The Prague Civil Society Centre is founded by the Czech organisation People in Need, in collaboration with Human Rights House Foundation and Institute for Public Affairs, a renowned think-tank in Poland.
“We have seen how the situation for human rights defenders has gradually worsened in the past decade. There is a clear tendency towards authorities using more sophisticated methods to limit the space for an independent and critical civil society.” explains Maria Dahle, the executive director of Human Rights House Foundation.
The Centre will be unique by offering wide and complex forms of support: It will award flexible grants to NGOs and civic initiatives, enabling them to function even in increasingly difficult circumstances. The Centre will also organize trainings, seminars and workshops (both physical and online) that will bring together civil society representatives from different countries in the region. It will develop opportunities for internships, fellowships and study stays in the Czech Republic, as well as in Poland, Slovakia and elsewhere in Central Europe.
“This centre is exactly the kind of innovative and flexible approach that is needed, and that has been called for. It gives human rights defenders an arena to exchange views, opinions, knowledge, learn from each other, inspire each other, and maybe most importantly: get a break from the difficulties at home. This is sorely needed for many of the most pressured human rights defenders”, says Dahle.
The aim of the Centre is to become a modern and dynamic hub for active citizens from all over the region that will facilitate cross-border cooperation and knowledge-sharing in pursuit of the values of openness, tolerance, rule of law, and human rights and dignity
About Prague Civil Society Centre
- Founded by People in Need, in partnership with Human Rights House Foundation and Institute of Public Affaires to address the worsening situation for human rights and increased threats to human rights defenders.
- Will support civil society and human rights defenders in Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia.
- The Centre will award flexible grants, develop internships, fellowships and study stays. They will develop tailored trainings and workshops, online and physical. In addition, the Centre will establish a transition studies programme in cooperation with Charles University in Prague.
- To date donors include C. S. Mott Foundation, OAK Foundation, U.S. Agency for International Development, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
- Web site: praguecivilsociety.org
