European Parliament’s Funded Sakharov Fellowship 2019 offers up to 14 human rights defenders, selected from non-EU countries, the opportunity to follow a two week intensive training in Brussels and the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation in Venice. It has been organised annually since 2016 further to an initiative taken by the Sakharov Prize Network at the 25th Anniversary Conference of the Sakharov Prize.

Under the Sakharov Fellowship training programme human rights defenders will
• enhance their knowledge of EU and international human rights frameworks, policies and mechanisms and
• develop capacities to advocate for and effect positive change to protect human rights.
Beyond the training, Sakharov Fellows will
• help grow the network of Sakharov Fellows to share best practices, disseminate the acquired knowledge and extend awareness of the Sakharov Prize and the Sakharov Prize Network;
• have the opportunity to maintain links with the work of the European Parliament and continue liaising with EU Delegations in their respective countries.

The Brussels programme focuses on EU policies and tools in support of human rights defenders, accessing funding, developing communications skills, and raising awareness of specific security challenges facing human rights defenders. It further includes meetings with Members of Parliament, officials of the EU institutions and Brussels-based NGOs. The Fellows will also have space for individual advocacy and networking activities.

Candidates should have a proven record in campaigning for human rights in a NGO or other organisation or in an individual capacity. They must have a high level of English, sufficient to follow and contribute to discussion groups and workshops in Brussels and Venice.

The Fellowship covers return travel from the country of origin, accommodation in Brussels and Venice and a daily living allowance.