International Human Rights Program
Strategic Funding Areas (July 2013)
Working on national, regional, and international levels, Arcus is helping to build
a global movement integrating sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)
into our shared conceptions of human rights. To do this work, Arcus invests in
changemakers in targeted countries, primarily in the Global South and East; in
building Global South leadership at the UN and regional bodies; and in
international fora for integrating SOGI into human rights mechanisms.
1.
National: Achieve policy changes (e.g., anti-discrimination, antiviolence, decriminalization, right to privacy, right to freedom of
expression) in targeted Global South countries. In countries where
policy changes are currently unrealistic, projects may seek cultural
change with clear indicators and measurable outcomes.
2.
UN/Regional: Increase support for SOGI as a human rights issue at
the United Nations and regional bodies. Build public/private/faith
partnerships engaging with UN member states on SOGI at the UN
level.
3.
Capacity Development: Build Global South leadership and capacity
at the United Nations and regional bodies. Increase the number of
Global South countries citing pro-SOGI activities in their human
rights reporting, or the number of leaders from the Global South
identified, trained, and involved in UN/Regional work. Build capacity
of Global South leaders to provide coordination, training and
integration into national and international human rights, democracy,
and women’s rights movements.
Priorities:
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Special priority to transgender populations and concerns
Catalyzing support from governmental, intergovernmental and EU
sources, as well as foundations and multinationals.
Global South leadership and voices
Intersections with faith and culture as change drivers, supporting
the work of Arcus’s Global Religion Program to increase the capacity of
faith advocates in the Global South to advocate for SOGI protections
Utilizing multiple change levers, including leadership development,
alliance-building, policy change, culture change, and resource
development.