Claim Your Space (CYS) provides rapid financial assistance to civil society actors facing threats due to shrinking civic space and restrictions on freedoms of expression, assembly and association. The fund is coordinated by Global Focus (Denmark) and supports individuals and groups who can demonstrate a current or previous partnership with a Danish civil society organisation.
As the Global Student Forum is registered in Denmark, GSF member organisations actively collaborating with GSF may be eligible to apply.
Who they support #
CYS supports a wide range of peaceful civil society actors, including:
- Youth activists, students, and informal movements
- Human rights defenders
- Journalists, media workers and writers
- Environmental, climate and land rights defenders
- Women human rights defenders
- Disability rights advocates
- LGBTQI+ defenders
- Grassroots groups in rural and urban areas
- Trade unions and labour rights groups
- SRHR activists, artivists, and groups working on children’s rights
Both individuals, alliances, formal organisations, and unregistered groups are eligible.
Geographical focus:
Countries in the Global South included on the current version of the OECD DAC List of ODA Recipients – available on the OECD website).
What support is available #
CYS offers rapid financial support only, including:
- Legal costs: legal representation, litigation fees, appeal costs, trial observation
- Protection and emergency needs: bail, emergency medical treatment, secure transport, evacuation, safe premises
- Long-term medical or psychosocial care
- Secure equipment and subscription services (such as VPNs or malware protection)
- Recruitment of relevant experts
- Relocation, rest and respite
- Wellbeing support
CYS does not offer non-financial support.
How to apply #
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Eligible applicants can request support via:
- Online information & application guidance:
https://www.globaltfokus.dk/pulje/claim-your-space - Email:
Applicants must be able to show an existing or past partnership with a Danish civil society organisation.
GSF member organisations working directly with the Global Student Forum may meet this requirement.
Response time #
Most requests receive a response within one week.
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