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Background
The idea of establishing an Arab human rights fund was prompted by the desire to: increase resources for human rights protection in a focused and targeted manner, reduce dependence on foreign funding and encourage social justice philanthropy in the region. The process of establishing the Arab Human Rights Fund (AHRF) started in 2002 with the formation of a four-member Preparatory Committee. This Committee was provided with financial and administrative support from the Ford Foundation. The Committee initiated a series of studies exploring the feasibility of establishing an endowed and sustainable funding agency that is devoted to supporting long-term efforts to promote human rights and the rule of law in the Arab region. The Committee has met quarterly since 2003 to identify and contract required research, undertake initial assessments of results and establish the legal and practical foundations for the establishment of the AHRF. Encouraged by their findings and enthusiastic support from the field and internationally, the Committee established the AHRF as a registered organization and formed its Board of Trustees in 2006. Legal Status The AHRF is a philanthropic donor organization registered as a non-profit making foundation, or Stichting in the Netherlands, where its liquid assets are also maintained. The AHRF has its main office registered in Beirut, Lebanon as a branch of "AHRF Stichting". Vision The AHRF is the result of a universal human rights vision whereby everyone enjoys life in freedom, equality and dignity and is able to be a participant in the achievement of that vision. The AHRF is aimed at strengthening human rights activities in the Arab region in accordance with intrinsic needs and priorities. It does this by providing the requisite financial resources to individuals and organizations active in the protection of all human rights whilst also promoting and strengthening social justice philanthropy in the region – independently of any governmental, political, religious or other interests. Mission The AHRF is a not-for-profit philanthropic organization that provides support for the promotion and realization of all human rights in the Arab region. The AHRF defines 'all human rights' as those enumerated in the International Bill of Rights and all international instruments dealing with human rights and humanitarian law. It carries out its responsibilities and programs in accordance with these rights and principles without discrimination by reason of gender, ethnicity, religion, national or social status, political opinion or any other distinction. As stated above, the AHRF is independent of any governmental, political, religious or other interests and is committed to operating with transparency and accountability. Objectives The AHRF is dedicated to realizing the following objectives: - Providing technical and financial support in accordance with priorities that arise from the local and regional needs of Arab countries
- Supporting the sustainability of human rights activities, thereby achieving their long-term goals
- Developing the concepts of philanthropy and giving in order to promote social justice and human rights within the Arab region
- Acquiring independent funding and establishing long-term endowments that ensure sustainability and continuity
Mandate - The AHRF is mandated to support human rights advocacy, legal support and defence, documentation and reporting; as well as promoting human rights in general by conducting human rights research, disseminating human rights media and materials and educating the public about human rights in the countries of the Arab region. This work is possible only in the context of a wider commitment to supporting the rule of law including strengthening state-based infrastructure for the guarantee of rights and the administration of justice generally. This includes law enforcement, the judiciary, prison conditions and the work of various government ministries in the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights. In other words, the AHRF supports bodies that do not operate as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), if supporting these organizations strengthens human rights within the Arab region.
- The AHRF’s geographic mandate may be limited to the Arab region but this does not preclude support for activities elsewhere that have the potential to advance human rights within the area. For example, this allows support for activists working in forced exile or support for collaborative activities of a regional or international nature that have a potential impact on the Arab region
- The AHRF is primarily a grant-making institution that receives and responds to proposals for financial and technical support for various human rights activities in the region. The phrase ‘human rights activities’ encompasses development and social service organizations that adopt rights-based approaches or human rights methodology in their work.
- The institutional model of AHRF: It is a grant-making institution that utilizes a variety of available instruments including the acceptance of unsolicited grant proposals, requests for proposals and fellowships.
- The AHRF has a limited capacity for implementing certain activities and programs, such as organizing training courses, workshops, policy debates and other forums. These programs are envisaged primarily in the arena of capacity building for human rights advocacy and strategy analysis.
- Transparency and accountability is a top priority. In order to ensure this, the AHRF will regularly publish annual reports that include financial accounts, consultative meetings with stakeholders and constituencies and the use of advisory structures, etc.
- The AHRF is intended to complement other sources of funding, both within and outside the region. It should work with other donor institutions for the broader purposes set out in our mission statement. The AHRF may consider providing its services as a technical advisor, financial manager or overseer of funds upon requests from regional and international organizations that do not have the necessary skills or expertise in the region or in the human rights field.
- The constituencies of the AHRF include potential governmental and non-governmental grantees at the national level, the human rights community in the Arab region, the international human rights community, NGO networks, actual and potential donors and the larger philanthropic community.
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