Urgent Action and Important Opportunities - Selection Criteria

The following criteria are to be considered in deciding if a request or situation is to be taken up as an urgent action:

1. An extraordinary situation where there are actual or potential gross violations of human rights and attacks on democracy.



2. A situation where the involvement of Rights & Democracy can promote change. (Without limiting the types of innovative initiatives that may be approved by the Committee, this includes the potential to save lives, to influence changes in government policy, to build democratic institutions or human rights mechanisms, to contribute to setting important legal precedents and/or foster substantive policy dialogue between government and civil society.)



3. An extraordinary situation that outrages or has the potential to outrage the Canadian public.



4. A case where the action requested is supported by (i) a non-governmental organization or civil society network, in Canada or abroad, that has a credible track-record and/or (ii) by a government demonstrably committed to implementing its international human rights obligations.



5. If the action takes the form of approval of funds by Rights & Democracy, it must respect the conditions of Article 28.1 of Rights & Democracy's statute.

The following criteria are to be considered in deciding if a situation is an "important opportunity" for action by Rights & Democracy:

1. An important opportunity for Rights & Democracy to maintain and improve its credibility, expertise, visibility and contacts.



2. An important opportunity for Rights & Democracy's staff, management or Board of Directors to make a relevant contribution and/or to take a stand on human rights issues and democratic challenges in Canada and/or at the global level.



3. An important opportunity to network, participate in research and/or acquire critical information on human rights & democratic development.



4. A case where the action requested is supported by (i) a non-governmental organization or civil society network, in Canada or abroad, that has a credible track-record and/or (ii) by a government demonstrably committed to implementing its international human rights obligations.



5. If the action takes the form of approval of funds by Rights & Democracy, it must respect the conditions of Article 28.1 of Rights & Democracy's statute.

Criteria adopted by Board of Directors at its meeting on June 10, 2003.