The Embassy works with Argentine institutions on a wide range of projects financed by different FCO programme funds. Embassy officers identify opportunities for joint work and then define which Fund best suits each initiative.

Argentina is not among the countries receiving funds directly from the Strategic Programme Fund (the FCO’s main fund) for Human Rights & Democracy projects. Therefore, It is the British Embassy in Buenos Aires who has to identify specific opportunities to support objectives of the Human Rights & Democracy Programme that are relevant to Argentina and the UK, and take them forward jointly with the organisations involved. It does not send out regular bid invitations for this project area.

The Embassy will not accept spontaneous project bids. Bids that have not been previously discussed with the relevant Embassy officer will not be answered. We suggest you contact the Embassy team to learn more about the process and dates.

FCO Human Rights and democracy objectives and actions points

Human rights work is strategically aimed at “developing effective international institutions, especially the UN and EU", and more specifically at ensuring “higher efficiency of international institutions in promoting human rights, justice, rule of law, democracy, open markets, environmental sustainability and reduction of poverty and inequality”.

Human rights

The FCO’s main objectives at global level in the area of human rights are:

  1.1 To strengthen the international system’s capability to promote and protect human rights.
  1.2 To improve the criminal justice system.
  1.3 To ensure the equality before the law for women, ethnic or foreign minorities and disabled people.
  1.4 To abolish the death penalty in countries where it still exists.

Projects undertaken in this area should de designed to meet at least these specific objectives and indicators, which apply to every country. However, each Embassy will define their local relevance at the time of designing a proposal. Not all actions are applicable to every country. This will be determined jointly with the Programme office in London on a case by case basis.

Sub-objectives	Indicators
1.1: To strengthen the national and international human rights mechanisms.	1.1.1 Higher efficiency of national, regional and international human rights institutions and instruments through the implementation of the relevant international committees and Special Rapporteurs. 1.1.2 Greater participation and control of international human rights mechanisms by the civil society and the media.
1.2: To improve the criminal justice system’s capability to operate according to international human rights standards.	1.2.1 Greater observance of international human rights standards in prisons and in the legal system. 1.2.2 Greater police observance of international human rights standards in arrests and investigation methods 1.2.3 Greater ability of judges and lawyers to uphold human rights standards and fight impunity.
1.3: To address structural causes in order to ensure equality before the law for women, foreign minorities and disabled persons, a well as their participation in public and political life in line with international conventions.	1.3.1 Reform or repeal of discriminatory laws and development of improved legislation and national institutions compatible with regional and global commitments and recommendations issued by treaty verification mechanisms, Special Procedures and regional institutions. 1.3.2 More countries ratify the convention on the rights of disabled persons, the instrument becomes effective and its provisions are enforced.
1.4: To help abolish the death penalty in at least one country a year until it is universally abolished.	1.4.1 More transparency in the application of the death penalty (and in trial proceedings) and debate among the relevant policy officials about its effectiveness and possible alternatives 1.4.2 Legislative, procedural, constitutional or political changes leading to a lower number of crimes punishable by death and a lower number of death sentences. 1.4.3 To empower Governments to ratify the second optional protocol or ensure greater observance of rules and principles associated with the death penalty.

Democracy

Democracy work is strategically aimed at helping to “prevent and solve conflicts”, and more specifically at promoting “a greater ability to address the structural, long-term causes of conflict, including political inequality, human rights abuses, Government weakness and natural resources”.

The FCO’s main objectives at global level in the area of democracy are:

  2.1 To support election processes through effective international observation missions and through the implementation of recommendations.
  2.2 To promote freedom of expression.
  2.3 To promote and safeguard the civil society’s function of influencing, controlling and enforcing Government accountability.

Projects undertaken in this area should de designed to meet at least these specific objectives and indicators, which apply to every country. However, each Embassy will define their local relevance at the time of designing a proposal. Not all actions are applicable to every country. This will be determined jointly with the Programme office in London on a case by case basis.

Sub-objective 2.1: To improve election processes.	2.1.1 More transparent, independent and fairer election procedures, and implementation of recommendations issued by international election observation missions. 2.1.2 Greater access for women and other underrepresented groups to all stages of the election process, including voter registration, access to information, representation before election management, control and observation bodies, and women’s participation in every aspect of political party activity, particularly as candidates or elected members.
Sub-objective 2.2: To promote and protect the civil society’s function of influencing, controlling and enforcing Government accountability.	2.2.1 Fewer structural and institutional barriers for civil society and human rights advocates to carry out independent actions. 2.2.2 Greater protection of civil society and human rights advocates against repressive action by the Government. 2.2.3 Enhancement of the function of the civil society and human rights advocates of influencing and controlling Governments and Parliaments and enforcing the accountability of more authoritarian regimes.
Sub-objective 2.3: To strengthen freedom of expression, including freedom of the press and other media, and transparency in priority countries, improving their observance of international standards.	2.3.1 More countries decriminalise libel or pledge to refrain from starting libel action. 2.3.2 More laws on freedom of information, based on international standards. 2.3.3 More pluralistic media, stronger institutions with the ability to defend, protect and advocate for the media and for the enforcement of media laws, in compliance with international standards.