The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), with the financial support of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), is operating a fund for individuals/groups litigating cases before the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The fund covers travel, accommodation and other related expenses. Applicants to this fund must fulfill the following criteria:

• Must be a national/organisation of an ECOWAS state, Cameroon, Chad or Mauritania;
• Must have a communication before the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACmHPR) [cases before the ACmHPR are referred to as ‘communications’].

Applications should consist of the following:

• An application letter;
• Description of the communication including detailed information on the progress of your communication with the ACmHPR – approximately 800 words;
• Evidence of nationality [e.g. copy of ID, NGO or company registration document].

Applications should be addressed to:

Executive Director,

Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA),

949 Brusubi Layout, AU Summit Highway,

PO Box 1896,

Banjul, The Gambia.

Email applications should be sent to hannoh@ihrda.org. Subject line: “Application for Legal Defence Fund – 50th African Commission Session”.

Deadline for applications for the 50th Ordinary Session of the ACmHPR that will take place in Banjul, The Gambia from 24 October-7 November 2011, is Friday 14th October 2011.