Enhancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in countries and regions where they are most at risk
The specific objective of this call is to support actions in countries where there is a serious lack of fundamental freedoms, for example in countries where systematic violations are pronounced, where civil society organisations operate with difficulty or are threatened, where there is violent and regular repression and where there is no space for political pluralism. The European Commission aims at supporting local stakeholders and civil society organisations (CSOs) in their work and empowering local populations to claim their rights.
Priority will be given to actions that contribute directly to improving the situation relating to at least one of the following themes:
- the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
- the right to freedom of opinion and expression, to information and to communicate, including freedom of the media, fight against censorship, and access to the Internet
- the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, including the right to form and join a trade union
- the right to freedom of movement within the borders of a state, and the right to leave any country, including one’s own, and to return to one’s country
Actions to be implemented should include a mix of activities such as: monitoring; public information and awareness-raising; capacity building; advocacy and lobbying, and empowering local populations.
Deadline: 30/04/2010 | Budget: EUR 7 million
Call for proposals strengthening the role of civil society in promoting human rights and democratic reform
The overall objective of this call is to assist local civil society to develop greater cohesion in working on human rights, political pluralism and democratic political participation in Somalia. Activities that can be undertaken under this call include:
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Building coalitions of civil society actors across different regions, communities and identity groups, including independent political platforms or foundations to mobilise broad support and influence policy
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Contributing to peaceful conciliation of group interests by bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to share experience and analyse common problems; looking for example at transitional justice and reconciliation - including the specific role of women in such processes, the rights belonging to minorities, religion and state, in a broader perspective of strengthening democratic institutions and human rights;
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Developing equal participation of men and women and empowering vulnerable groups in social, economic and political life thus allowing them to become an effective force for positive change;
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Promoting responsiveness and accountability of political leaders and institutions.
Deadline: 06/05/2010 │Budget: EUR 1.2 million