Call for Applications for Financial Support: Strategic Litigation against Torture in Context of Dissent

REDRESS invites applications for financial partnerships to support strategic litigation initiatives addressing torture and other forms of ill-treatment in the context of dissent, with a particular focus on abuses during and after protests. 

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: Between 5-6 projects up to €20,000 per project; exceptionally, up to €30,000.
• Project duration: 12 – 18 months
• Application period: 10 August – 5 October 2026
• Earliest project start: November 2026
• 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. Strategic litigation is most effective when combined with other civil society techniques, including research, advocacy, survivor participation, campaigning, coalition-building, community engagement, public education, and capacity strengthening. Applicants are encouraged to consult the REDRESS Practice Note on Holistic Strategic Litigation against Torture.  

Thematic Areas  

Applications should primarily address Priority Area 1, focused on strategic litigation to address torture and ill-treatment in the context of protests. Applications addressing Priority Area 2 – torture and ill-treatment used to suppress dissent more broadly – will also be considered, although preference will be given to strong applications under Priority Area 1. Projects may address both areas. 

1. Torture and ill-treatment in the context of protests and public assembly

This may include excessive use of force during protests; 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; implementation of international standards on policing assemblies and ensuring accountability for torture in such contexts. 

2. Torture and ill-treatment used to suppress dissent 

This may include torture or ill-treatment used to silence dissenting voices, target civil society organisations and actors, or restrict civic space, such as election-related repression. Projects should address torture and other grave violations against human rights defenders, lawyers, political opponents, and environmental rights defenders, or student activists. 

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, and other marginalised or excluded communities. 

Geographic eligibility. REDRESS welcomes applications focused on all regions of the world, focused on one or more countries.  

Priorities  

REDRESS will prioritise applications that: 

• address torture or ill-treatment in the context of protests; 
• demonstrate a clear strategic litigation approach; 
• combine litigation with complementary activities such as advocacy, campaigning, capacity strengthening, or coalition-building; 
• advance accountability and strengthen safeguards against torture; 
• demonstrate meaningful potential for legal, policy or institutional change; 
• 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 €20,000 per project. In exceptional circumstances, requests of up to €30,000 may be considered where the applicant demonstrates that the additional funding is necessary and proportionate to achieve significant strategic value. This may include unusually high litigation or evidence-gathering costs, the need for specialised expertise or enhanced survivor support, or an innovative approach with strong potential for wider legal, policy or institutional impact. 

Projects may have a duration of 12 to 18 months and must start no earlier than November 2026. 

Applications require a single designated lead organisation with financial and reporting responsibility. 

Staff costs can be indicated in the initial budget to cover activities. These are included in one heading in the budget, and should not be separated by activity.  

Eligible activities may include, for example: 

• Legal fees and case-related costs, including filing fees and evidence collection; 
• Documentation to support litigation and legal research; 
• Survivor participation, interpretation, psychosocial support, and reasonable travel costs; 
• Advocacy, communications, campaigning or community engagement; 
• Staff or consultant time directly attributable to the project; 
• Litigation workshops used to brainstorm individual cases or legal strategies. See, for example, REDRESS methodology of Litigation Workshops. 
• Proportionate administrative or operational costs necessary to deliver the project. 

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 and relevant experience in challenging torture or ill-treatment; 
• Demonstrate appropriate financial and operational management capacity; 
• Disclose other funding for the proposed activities and ensure that no costs are funded twice; 
• Demonstrate compliance with applicable professional, ethical, anti-fraud, anti-corruption, and sanctions obligations. 

What we are unable to support 

• For-profit organisations and entities; 
• Individual scholarships, law firms, university legal clinics, and bar associations; 
• Purely academic research and attendance at conferences without a broader strategic objective; 
• Core organisational funding unrelated to project implementation; 
• Projects that do not contribute to efforts to prevent or address torture. 

How applications will be assessed 

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

How to apply:  

The application window will open from 10 August 2026 to 5 October 2026.  

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

REDRESS may extend the application period or close the call early if 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.