The global objective of this call for proposals is to support civil society in protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide.

This call for proposals is fully in line with the European Consensus on Development , the EU’s response to the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The recently adopted European Consensus sets out in an integrated manner the main principles which will guide the approach of the EU and the Member States to cooperation with developing countries over the next 15 years, as well as a strategy for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Consensus reiterates the EU and its Members states commitment to the principles of EU external action, set out in Article 21(1) of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU): democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

This call is equally aligned with the EU’s priorities as identified in policies and regulations, notably the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019 and the specific human rights guidelines adopted by the EU .

The specific objectives of this call for proposals are:

• To support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Human Rights Defenders and their organisations working in areas where LGBTI persons are most at risk of discrimination.
• To support civil society action towards universal abolition of the death penalty.
• To support civic activism and participation by leveraging digital technologies.

The definition of the objectives of each of the lots of this call for proposals has been subject to an exchange of views with civil society organisations on the 24th of May 2018 in Brussels. The outcome of this exchange is published on the EuropeAid website .