Call for Applications for Financial Support: Casework – Torture in the Context of Dissent

REDRESS invites applications for financial partnerships to support strategic claims and legal casework addressing torture and other forms of ill-treatment in the context of dissent and protest. 

This support is provided through the United Against Torture Consortium (UATC), funded by the European Union. The Consortium brings together six leading international anti-torture organisations working globally to prevent torture, support survivors, strengthen accountability, and empower civil society actors.

At a glance

• Funding available: Six grants; up to €10,000 per grant
• Project duration: 8 – 12 months
• Application period: 14 September – 9 November 2026
• Earliest project start: January 2027
• Review: rolling basis; the call may close early if available funding is fully allocated.

Background Context 

Across the world, torture and other forms of ill-treatment continue to be used to silence dissent, suppress civic space, punish those who challenge authority, and further marginalise communities facing discrimination and exclusion. Torture and ill-treatment are frequently used against protesters, human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, political opponents, student activists and others exercising their fundamental rights.  

Strategic litigation can play a critical role in challenging these abuses. It involves using a legal claim to achieve broader change beyond an individual case. This may include changing laws, policies, or practices, strengthening accountability for torture and ill-treatment, increasing access to justice for survivors, promoting institutional reform, advancing the implementation of international human rights standards, or contributing to public awareness and social change. 

Through this call, REDRESS seeks to provide targeted financial support to organisations pursuing strategic litigation and legal remedies addressing torture and ill-treatment within the thematic areas outlined below.  

Thematic Areas  

Applications should primarily address Priority Area 1, focused on strategic litigation to address torture and ill-treatment in the context of protest and dissent. A more limited number of grants will be granted to organisations addressing Priority Area 2 – torture and ill-treatment against environmental human rights defenders. Casework proposals may address both areas. 

1. Torture and ill-treatment in the context of protest and dissent 

This may include legal action relating to excessive use of force during protests; the misuse of less-lethal weapons; arbitrary arrests of protesters during demonstrations followed by torture and ill-treatment in detention; accountability for police or security forces; torture or ill-treatment targeting human rights defenders, lawyers, student activists, political opponents, or others engaged in peaceful dissent. 

Geographic eligibility. Under Priority Area 1, REDRESS welcomes applications focused on all regions of the world.  

 2. Torture and ill-treatment used against environmental human rights defenders in Latin America 

This may include cases concerning torture or ill-treatment linked to environmental activism or against Indigenous human rights defenders; torture or ill-treatment occurring in detention in a context of criminalisation or repression of environmental defenders, accountability for State actors responsible for serious abuses against environmental defenders. This casework grant is not intended to support cases that relate solely to the criminalisation, harassment, prosecution, protection, relocation, or security of environmental human rights defenders. Litigation must be linked to allegations of torture or ill-treatment. 

Cross-cutting priority. Under both thematic areas, REDRESS welcomes applications addressing the experiences of groups facing heightened risks of torture and barriers to justice, including women, LGBTIQ+ persons, Indigenous people, and other marginalised or excluded communities. 

Priorities  

REDRESS will prioritise applications that: 

• address torture or ill-treatment in the context of protests or dissent; 
• demonstrate a clear strategic litigation approach; 
• advance accountability and justice for survivors of torture; 
• are survivor-centred and informed by the needs and experiences of affected communities;  
• demonstrate organisational capacity to deliver the proposed activities. 

Parameters of Financial Support:  

Applicants may request financial support of up to €10,000 per casework grant. 

Projects may have a duration of 8 to 12 months and must start no earlier than January 2027. 

This funding is intended to cover case-related litigation expenses. Applications may relate to individual cases or a group of related cases before domestic, regional, or international human rights courts or mechanisms. It may relate to ongoing proceedings or cases at an early stage. Funding may be awarded to support a specific stage of litigation rather than an entire case. The litigation should either seek accountability for torture or ill-treatment, obtain reparations for survivors, or strengthen implementation of legal anti-torture standards. 

Eligible costs may include: 

• Legal fees;  
• Court filing fees; 
• Evidence-gathering and investigation costs; 
• Medico-legal documentation; 
• Expert witness fees; 
• Psychosocial support for survivors participating in proceedings; 
• Translation and interpretation related to casework; 
• Legal staff or consultant time directly working on the case or cases; 
• Proportionate administrative or operational costs necessary to deliver the project. 

Under this grant, we will not be able to cover travel costs. See specific budgetary parameters and financial report requirements in the budget template below. 

Eligibility Criteria 

• To be eligible, applicants must: 
• Be a legally registered or constituted non-profit or charitable organisation eligible to receive funds under applicable law; 
• Have a mandate relevant to human rights, access to justice, anti-torture work, or strategic litigation; 
• Demonstrate experience or capacity to manage the proposed litigation; 
• Demonstrate adequate financial management; 
• Demonstrate compliance with applicable professional, ethical, anti-fraud, anti-corruption, and sanctions obligations. 

What we are unable to support 

• For-profit organisations and entities; 
• Individuals, law firms, university legal clinics, and bar associations; 
• Purely academic research and conferences; 
• Core organisational funding unrelated to casework; 
• Cases that do not involve allegations of torture or other ill-treatment. 

How applications will be assessed 

Applications will be assessed against relevance to the objectives of this call, potential contribution to justice and accountability, benefit to survivors of affected communities, strength and feasibility of the proposed litigation, organisational experience and capacity, reasonableness of the budget, identification and management of risks. 

How to apply:  

The window of applications will be opened from 14 September 2026 until 9 November 2026.  

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. A limited number of grants is available.  

REDRESS may choose to extend the application period or close the call early if the available funding is fully allocated. 

Please submit the following documents to [email protected]: 

• 1. Application form (download here) 

• 2. Budget (download here) 

Application Review Cycle:

For queries, contact [email protected].  

REDRESS will acknowledge receipt of applications. Due to the volume of applications, REDRESS may be unable to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.