Promoting and protecting human rights worldwide is a priority in the foreign policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Embassy supports human rights projects focusing on the following themes:

Media

• Increased access to information, through a free, open and secure Internet
• Enhanced safety of journalists worldwide, with a particular focus on female journalists
• Increase gender representation in media
• Press freedom, including a diverse and open media landscape
• Combating disinformation and promoting fact-checking
• Promoting media literacy and empowering citizens to critically analyze media content

Gender

• Decreased occurrence of all forms of gender-based violence in public and private life
• Strengthened women’s voice, agency, leadership and representative participation in decision-making processes in public, private and civic sphere
• Reinforced women’s economic rights and empowerment and female entrepreneurship encourage
• Women’s and girls’ rights protected in crisis and conflict situations and women’s meaningful participation and leadership in peace- and state-building promoted
• Engage men and boys in challenging harmful gender norms and promoting gender equality
• Advocacy for stronger legal frameworks to protect against gender discrimination
• Protecting and promoting the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals

Rule of Law

• Strengthening judicial systems to reduce political interference and corruption
• Ensuring access to justice and legal services for marginalized communities
• Developing human rights education and building rule of law awareness
• Strengthening the role of civil society in monitoring and advocating for rule of law
• Strengthening the institutions of the Ombudsperson, Constitutional Court
• Enhanced legitimacy for human rights defenders at the local, national and international level
• Addressing shrinking civic space and influence norms and decision-making
• Promote cross-border initiatives in Central Asia to improve legal frameworks and human rights protection mechanisms

Human Rights Fund 2025

The Embassy supports projects through the delegated Human Rights Fund in all 5 countries of Central Asia in accordance with the Embassy’s priorities.

Please note, that due to the budget constraints, the Embassy will not accept new applications for 2025. Only concept notes that have already been submitted will be considered in this cycle. Successful applicants will be contacted directly with further details following rules before sending a project proposal.

You can send your inquiries to AST-HumanRights@minbuza.nl or call +7 7172 555 454.