Countering Labor Violence in Guatemala and Honduras

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Threats against and killing of trade unionists, combined with very few or no convictions of perpetrators, have dominated the labor environment in Guatemala and Honduras for several years. Engagement from and between civil society, business and government stakeholders is necessary in order to sustainably reverse this trend. DRL requests proposals for a 30- to 36-month regional program operating in Guatemala and Honduras that seeks to enhance protection measures for trade union leaders and members and those seeking to form a union, as well as combat impunity for perpetrators of violence. Well-developed proposals will seek to include some or all of the following groups: informal economy workers, women, indigenous persons, youth, disabled persons, and migrants. Well-developed proposals will demonstrate research into and/or experience with existing civil society groups that address violence against vulnerable groups and have a proven track record of engagement with enforcement agencies. Specifically, DRL seeks proposals with program activities that will: •Build the capacity of local organizations that are actively working with human rights defenders to increase civil society recording of and reporting and advocacy efforts on labor violence with both governments and other relevant stakeholders; •Improve the capacity of trade union federations to effectively and consistently track threats and violence against trade union leaders, members, and their families, as well as those seeking to form a union; •Work with NGO partners and other stakeholders to engage the government to advocate for and monitor progress on investigating and prosecuting specific cases; •Learn and disseminate promising practices to combat labor violence from regional civil society stakeholders, including through regional exchanges of civil society and NGO leaders; •Work with existing local civil society organizations to develop systems that promote sustainability of project outcomes beyond the life of the project.

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