Applications are now open for the 2026 Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders. The Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders aims to better help Human Rights Defenders in their fight
As part of the organization of the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty in Paris in the summer of 2026, particular attention will be paid to applications relating to this theme. However, the other areas of human rights covered by this call for applications remain fully eligible.
You are committed to the promotion and defence of human rights in your country:
- You are a human rights defender in the sense recognised by the United Nations, adult and of non-French nationality, regardless of your placeof residence;
- You can provide document(s)/evidence, produced by others (recommendations, press articles, etc.), attesting to your commitment/action in favour of human rights;
- You can justify that participation in the Marianne Initiative’s French aid programme will strengthen your capacity for human rights action in your country and internationally, and that it will enable you to create or develop existing or planned links or projects with French organisations;
- You possess a valid passport (with a validity of at least six months) or you are willing to follow the procedures to obtain one;
- You are not subject to any legal ban on leaving your territory;
- You are willing to travel to France from February to June 2026.
Benefits
- The program in France provides individual accommodation near Paris, a monthly grant to meet daily needs, a training program, individualized support and networking with human rights players for a period of 4 months (from February to June 2026). The program does not provide support beyond the 4-month period.
Application Deadline: 6th July 2025. You can apply online to be part of the 2026 class of the Marianne initiative through the link below:
Application form – Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders – Class of 2026 (February-June)
Applications do not need to be sent to the Embassy, but should be submitted directly using the procedure indicated above. However, if you have any questions, you may send an email to: amelle.abdallahi@diplomatie.gouv.fr.
see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2024/06/04/the-marianne-initiative-for-human-rights-defenders/
Your application will include the documents listed in the application form. It will be in either French or English.
Visit the Official Webpage of the Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders
This post was originally published on Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards.