EU launches eight international conferences on human rights and democracy

Sumario: June 10, 2002: Human rights and democracy: European Commission launches eight international conferences (Brussels)

The European Commission kicks off a series of eight regional Human Rights Workshops across the world on June 10th, with an event concentrating on the Middle East, taking place in Amman, Jordan. Further Workshops will be held in North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South Eastern Asia. The aim of this initiative is to present EU policy and programmes for promoting human rights and democracy worldwide.

The first workshop will focus on the regional role of Arab civil society in fostering democratization and human rights. This regional approach will contribute to policy thinking on how to mainstream human rights and democracy in its development assistance programmes. These discussions are designed to promote improved project design, management and impact. It is an opportunity for the European Commission to learn from others about the needs of the region, and how procedures and policy could be better adapted to them.

About 100 participants will attend the first workshop: local and regional beneficiaries of European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights project funds; other donors and foundations active in the region; representatives of Member States in the host country; civil society and academics. The participants represent a wide spectrum of the Arab world ranging from the shores of the Eastern Mediterranean to those of the Western Persian Gulf (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Gaza & West Bank, Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen).

This series of eight workshops will draw attention to recent developments in EU thinking on promoting human rights and democracy in third countries. The overall strategy is set out in a European Commission Communication (May 2001)

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/human_rights/doc/com01_252_en.pdf

The European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights' (EIDHR) programme for 2002-2004 (supported by a budget of €100 million in 2002) will concentrate on four thematic priorities:

Support to strengthen democratization, good governance and the rule of law
Activities supporting abolition of the Death Penalty
Support for the fight against torture and impunity, international tribunals and criminal court
Combating racism and xenophobia and discrimination against minorities

http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/ddh/ddh_en.htm

The promotion of human rights and democracy is a central objective in Europe's Common Foreign and Security Policy. The development and consolidation of 'democracy and the rule of law, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms' is set down as a key goal in the Treaty on European Union (1993). These principles are reflected in the European Commission's Regional and Country Strategies, and are supported by Europe's financial assistance to third countries across the globe. The EU is the world's biggest single donor of development aid. Human rights clauses are systematically included in trade, co-operation, and association agreements with third countries, including Mediterranean agreements and the Cotonou agreement. The EU works with both governments and civil society in pursuit of its principles, and favors an approach built on dialogue and partnership.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/human_rights/intro/index.htm

The European Union's own commitments to human rights and democracy are set out in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (December 2000).

http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/unit/charte/index_en.html

Ref: EC02-116EN
Fuente UE: Comisión Europea
Foro NU:
Fecha: 10/6/2002

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