Liam Herrick

The 2026-27 human rights and equality grants scheme opens today and aims to support human rights and equality projects across three strands that contribute to advancing key strategic priorities:

• Strand A: Advancing rights protected under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
• Strand B: Tackling racism and racial discrimination and advancing the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD).
• Strand C: Advancing the promotion and protection of human rights and equality in the digital environment, including the application of artificial intelligence.

Chief commissioner Liam Herrick said: “We are committed to supporting and empowering people and communities who face the greatest barriers to accessing their rights and whose voices are least heard.

“Placing lived experience at the centre of this work is fundamental, and this grants scheme will support projects that enable meaningful participation and collective action by those most affected by inequality.”

Funding of €350,000 is available overall, with civil society organisations able to apply for small grants of up to €7,000 and general grants of up to €22,000.

Now in its 11th year, the Commission’s grants scheme has funded hundreds of projects across Ireland, including research, policy analysis, capacity building, community-led actions and awareness-raising and education initiatives.

Grants are open to civil society organisations, rights-holder and community-led groups, and trade unions across the country working to advance human rights and equality.

The grants scheme particularly encourages applications that build capacity to advocate through education and training, strengthen evidence-based research and analysis, and support engagement in key international human rights monitoring processes, including on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

The deadline for receipt of applications is 3pm on Tuesday 19 May 2026. Full details of the grants scheme are available on the Commission’s website.

The Commission will also host a series of online information sessions on the themes of the grants scheme this year. Further details will be available on the Commission’s website.

Mr Herrick concluded: “I strongly encourage civil society organisations, community and voluntary groups, and trade unions across Ireland to apply for funding under this year’s scheme, particularly those working to advance disability rights, combat racism, and address emerging human rights and equality challenges in the digital environment.”