YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The Dutch Ambassador to Armenia Onno Elderenbosch (residence - Tbilisi) and Executive Director of the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation - Armenia (OSIAF - Armenia) Larisa Minasian on April 27 countersigned the Grant Agreement on Human Rights Strengthening through Capacity Building of Selected NGOs in Armenia. According to the agreement, the embassy of the Netherlands will contribute 513.8 thousand USD to the project over 3.5 years, while OSIAF Armenia's contribution to this project will make 373.05 thousand USD. The grant program will be launched on May 1. During the press conference following the signing ceremony, O. Elderenbosch and L. Minasian said the NGOs to be allocated grants must assist human rights strengthening in closed institutions, promote human security with the emphasis on economic rights for vulnerable groups, freedom of speech and independent media, and access to justice and independent judiciary. The selected NGOs will benefit from 3-year core funding (average of $25,000-$35,000 per year per NGO). NGO experts will have the opportunity to undergo training at OSIAF - Armenia.

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