFENDER AWARD 

Six local human rights defenders (HRDs) are to receive awards for their excellent efforts in promoting UPR aligned reforms in Rwanda in an effort to highlight the impact of HRDs on these reforms. Rwanda’s human rights community organizations or individuals are invited to apply for the award or nominate their peers for the award. 

The application or nomination will be supported by a brief and appropriate summary of the organization's or individual's documented successes. By presenting the Award, we want to encourage organizations or individuals to keep working with the government on UPR reforms that will really benefit the nation while also recognizing the Award winner's efforts to advance UPR reforms and safeguard human rights in Rwanda. 

Application deadline: 31^st July 2023, 23:00 Central Africa Time

Annex – Details for nomination or application process  

1. 1. APPLICATION PROCESS 

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Local NGOs, civil society networks, or individuals that have had an influence on UPR implementation and aligned reforms to advance basic human rights must at the very least fulfill the following requirements in order to be eligible for this award. 

• Being a local human rights activist/advocate,
• Demonstrating sustainable record of activities done or articles published that can be benchmarked while promoting UPR aligned reforms,
• Being able to network with other human rights advocates, 

How to apply or nominate

Please send your application or nomination to this email address: rbj.procurementteam@gmail.com and cc: rwandabridgestojustice@gmail.com by June 3^rd, 2023 with the subject "HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER AWARD" and include the following information in a word document: 

• Name of the candidate,
• The name of the candidate’s organization (if applicable)
• A short motivation of why you believe this person, organization or you should be rewarded for the work (1 A4 page or 500 words maximum) with proof attachments.
• I, the undersigned, _________________________________________, hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the information included in the above application or nomination is true and accurate. 

2. SELECTION CRITERIA 

Based on the demonstrated successes in advancing UPR implementation or reforms in relation to human rights, a renowned panel of experts will make the ultimate decision. An independent panel made up of professionals from civil society organizations, government institutions, and other experts is to be organized to examine submissions and choose the recipients of the Award. 

The selection process will place greater emphasis on the UPR reforms or implementations that have aided in attempts to establish a fair, transparent, and accountable criminal justice system that complies with both Rwandan and international human rights legislation. 

3. ANY INQUIRIES

For any clarification, you can write to rbj.procurementteam@gmail.com no later than 11^th June 2023.