Canada contribute CAD69,000 in funding to two Saint Lucian non-governmental organizations to protect and promote the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons
By The High Commission of Canada in Barbados
Through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the High Commission of Canada is pleased to contribute CAD69,000 in funding to two Saint Lucian non-governmental organizations to protect and promote the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons. Following an open call for proposals, the Canadian High Commission selected
Sacred Sports Foundation Inc. and the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) as two of its eight Eastern Caribbean CFLI projects for 2022-2023.
Canada will provide CAD25,000 to the Sacred Sports Foundation, a 2021 CFLI recipient, to implement phase two of its ‘This is ME and YOU’ project creating sustainable safe spaces and social support networks for the LGBTQI+ community.
Through the CAD44,000 CFLI contribution and in partnership with regional stakeholders, the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality project ‘INTERSECTIONAL+’ will develop a curriculum on LGBTQI+ and gender-based violence rights in law and host sensitization training for gazetted police officers and police academy instructors in Saint Lucia, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives is a program designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries that align with the Government of Canada’s thematic priority areas for engagement.
The High Commission of Canada received proposals from civil society organizations across four eligible countries in the Eastern Caribbean, administering CAD300,000 in available funding.
Other successful 2022-2023 CFLI project proposals include Circle of Friends (Dominica), the East Dominica Children’s Federation, Ecobalance Inc. (Dominica), the Grenada Planned Parenthood Association, Equal Rights Access and Opportunities SVG (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) and Orange Hill Development Organisation Agro-Processors Inc. (St. Vincent and the Grenadines).
The projects in Saint Lucia advance critical foreign policy priorities for Canada in the Caribbean, including gender equality and inclusive governance.
High Commissioner of Canada, H.E. Lilian Chatterjee noted, “The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Canada’s foreign policy, and we are committed to working with local partners to create a more inclusive and equitable global community. Initiatives prioritizing the fundamental human rights of all individuals and working to educate and increase awareness in the Eastern Caribbean are critical. Canada is proud to continue its collaboration with Sacred Sports Foundation and ECADE to safeguard the human rights of all.”
