The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) champions universal values, including respect for the rule of law, democratic institutions, and human rights. The Bureau’s work helps bolster democratic institutions, confront democratic backsliding, promote accountability, uphold internationally recognized labor standards, and advance the rights and equity of members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and religious communities, indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ persons.
The grant aims to support long-term reconciliation and peace in Sri Lanka by backing projects that advocate for independent, credible, transparent, effective, and victim-centric transitional justice processes. The programs should focus on enhancing the mental health and psychosocial well-being and resilience of key stakeholders involved in Sri Lanka’s transitional justice process. This includes addressing trauma, ensuring justice, and holding perpetrators accountable. Stakeholders comprise civil society, lawyers, advocates, counselors, victims and survivors of human rights violations, and families of the disappeared, among others involved in the justice process. Projects should build on existing civil society efforts, incorporate lessons learned, and employ successful models of mental health and psychosocial support that meet the justice-related needs of survivors and victims of human rights violations. Additionally, proposed programs must consider the historical cycles of violence in Sri Lanka and the persistent impunity for gross human rights violations.