Democracy, Human Rights and Governance

The Human Rights Grants Program (HRGP) was established in 2011 to support innovative projects that respond to urgent or unanticipated human rights needs as well as to encourage cooperation with local and regional organizations. It enables Missions to address human rights problems through stand-alone programs or by integrating human rights objectives into current programs and those under design, regardless of sector.

In 2012, the HRGP supported 22 innovative human rights projects for a total of $8.1 million, all which are ongoing. In the third year of the program, the 2013 HRGP recently awarded another $8.1 million to 15 new projects in the following countries: Angola, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mexico, Paraguay, Asia Regional Mission, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Asia Regional Case Study

“Being LGBT in Asia: A Participatory Analysis of the Legal and Social Environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons and Civil Society” is a joint initiative of USAID and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). In the past two years “Being LGBT in Asia” convened national LGBT dialogues to discuss lived experiences of LGBT persons in eight countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The initiative consulted more than 650 people across Asia, including representatives from more than 220 LGBTI organizations, academics, government officials, and independent activists. Findings from the dialogues are compiled and published as country reports in English and the local language. The initiative successfully elevated the visibility and promoted awareness of the human rights of LGBT persons and built nine communities of practice to promote and protect these rights in the focus countries and in the region. Importantly the initiative established a platform through which local LGBT civil society can engage the government and the public on issues of rights and equality.

Since the beginning of the initiative, U.S. ambassadors across Asia have held receptions to reach out to and recognize LGBT people. More recently, “Being LGBT in Asia” has garnered broader support that includes the White House, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.