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OHCHR 
Awarded Grants
The tables below show all grants awarded by the OPCAT Special Fund, by year of project implementation. A PDF version of this list is also available.
2020
Country | Project summary | Implementing entity | Grant amount (US Dollars) |
Argentina | Collection and systematisation of information and the design of policies for the competent authorities | Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (NGO) | $25,000.00 |
Armenia | Strengthening professional capacities of the NPM, raising awareness of its role and activities and training officials on international standards | Human Rights Defender of Armenia (NPM) | $16,765.00 |
Chile | Training officials on the recommendations of the SPT and improving the cooperation between the NPM and competent authorities | Fundación Henry Dunant América Latina (NGO) | $24,835.00 |
Chile | Developing activities on the prevention of torture and ill-treatment with a focus on women, children and vulnerable groups | Corporación Opción, Corporación Humanas and Observatorio Ciudadano (NGO) | $25,000.00 |
Chile | Strengthening the process of integration and operationalisation of the Chilean NPM within the National Human Rights Institution | Association for Prevention of Torture (NGO) | $25,000.00 |
Hungary | Improving the interview techniques of the NPM, exchanging experience with international experts and raising visibility of its activities | Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (NPM) | $10,249.00 |
Mali | Training of law enforcement personnel and raising awareness about torture prevention at government level | Avocats Sans Frontières (NGO) | $25,000.00 |
Mauritania | Improving capacities of NPM regarding vulnerable groups, its visibility and the dialogue with stakeholders | Mécanisme National de Prévention de la Torture (NPM) | $25,000.00 |
Panama | Development of a practical guide training methodologies for officials on international instruments and the NPM mandate | Mecanismo Nacional de Prevención contra la Tortura de Panamá (NPM) | $24,945.00 |
Peru | Strengthening the capacity of the NPM and key actors responsible for the administration of justice in Peru with respect to the content of international instrument | International Bar Association, International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (NGO) | $24,943.00 |
Senegal | Increasing visibility of the NPM and identifying with stakeholders main causes of poor conditions of detention | Observateur National des Lieux de Privation de Liberté (NPM) | $25,000.00 |
Ukraine | Strengthen capacity of the NPM to visit places of detention, report and provide recommendations and guidance on the conditions of detention | The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (NPM) | $25,000.00 |
2019
Country | Project summary | Implementing entity | Grant amount (US Dollars) |
Argentina | Improving capacities of NPM in monitoring medical care and health of persons deprived of their liberty | Procuración Penitenciaria de la Nación (PPN) | $25,000.00 |
Armenia | Raising awareness about NPM, strengthening skills of the staff on visit methodology | Human Rights Defender of Armenia | $23,160.00 |
Benin | Advocacy and roadmap for the establishment of NPM in Benin | Changement Social Bénin (CSB) | $19,884.00 |
Brazil | Improving communication of NPM with authorities, CSOs and human rights institutions; better understanding and accountability of NPM | Instituto Veredas | $25,000.00 |
Chile | Development of interview protocols and guidelines for monitoring torture with a gender perspective, conduct of seminars and trainings | Fundación 1367, Casa Memoria José Domingo Cañas | $24,571.00 |
Honduras | Increasing capacity of and coordination among local boards on prevention of torture, development of practical guide, conducting conference to increase visibility of local boards | NPM - CONAPREV | $25,000.00 |
Paraguay | Development of a web platform for torture allegations accessible for NPM and public defenders | Mecanismo Nacional de Prevención contra la Tortura de la República del Paraguay | $24,882.00 |
Peru | Drafting a law for amendments to the existing national preventive mechanism law and lobbying for its adoption, and increasing the technical capacities of national preventive mechanism staff and creating manuals on the monitoring of places of detention | Mecanismo Nacional de Prevención contra la Tortura – Defensoría del Pueblo | $16,250.00 |
Republic of Moldova | Developing a training module for NPM staff on monitoring, interviewing and reporting techniques | Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture Victims “Memoria” (RCVT Memoria) | $25,000.00 |
Romania | Enhancing capacities of NPM to monitor psychiatric institutions (workshop, leaflet, collaboration with CSOs) | Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) | $22,545.00 |
Togo | Strengthening capacity of NPM through training, study visit and purchase of equipment | Commission Nationale de Droits de l’Homme (CNDH) du Togo | $22,750.00 |
Togo | Strengthening capacity of NPM, enhancing collaboration with CSOs, and visibility of NPM | World Organization against Torture (OMCT) in collaboration with local organization CACIT | $20,600.00 |
Ukraine | Supporting capacity of new NPM, Special Bureau of Investigation and legal aid lawyers | International Bar Association, International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) | $24,994.00 |
2018
Country | Project summary | Implementing entity | Grant amount (US Dollars) |
Argentina | Collecting data regarding violence in contexts of confinement, elaborating a study manual for prison staff, offering training for the penitentiary authorities, carrying out public events to strengthen the local preventive mechanism | Xumek (non-governmental organization) | $25,000.00 |
Armenia | Enhancing the capacity of members of the national preventive mechanism via training sessions and equipment, and increasing the awareness of the national preventive mechanism’s mandate | Human Rights Defender of Armenia (NPM) | $24,985.00 |
Brazil | Generating recommendations for the National Justice Council, the São Paulo Public Security Department and authorities; organizing a workshop for legal practitioners about torture carried out against women, and their particular vulnerabilities; and preparing an advocacy strategy for the establishment of a local preventive mechanism | Conectas Human Rights (non-governmental organization) | $25,000.00 |
Brazil | Delivering a training-of-trainers seminars about the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Istanbul Protocol); and working with the national preventive mechanism and local preventive mechanisms to develop an advocacy and knowledge-dissemination programme | International Bar Association | $24,972.00 |
Brazil | Increasing the understanding and cooperation among preventive mechanisms, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations working on juvenile justice, and increasing the visibility of the torture prevention environment in Brazil | OMCT (non-governmental organization) | $25,000.00 |
Ecuador | Strengthening the multidisciplinary team for national preventive mechanism visits, and raising awareness of the national preventive mechanism mandate; increasing accessibility of places of deprivation of liberty for national preventive mechanism visits; and ameliorating the visibility of the national preventive mechanism and the dialogue with civil society organizations | Mecanismo Nacional de Prevención de la Tortura, Tratos Crueles, Inhumanos y Degradantes (NPM) | $25,000.00 |
Honduras | Drafting a law for amendments to the existing national preventive mechanism law and lobbying for its adoption, and increasing the technical capacities of national preventive mechanism staff and creating manuals on the monitoring of places of detention | Centro de Prevención, Tratamiento y Rehabilitación de la Victimas de la Tortura y sus Familiares (non-governmental organization) | $25,000.00 |
Kyrgyzstan | Increasing national preventive mechanism capacities in regard to safeguards in the first hours of detention (identifying legislative gaps, lobbying for legal reform) and to monitor mental health institutions | Association for Prevention of Torture (non-governmental organization) | $25,000.00 |
Mexico | Revising the methodology of the national preventive mechanism’s preventive monitoring, with a special focus on the first hours of detention | Association for Prevention of Torture – Panama (non-governmental organization) | $24,916.06 |
The Republic of Moldova | Developing a visibility strategy for the national preventive mechanism for 2018, raising the awareness of NPM activities in 2017, and improving the dialogue between NPM members, the Ombudsperson’s Office and relevant national entities/institutions to examine effectively the recommendations of NPM and implementation measures | Institute for Penal Reform (NPM) | $23,217.00 |
Senegal | Increasing the national preventive mechanism’s visits with a focus on persons with mental illness, disability, and HIV/AIDS, and on juveniles; and training of law enforcement officers on treatment of persons deprived of their liberty and raising the public’s awareness of the national preventive mechanism (radio programmes in rural areas) | Observateur National des Lieux de Privation de Liberté (NPM) | $25,000.00 |
2016
Country | Project summary | Implementing entity | Grant amount (US Dollars) |
Armenia | Strengthening capacity of the national preventive mechanism on torture prevention, monitoring and reporting techniques. | Penal Reform International | $25,000.00 |
Benin | Training of juvenile justice judges for the newly established juvenile courts. | OMCT (non-governmental organization) | $15,820.00 |
Brazil | Supporting the work of the federal preventive mechanism and advocating for establishment of state preventive mechanism in São Paolo and Maranhão. | Associaçao Direitos Humanos am Rede (Conectas) | $25,000.00 |
Brazil | Support for the work of the national body in charge of the selection of the commissioners for the future national preventive mechanism | Secretaria de Estado de Direitos Humanos, Participação Social e Cidadania (SEDPAC) | $47,712.00 |
Mexico | Strengthening capacity of the criminal law judges to exercise effective judicial control in places of detention. | Documenta (non-governmental organization) | $24,813.00 |
Moldova | Facilitating resumption of the work on the national preventive mechanism. | Institute for Democracy | $25,000.00 |
New Zealand | Development of s standardized and consistent approach to seclusion and restraint in order to eliminated de facto discrepancies among the places of the deprivation of liberty. | Human Rights Commission | $24,775.00 |
New Zealand | Strengthening the capacity of the Ombudsman Office to monitor and report the detention conditions of persons with psychological disabilities. | Office of the Ombudsman | $18,699.00 |
Paraguay | Supporting the work of the national preventive mechanism. | Coordinadora de Derechos Humanos de Paraguay (CODEHUPY) | $25,000.00 |
2015
Country | Project summary | Implementing entity | Grant amount (US Dollars) |
Argentina | Contributing to legislative process of establishment of provincional preventive mechanism in Tucumán | Abogados y abogadas del Noroeste Argentino en Derechos Humanos y Estudios Sociales | $35,000.00 |
Brazil | Strengthening capacity of professionals working in places of deprivation of liberty to effectively address torture and ill-treatment. | Justiça Global and national preventive mechanism of Rio de Janiero | $35,000.00 |
Honduras | Strengthening capacity of the national preventive mechanism to monitor detention centres and police stations. | Asociación para la Prevención de la Tortura - América Latina | $34,966.00 |
Honduras | Implementation of the Istanbul Protocol in national policies regarding torture rehabilitation and increase of knowledge of judiciary. | Centro de Prevención, Tratamiento y Rehabilitatión de las Víctimas de la Tortura y sus Familiales (CPTRT) (non-governmental organization) | $34,995.00 |
Mexico | Strengthening capacity of the experts in the Federal Prosecutor's office concerning effective implementation of the Istanbul Protocol. | Asistencia Legal por los Derechos Humanos (non-governmental organization) | $35,000.00 |
Senegal | Strengthening capacity of the Senegalese national preventive mechanism. | APT (non-governmental organization) | $18,937.00 |
Senegal | Strengthening capacity of the Senegalese national preventive mechanism. | Observateur National de Lieux de Privation de Liberté (national preventive mechanism) | $34,770.00 |
2014
Country | Project summary | Implementing entity | Grant amount (US Dollars) |
Benin | Reduction of overpopulation in places of detention though improved identification of cases of arbitrary detention by State actors and civil society | International Federation of ACAT (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture) | $35,000.00 |
Brazil | Monitoring the implementation of the SPT recommendations concerning children deprived of liberty in Brazil | Organisation mondiale contre la torture (non-governmental organization) in partnership with Justiça Global (local non-governmental organization) | $34,802.00 |
Brazil | Strengthening protection of juveniles deprived of their liberty. | OMCT and Justiça Global (non-governmental organizations) | $34,802.00 |
Honduras | Increasing knowledge of detainess and staff of penitentiary institutions on the content of the new penitentiary law | National Committee for the Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment (national preventive mechanism) | $35,000.00 |
Maldives | Development and delivery of Istanbul Protocol training on investigation and documentation of torture and other ill-treatment | REDRESS (non-governmental organization) | $34,966.00 |
Maldives | Improving monitoring and oversight of disciplinary measures for children deprived of their liberty | Ministry of Home Affairs | $23,786.00 |
Mexico | Increasing knowledge and capacity of law enforcement officers in prevention of torture with a gender perspective | Government of Oaxaca | $35,000.00 |
Paraguay | Promoting fundamental human rights of persons deprived of liberty and citizen engagement against torture in Paraguay | Fundacíon “Celestina Pérez de Almada" | $34,520.00 |
2013
Country | Project summary | Implementing entity | Grant amount (US Dollars) |
Benin | Increasing protection of children deprived of their liberty from violence | World Organization against Torture (non-governmental organization) in partnership with Enfants Solidaires d’Afrique et du Monde (local non-governmental organization) | $44,428.00 |
Honduras | Legal reform and support to the national preventive mechanism | Regional Office for Latin America of the Association for the Prevention of Torture (non-governmental organization) in Panama | $30,325.00 |
Maldives | Support the national preventive mechanism | Human Rights Commission of Maldives (national preventive mechanism) | $15,328.00 |
Mexico | Training on combating torture for the Mexican judiciary in partnership with the OHCHR and SPT | International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (non-governmental organization) | $46,855.00 |
Paraguay | Strengthening the role of judiciary to oversight legality of detention. | Supreme Court of Justice | $35,730.00 |
2012
Country | Project summary | Implementing entity | Grant amount (US Dollars) |
Benin | Improving safeguards for children deprived of their liberty | World Organization against Torture (non-governmental organization) in partnership with Enfants Solidaires d’Afrique et du Monde (local non-governmental organization) | $19,539.00 |
Honduras | Training for prison staff on human rights standards and prevention of torture | Ministry of Justice and Human Rights | $20,000.00 |
Honduras | Technical support to the national preventive mechanism in Honduras and training for judges, prosecutors and public defenders | Regional Office for Latin America of the Association for the Prevention of Torture (non-governmental organization) in Panama | $14,847.00 |
Maldives | The notification of fundamental rights to foreign detainees in their local languages | Human Rights Commission of Maldives (national preventive mechanism) | $13,200.00 |
Mexico | The provision of training on the use of the Istanbul Protocol | Colectivo contra la tortura y la impunidad (non-governmental organization) | $19,807.00 |
Paraguay | The systematization of police records | Ministry of the Interior | $19,984.00 |
Paraguay | The design of fair-trial indicators allowing the monitoring of constitutional guarantees of lawful detention and the presumption of innocence | Supreme Court of Justice | $20,000.00 |
Paraguay | Support for the work of the national body in charge of the selection of the commissioners for the future national preventive mechanism | Ministry of Justice and Labour | $19,500.00 |