Deadline 01 March 2026
The OPCAT Special Fund will accept project applications aimed at implementing recommendations made by the Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) after a visit to a State party, provided these recommendations are contained in a report that has been made public.
Eligible countries:
- State parties having published their reports (including their respective National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs), if any) following a SPT visit:
Argentina (2023), Armenia (2013), Australia (2023), Belize (2019), Benin (2018), Bolivia (Plurinational State of) (2018), Bosnia and Herzegovina (2024), Brazil (2016), Bulgaria (2022), Burkina Faso (2019), Chile (2016), Costa Rica (2020), Croatia (2025), Cyprus (2017), Gabon (2014), Georgia (2024), Germany (2013), Guatemala (2024), Honduras (2012), Italy (2016), Kazakhstan (2017), Kyrgyzstan (2013), Liberia (2019), Maldives (2020), Mali (2012), Malta (2015), Mexico (2017), Mongolia (2018), the Netherlands (2016), New Zealand (2013), Nicaragua (2022), Niger (2020), North Macedonia (2018), Panama (2017), Paraguay (2010), Peru (2014), Poland (2020), Portugal (2019), Republic of Moldova (2014), Romania (2017), Senegal (2025), Spain (2019), Sweden (2008), Switzerland (2021), Togo (2015), Türkiye (2019), Ukraine (2017), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2021) and Uruguay (2019). - NPMs having published their reports following a SPT visit:
Ecuador (2015), Hungary (2018), Mauritania (2018), Tunisia (2017).
In addition, national preventive mechanisms of all 96 States parties to the Optional Protocol may seek financial support for their educational programmes by applying to the Special Fund for a grant, regardless of whether the SPT has undertaken a visit.
Learn more and apply HERE
Eligibility
Applications may be submitted by:
- State parties having been visited by the SPT and have agreed to the publication of the SPT visit report, and NPMs of these State parties;
- NPMs having been visited by the SPT and having agreed to the publication of the subsequent SPT report addressed to them or requesting support for their educational programmes;
- National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) that are compliant with the Paris Principles and if the proposed projects are implemented in cooperation with the entity responsible for implementing the recommendations made by the SPT in the published visit report, be it the State party or the NPM.
- Non-governmental organizations if the proposed projects are implemented in cooperation with the entity responsible for implementing the recommendations made by the SPT in the published visit report, be it the State party or the NPM.
Focus of proposals:
The proposed projects should aim to contribute to the establishment or effective functioning of national preventive mechanisms a) through implementation of country-specific recommendations that the SPT made after the country visit or NPM’s visit which are contained in the published SPT visit report or b) through educational programmes of national preventive mechanisms.
How to apply:
Please download (at https://www.ohchr.org/en/about-us/funding-budget/trust-funds/the-special-fund-focus-torture-prevention/how-apply-grant), complete and return the following documents along with any other supporting documents you may wish to include by 1 March 2026:
All applicants
1. Application form (signed and stamped)
2. Budget form
3. Certification form (to be signed by the official with the delegated authority to sign agreements, it should be the same person who will sign the agreement)
4. F.249 PUB from (banking details)
5. Bank statement or official letter from a bank confirming the bank/account information (mandatory for certain countries from Latin America: Argentina (22 digit CBU), Brazil (IBAN), Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela – Mexico: CLABE number)
New applicants (in addition to above)
6. Certification of registration for grantees who do not already have a BP number (first time they receive a grant)
NGO applicants (in addition to above)
7. Registration at UN Partner Portal (Non-governmental organizations, academia, foundations)
The grants may amount up to 30,000 US$ per project/grantee.
Next Steps
If you are interested in learning more about the 2026 Call for Applications, please consult also the Guidelines for Applicants and Grantees to the OPCAT Special Fund.
Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact the Fund Manager at ohchr-opcatfund@un.org.
More information here