Country Programs

» List of Grants, 2011

Over the past five years, the Fund has been one of the only funders to maintain a human rights grants program in Tunisia.  The Fund’s grants have literally been a lifeline for grantees who say that would have had to shut their doors if it were not for the Fund’s support. Until very recently, Tunisian activists were routinely harassed, arrested arbitrarily, prevented from holding or attending meetings, had their internet cut, and accused of being spies, traitors and prostitutes.

In the last year, everything has changed. Following the ouster of the Ben Ali regime and the creation of a new transitional government, Fund grantees have found themselves in high demand. Grantees are actively engaged with the interim government and are working with the three commissions set up to address (1) political reform, (2) abuses committed during the protest period, and (3) corruption. In addition to their commitment to building Tunisia’s new democracy from the ground up, grantees are also working to rebuild their own infrastructures and open new offices after years of working underground.

The Fund aims to provide sustainable support for human rights organizations.  To that end, we maintain a long-term focus on specific countries and regions where we believe strategic grant-making can make a difference in advancing human rights protections over time.  The Fund has had a program in Tunisia since 2004.