We are proud to announce the first grantees of the COVID-19 Grassroots Justice Fund: 30 outstanding groups, all members of our network, who are rising to meet the challenges of this moment.
In Argentina, Familias Diversas Asociación Civil is combatting the pandemic-related rise in the physical and sexual abuse of women, children, and members of the LGBTIQA+ community. FDAC is building an online platform with legal information and training, so that people at risk can use the law to protect themselves.
In Nigeria, Grassroots Development Support and Rural Enlightenment Initiative is ensuring that people with disabilities have access to life-saving information, and have a meaningful say in how the government responds to COVID.
Check out all 30 grantees, from 20+ countries, on the website for the COVID-19 Grassroots Justice Fund. These organizations were selected by a panel of leaders from across our community.
The pandemic exacerbated existing injustices and created new ones. Members of the Legal Empowerment Network—now over 2,400 justice organizations from nearly every country—have struggled to rise to these challenges while keeping their people safe. To support their vital work, we teamed up with several other partners to create the COVID-19 Grassroots Justice Fund.
We recognize that this fund is a drop in the ocean. With more than half the world’s population lacking meaningful access to justice, we need governments and foundations to make consistent, long term investment in the essential work of grassroots legal empowerment. Our community will continue to advocate for that larger shift.
To the grantees and the thousands of others fighting for justice in the most difficult of circumstances: we see you, we thank you, and we stand with you.
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