it à COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 17.01.1997 
COM(96) 672 final 
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION 
on the implementation of measures intended to promote observance of 
human rights and democratic principles 
(for 1995) 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 
FORWARD page 4 
A. PRIORITY LINES OF ACTION IN THE USE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES 
Introduction page 5 
LTliematic approach page 6 
1.1 Support for the democratic transition process, including the holding of free 
and regular elections page 6 
1.2 Promoting and strengthening the rule of law page 8 
1.2.1 Support for parliamentary activities page 9 
1.2.2 Strengthening the legal system and its independence page 9 
1.2.3 Legal assistance aimed at protecting civil and political freedoms page 11 
1.2.4 Support for government bodies for the defence and promotion of human rights page 12 
1.2.5 Transparency of public administration page 12 
1.3 The promotion of a pluralist civil society page 13 
1.3.1 Promoting the independence, pluralism and responsibility of the media, support for the freedom 
of expression and of the press page 13 
(a) Economic and financial support for the media in a survival context page 13 
(b) Support for independent sources of information page 14 
(c) Development of independent media page 14 
(d) Highlighting the role of the media in society page 14 
(e) Enhancing professionalism in the media page 15 
(f) Legal assistance and media monitoring page 15 
(g) Promoting freedom of expression page 16 
1.3.2 Human rights education and public awareness page 16 
1.3.3 Promoting equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practices page 17 
1.3.4 Strengthening non-governmental organizations, associations and local groups . . page 19 
1.4 Support for confidence-building measures to restore peace pa: e 21 
1.4.1 Conflict prevention page 21 
1.4.2 Support for measures to bring to justice the perpetrators of serious violations of humanitarian 
law and human rights page 23 
1.4.3 Support for national efforts to encourage subordination of the armed forces to the civil 
authorities page 23 
1.5 Initiatives for target groups page 24 
1.5.1 Groups needing specific attention page 24 
(la) Children page 24 
(b) National minorities page 26 
(c) Indigenous peoples page 26 
(d) Refugees and displaced persons page 26 
(e) Prisoners page 27 
(f) Victims of torture page 27 
1.5.2 Priority groups for protection and awareness-raising schemes page 28 
(a) Women page 28 
(b) Journalists and other media professionals page 29 
(c) Magistrates, lawyers and court and prison staff page 29 
(d) The army, police and security forces page 30 
H. Geograpldcal approach page 30 
2.1 Developing countries (except Latin America) page 30 
• Africa, Caribbean, Pacific page 30 
• Maghreb page 31 
• Middle East page 31 
• Asia page 32 
2.2 Latin America page 32 
2.3 Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States 
and Mongolia page 34 
2.4 Former Yugoslavia (except Slovenia) page 35 
2.5 Turkey page 35 
B. PROCEDURAL ASPECTS OF THE FINANCING OF ACIWITIES TO PROMOTE HUMAN 
RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY page 36 
1. Coordination page 36 
2. Transparency page 36 
3. Effectiveness page 37 
"Identification of recipients and projects page 37 
*Monitoring and evaluation of projects page 38 
*Relations with international and regional organizations page 39 
CONCLUSIONS page 40 
ANNEX I: Budget headings and other financial resources fbr financing the promotion of human rights 
and democracy page 42 
ANNEX H: Standing inter-departmental human rights coordination group page 53 
1 FOREWORD 
This report is the third of its kind.1 It describes the main lines of action followed in 
the use of resources available in the 1995 financial year under the European initiative for 
democracy and the protection of human rights (Chapter B7-52 of the Community budget). 
The purpose of this initiative is to achieve the Treaty objectives of developing and 
consolidating democracy and the rule of law and respect for human rights and 
fundamental freedoms.2 Launched in 1994 at Parliament's request, the initiative is 
designed to ensure consistent and effective action in this area by gathering together all 
the budget resources explicitly earmarked for the promotion of human rights and 
democratic principles. 
Other resources taken from the appropriations for financial and technical assistance 
and from other cooperation instruments also make a significant contribution to the 
objective of human rights and democracy. It is not possible to cover all these resources 
in this report, which will confine itself to some of the most significant examples. 
This report has been drawn up by the permanent inter-departmental Human Rights 
Coordination Group and bears the stamp of their work to identify a common approach in 
terms of guidelines and criteria for examining and selecting projects.3 This joint effort 
resulted in a draft communication entitled "The European Union and the external 
dimension of human rights policy: from Rome to Maastricht and beyond" which was 
adopted by the Commission on 22 November 1995. This reference document takes a 
closer look at the instruments and objectives of Community action in that area, taking 
account of recent developments in international relations, the emergence of new issues 
and the importance of target groups in the democratic development of societies. 
The structure of this report has been altered in order to show how funding has been 
used first from a thematic and then a geographical angle. The information provided here 
supplements other reports covering the same subject matter, such as the annual reports 
on the implementation of the resolution on human rights, democracy and development 
adopted by the Council and the Member States meeting within the Council on 28 
November 1991 and the specific reports on each budget heading. 
Report on the use of financial resources in the promotion and protection of human rights 
and demo crati c principles (for the years 1992-1993) 
Doc. FR/CM/242/242847.GH, PE 207.805 of 26.3.93. Report on the implementation of 
measures intended to promote observance of human rights and democratic principles for 
1994 - COM(95)191 final of 12.7.95. 
Fifth subparagraph of Article J. 1(2) on the common foreign and security policy; Article 
130u(2) of the Treaty on European Union on Community development cooperation policy; 
Articles F(l) and (2) of the Common provisions, Articles 8 and 8e on citizenship of the 
Union. 
See Annex 2 for the Group's remit. 
A. PRIORITY LINES OF ACTION IN THE USE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES 
Introduction 
European Union action to defend and promote respect for human rights is taken in 
accordance with the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights supplemented by the two international pacts on civil and political rights and 
economic, social and cultural rights. It is also based on the requirements of the main 
international and regional instruments for the protection of human rights. The priorities 
espoused by the international community in the final declaration and the action 
programme of the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, June 1993) created a 
framework for action that is one of the European Union's main points of reference. Other 
world conferences on specific subjects or population groups, of which there has been a 
considerable increase in recent years, have provided a forum for in-depth analysis and 
definition of operational objectives.4 
The European Commission thus follows general guidelines which advocate a positive 
and integrated approach, with the emphasis on the network of interactions linking human 
rights, democracy and development. This approach' involves both specific budget 
headings, grouped together for the first time in 1994 at Parliament's instigation in a 
separate chapter (B7-52), and resources for development cooperation and technical 
assistance, plus budget headings not included under Chapter B7-52 and covering the 
defence of human rights. In addition there is the funding for joint actions decided in the 
framework of the common foreign and security policy (Subsection B8) a large part of 
which has been allocated to support for democratic transition. Against this backdrop, 
approaches and priorities for action are determined by the needs and specific 
characteristics of the countries concerned. 
The main partners of Community action are the countries themselves, which are 
directly responsible for building democracy and upholding human rights. It is therefore 
vital to maintain and step up dialogue with public authorities and national institutions in 
order to identify common priorities and on this basis draw up practical action 
programmes. This is equally necessary in the special partnership which the European 
Community enjoys with the different components of civil society, in particular non­
governmental organizations, whose contribution to the construction, consolidation and 
defence of the rule of law is of primary importance. In recent years, this partnership has 
extended to new fields of action such as defence of the rights of vulnerable groups, the 
promotion of democratic freedoms and support for democratic processes. 
The development of international relations, the emergence of new thematic areas and 
the increasing importance attached to preventive action in defence of human rights and 
democratic principles has led the European Commission to examine in more detail the 
instruments and aims of its activities. In 1995 this gave rise to specific initiatives, above 
all inclusion of human rights clauses in agreements, which was the subject of a 
Commission communication approved by the Council. This enshrines achievements in 
In 1995: Copenhagen World Summit for Social Development (March 1995); Beijing IVth 
World Conference on Women (September 1995). 
the field and strengthens the legal force of the agreements' provisions on human rights 
and democratic principles to be inserted in all new draft negotiating directives for 
agreements with third countries. The adoption in November of the same year of a 
communication on "The European Union and the external dimension of human rights 
policy: from Rome to Maastricht and beyond", marked the first of a series of actions 
launched by the Commission in response to Mr Santer's commitment to make human 
rights a priority. This was the first comprehensive statement by the Commission on the 
implications of an issue which the Maastricht Treaty places among the general objectives 
of the common foreign and security policy and of Community development cooperation 
policy. On the basis of the acquis, this reference document establishes guidelines for the 
future and indicates how to reach practical solutions which strengthen the coherence, 
impact and visibility of Community action and give a distinctive Community identity to 
the human rights issue. 
The structure of this report has been altered to reflect better this requirement of 
overall coherence. It deals first with themes and then with geographical areas in order 
to demonstrate the common guidelines followed in the use of financial resources in favour 
of human rights and democratization. With this presentation any obstacles encountered 
can be described and possible solutions put forward. 
I. THEMATIC APPROACH 
The information given below describes the approach followed in the use of the budget 
headings of Chapter B7-52 and also some significant examples of operations funded from 
other financial resources which have an impact on the human rights objective. Having 
said this, it should be stressed that the role of Chapter B7-52 is that of a catalyst, it 
focuses on support for initiatives of an innovative and incentive nature, the thinking being 
that if the results are satisfactory, the initiatives could be expanded subsequently using 
other financial instruments. It is in this light that the information given below should be 
read. 
1.1 Support for the democratic transition process, including the holding of free and regular 
elections 
Support for the democratic transition process is a new theme within the general 
framework of cooperation action to strengthen the rule of law and democratic freedoms. 
The development of this type of operation springs from a growing awareness among the 
international community of the need to intervene at the earliest possible stage with 
measures to accompany and encourage the whole transition process. 
A key element of this approach is electoral assistance which helps to boost the 
electorate's confidence, and has a strong political impact and a higher profile than 
traditional initiatives. Between 1990 and 1995, the Community/European Union provided 
some 44 countries with mainly technical assistance through specialized bodies. A whole 
series of projects for the pre-electoral and post-electoral phases was developed and 
improved over a few years with the aim of creating a climate favourable to the transition 
to democracy and its consolidation after elections. Such projects include specific support 
for the independence of the judiciary, the emergence of a civil society, the participation 
of women in elections (as candidates and as informed voters), media awareness, civic 
education and the formation of parliamentary structures. 
Because of the political dimension to this type of operation, three of the first joint 
actions decided by the European Union under the new foreign and common security 
policy concerned electoral assistance: to Russia (December 1993); South Africa (May 
1994) and support for the Middle East peace process (April 1994). These operations gave 
the European Union's electoral assistance its own distinctive identity. 
In 1995, this type of operation remained one of the key elements of external 
cooperation policy in favour of human rights and democratic principles. Chapter B7-52 
contributed almost ECU 5.2 million to financing activities connected either with 
organizing elections as such or instilling the democratic values which are at the root of 
the electoral process. Financial and technical assistance and cooperation appropriations 
plus other instruments were also used to finance measures to support the democratic 
transition process. For example, financial instruments of the Lomé Convention provided 
considerable amounts of funding for material and technical assistance relating to the 
preparation and organization of elections. For the 1995 financial year, six countries 
(Kenya, Benin, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Chad and Haiti) received assistance of this type 
totalling ECU 4.34 million under their respective national indicative programmes. 
This type of support mainly concerns the countries party to the Lomé Convention 
(Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) and the Central and South American countries. The 
organization of local, parliamentary (June 1995) and presidential elections (December 
1995) in Haiti received the largest financial contribution from the Chapter. Some of the 
projects supported with electoral assistance funds involved financing preliminary measures 
to meet specific material or technical needs connected with the preparation, organization 
or supervision of elections. Examples of such measures include the constitution of a 
central computerized electoral register for the Palestinian Council elections; and in Ghana, 
the printing of posters and a manual for polling station officials and provision of an 
electric generator for the headquarters of the electoral commission. 
Where necessary, for example in Haiti, supplies of basic equipment and electoral 
material can be sent out with technical assistance personnel who are responsible for the 
implementation and monitoring of elections or for evaluation missions at an early stage 
of the electoral process. Thus a team of experts was sent to Zaire to help the national 
electoral commission begin work and to coordinate initiatives for financing the elections. 
The importance of the role of the media during the electoral process prompted 
operations to promote and strengthen the media in 1995. Impending municipal elections 
in Mozambique led to Community support for a project to reinforce the media at 
provincial level. As part of an awareness-raising programme on democratic participation 
in Cape Verde, support was granted for radio broadcasts on the specific subject of 
democracy. The media also deserve close attention because of their often decisive impact 
on the outcome of elections. During the Palestinian elections, there was a special project 
to monitor the media in order to measure their level of independence, the quality of their 
election coverage and the fairness of access granted to the parties involved. A similar 
project financed under the Phare democracy programme with an eye to parliamentary and 
presidential elections in Romania consisted of studies (legal and political analysis of the 
situation of the media) and monitoring activities (qualitative and quantitative analysis of 
the media's involvement in the election campaign). The support granted to a specialized 
institute under the Tacis democracy programme was used to monitor the media in Belarus 
(parliamentary elections), Armenia (parliamentary elections and referendum on the 
constitution), Georgia (parliamentary and presidential elections), Azerbaijan (parliamentary 
elections and referendum on the new constitution) and Russia (parliamentary elections). 
Many operations in 1995 were designed to prepare the political structures for 
forthcoming elections. In Panama, aid was given for modernizing the political parties and 
instilling the values and procedures integral to the democratic process. Support was also 
given to measures to consolidate successful transition. This was particularly the case in 
Latin America where there were projects to encourage participation and the exercise of 
political rights in order to combat a growing lack of interest on the part of young people 
in the exercise of citizenship constituted by an election. In Chile, support was given to 
an operation to encourage young people to put their names on the electoral roll. In Russia, 
efforts to consolidate successful transition were particularly significant. The support 
provided for observation of the December 1995 parliamentary elections led to the setting-
up of a European Union Electoral Unit (UEUE). This is an advisory body primarily 
responsible for helping the Member States' observers to carry out the tasks assigned to 
them by providing the necessary expertise and information, training observers and 
helping to coordinate their deployment. 
Exercising the right to vote is an endorsement of peace and a contribution to the 
democratization process. The election of the Palestinian Council was an integral part of 
the Middle East peace process and it was on this basis that the Council approved a joint 
operation in April 1994 committing the European Union to a coordinated aid programme 
for the preparation and monitoring of the Palestinian elections. Community technical 
assistance from cooperation funding - some ECU 7.6 million - was used to finance 
preparations for the elections, such as drafting the electoral law, establishing polling 
stations at national and local level, setting-up a Press Office, deciding electoral 
boundaries, organizing a civic education campaign, training electoral agents and supplying 
electoral supplies (ballot papers etc). In September 1995 the European Union was asked 
to take part in and coordinate international observation of the Palestinian elections. In 
close cooperation with the Member States it decided to deploy a team of 300 observers 
and create a European Electoral Unit to coordinate the international observers. 
In view of the Community/European Union's growing role in election monitoring 
activities, two pilot schemes were supported with the aim of studying in greater detail the 
various aspects of preparing and organizing such operations, in particular the need to 
standardize procedures for selecting, training and deploying observers. 
1.2 Promoting and strengthening the rule of law 
Establishing or consolidating the rule of law is a gradual process which requires 
far-reaching legislative and political reforms to ensure the supremacy of the law, the 
judiciary's independence, the transparency of decision-making processes and the adoption 
of a legal order offering adequate legal guarantees for the respect of citizens' rights. Since 
the beginning of the decade many countries have started this process; several of them are 
now at a decisive period in their development, which explains why almost 20% of the 
appropriations committed under the European initiative for the promotion of human rights 
and democracy in 1995 was allocated to measures to support and encourage the ongoing 
reform process. 
1.2.1 - Support for parliamentary activities 
A key factor in the success of any democratic transition is support for parliamentary 
institutions and practices and stimulation of legislative capacity. The wide range of 
parliamentary traditions in the Member States is a considerable asset for the transfer of -
experience, know-how and information - one of the essential components of cooperation 
in this field. The schemes given support vary depending on the level of democratization 
and, above all, on whether there had previously been a parliamentary tradition. In 
fledgling democracies, which are still fragile, the focus is on providing members of 
Parliament and their staff with basic training in the various aspects of the role of the 
legislature (Mozambique) and on supplying the basic materials and equipment needed to 
run a parliament (Burkina Faso, Comoros). Other operations are designed to consolidate 
parliamentary structures by developing, for instance, exchange and cooperation networks. 
An example of this type of scheme is a training programme for Ukrainian members of 
parliament which was started up in December 1995 with support from the Tacis 
democracy programme and which also provides for cooperation links with the parliaments 
of Germany, France and the United Kingdom and also the European Parliament. 
Another important aspect involves support for modernization of the system of political 
parties (Panama, Latin American region) - whilst remaining politically neutral. Other 
schemes are designed to help develop legislative strategies geared to issues specific to the 
country or region concerned. Hence support was given to a series of seminars in Eastern 
Europe dealing with the issues of decentralization and of ethnic diversity and cross-border 
areas. The need to look to the future of these democracies has resulted in projects targeted 
at training for the new generations of the political class. For example, a project has been 
supported in 'Romania which offers training modules on the electoral process, 
management of political parties and government structures. 
1.2.2 - Strengthening the legal system and its independence 
Increasing use is being made of the Community budget to support the reinforcement 
or rebuilding of legal systems. In crisis situations it is used to meet fundamental needs 
for justice but also in a long-term perspective to strengthen the judicial authority in its 
role as the guardian of democratic freedoms. 
Severe shortcomings of a legal system are signalled by alarming levels of prison 
overpopulation and inhuman conditions of detention. The gravity of the situation in 
Rwanda - where the need for justice is an essential part of restoring confidence and 
consolidating civil peace - led the international comrr nity to set up the International 
War Crimes Tribunal for Rwanda in October 1994. To supplement technical assistance 
measures, the European initiative for the promotion of human rights and democracy 
provided support for efforts to re-establish the Rwandan legal system. A two-pronged 
programme was set up, one part of which consists of a legal aid fund to pay for a 
permanent legal team to represent 600 families of victims and survivors, while the other 
provides a series of training and refresher seminars for lawyers and magistrates. Another 
project provides basic training for legal personnel (primarily judges and prosecutors) and 
covers the purchase of administrative equipment for courts of first instance. In addition, 
support was given to organizing the first training session of the School of international 
criminal law and human rights in Arusha (Tanzania), which brought together 30 legal 
experts, lawyers and law students from Europe (10) and Africa (20). The aim was to 
familiarize them generally with the legal provisions and machinery of human rights 
protection and specifically with the operation of the International War Crimes Tribunal 
for Rwanda. Since the situation in Rwandan prisons in itself constitutes a humanitarian 
crisis, humanitarian assistance funding has also been used for measures to help 
re-establish the legal system in Rwanda: drawing up committal papers for the inmates of 
four prisons to stop false arrests/detention; prison visits and basic health care for inmates. 
Projects have been carried out in other countries with major shortcomings in the 
judicial and legal sphere. For example, part of a programme of the Guinean Human 
Rights League concerning improvements in prisons was entirely financed by the 
Community budget. In Haiti the conclusions of an evaluation mission resulted in a 
programme to supply amenities and equipment and also a legal aid scheme for prisoners 
and a technical expertise mission to train legal clerks. In Palestine, support was given to 
a legal assistance project under which persons held in solitary confinement can be 
monitored and not only legal but also administrative and social advice provided as the 
situation develops (finding their whereabouts, reuniting families, questions of residence, 
entry and exit permits for the Territories, improvement of detention conditions etc). At 
the same time a scheme was set up to prepare appeals for Palestinians from the Occupied 
Territories who were tortured following their arrest. In Brazil, there is a legal aid 
programme for land dispute cases, the source of numerous human rights violations. It 
also includes a training component for trade unions. 
Efforts to ensure that the perpetrators of serious humanitarian or human rights 
violations do not go unpunished is vital to the credibility of legal systems and the 
restoration of confidence and civil peace. Such a component is often found in projects 
supported in Latin America and the Caribbean - for example a legal assistance programme 
in Haiti which gives support to the National Truth and Justice Commission. The political 
and social violence suffered particularly by children and prisoners has prompted support 
for projects to strengthen the rights of defence in general (Ecuador) and the rights of 
minors in particular (Peru), and support for specific measures such as "Human Rights 
Ombudsmen" (Guatemala, Salvador) or "Justices of the Peace" (Peru). It has also resulted 
in more discussion and information campaigns on these topics and moves to promote the 
fundamental principles of criminal justice as part of the reforms under way (Chile, 
Uruguay). 
The question of the death penalty - in which the European Parliament is very much 
involved - gave rise to an initiative backed by the Community to abolish the death 
penalty in Islamic countries receiving Community aid. Similarly there is a programme 
of internships whereby students, academics and practitioners can work alongside lawyers 
in the United States and the Caribbean engaged on criminal cases where the death penalty 
has been passed. Another project, which also concerns the Caribbean, involves 
investigation work on the cases of 70 people under sentence of death with a view to 
lodging appeals at national and international level. 
Strengthening the machinery of law is a priority in many countries which are 
10 
modernizing their legal apparatus and system and improving training for their legal and 
prison staff. Under Chapter B7-52 it is possible to support research and analysis projects 
designed to encourage the process of adjusting legal structures to comply with the 
principles of the rule of law. This mainly involves tackling the question of prison 
overpopulation, the process of adjusting the criminal justice systems (in particular reform 
of criminal proceedings) and strengthening public defence services. For example, in 
Ecuador support has been given to the drafting of a technical and legal programme in the 
criminal sector and to a regional scientific analysis of prison overcrowding for adults and 
minors. 
Substantial contributions can be made from the Community budget to initiatives of 
an institutional nature based on original legal traditions particularly in Latin America. The 
support provided goes to information, assistance and training infrastructure such as the 
Human Rights Ombudsman's Office in Guatemala, the "Defensoria del Pueblo" in 
Colombia, the "Institution del Defensor del Pueblo" in Panama or the "Oficina del 
Conciliador" in Guatemala. Other operations involve strengthening Ministries either via 
technical assistance (Honduras) or more specifically via support for training activities 
(Guatemala). At the same time, emphasis is given to the regional approach which allows 
for joint exchange and training sessions and the consolidation of national and regional 
networks and also gives these institutions a higher profile. A large-scale programme 
adopts the same approach in Central America. It covers complementary areas such as 
legal aid, human rights education and the dissemination of information about the 
protection of fundamental rights. The programme also follows cases brought before the 
Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Under a project straddling 11 Central American 
countries, a series of seminars for judges, prosecutors and lawyers has been organized 
with the aim not only of encouraging the exchange of information but also reducing the 
number of training programmes organized at individual country level. This programme 
has also brought about improvements in the way the law libraries of the different 
countries are run. In Peru the Community budget provides support for a training 
programme for 168 justices of the peace. 
Some projects combine research with training and information campaigns directed 
either at magistrates, lawyers, justice officials or at the man in the street. Innovatory 
approaches have been taken in the training field, such as a project carried out by the 
Izmir Bar in Turkey which combines theoretical teaching with practical experience in 
poor neighbourhoods of the city. Other projects, which come under the heading of legal 
cooperation in the strict sense, include study trips in which comparative practical studies 
can be made, the aim being to heighten awareness of the concept of independence of the 
legal professions (Russia, Albania). 
Within the Community itself support has been granted to some novel initiatives, such 
as a scheme to set up a network of bilingual lawyers who can act as the legal 
representatives of European Union citizens in a country of the Union other than their 
own. 
1.2.3 - Legal assistance aimed at protecting civil and political freedoms 
The protection of civil and political freedoms calls for specific measures to make the 
legislative system conform to the principles of democracy and the rule of law. This 
11 
essentially involves providing the expertise and technical assistance needed to accomplish 
the reforms essential to democratization. It is still a relatively underdeveloped field of 
cooperation, although it is a constituent part of many projects. 
Under the Phare democracy programme, technical assistance is being provided for the 
revision of the criminal code and criminal procedure in Ukraine. This scheme also 
includes a training course given by European experts with the aim of training instructors 
to teach the new codes. In a particularly ambitious project in Eritrea to aid the drafting 
of a constitution, the approach consisted primarily of stimulating a wide-ranging debate 
and encouraging experience-sharing in order to reach a national consensus on the content 
of the constitution. In Malawi, an operation was carried out with the aim of submitting 
proposals for the revision of all legal provisions which infringe the constitutional 
guarantees and international conventions subscribed to as regards freedom of expression. 
1.2.4 - Support for government bodies for the defence and promotion of human rights 
Within the framework of its international obligations, the state bears the main 
responsibility for the respect and promotion of human rights. This role is not confined 
to the drafting of legislation and application of the rule of law, it also includes more 
specific measures regarding prevention, promotion and education. This involves 
supporting institutional assistance for the exercise of the rights of defence or backing 
efforts to spread understanding of and promote human rights . 
In this context, substantial support was given to the Inter-American Court of Human 
Rights, the sole judicial body with regional jurisdiction in this field, to enable it to 
develop a system to publish its case law, increase its data base and improve the quality 
of its equipment. The Community also gave funding for the first intercontinental 
conference bringing together all the institutions for the protection and promotion of 
human rights of three continents (Africa, America and Europe). 
1.2.5 - Transparency of public administration 
Transparency and responsibility are cornerstones of democratic life. They call for both 
transparent public management and administration and participation by the ordinary 
citizen in the decision-making process at local level. 
Many projects - particularly under the Phare and Tacis democracy programmes - help 
to promote locally autonomous democratic systems by means of training, 
experience-sharing, setting-up of databases and information networks as well as detailed 
analysis of the practices of local democracy. Priority is given to operations which 
combine measures to enhance the synergy between civil society and the public sector on 
common objectives. One of the projects supported is based on a cross-border partnership 
between Poland and Ukraine. It incorporates activities aimed at the strengthening of the 
local authorities on both sides in the framework of cooperation between two countries 
benefiting from European Union assistance. Based on experiences in Germany and 
Portugal, another scheme aims to familiarize the local political leaders who took office 
following the first free local elections in Bulgaria and Slovakia with the various aspects 
of democratic practice. On similar lines, Community support was given to a training 
programme for local councillors throughout Tanzania. 
12 
The Community budget has contributed to initiatives centred on the reform of the 
state and its administration. Under the Tacis democracy programme, a joint programme 
with the Council of Europe is designed to improve the operation of key sectors of the 
public administration in Ukraine. The programme covers areas such as the reform of the 
legal system, the improvement of the system for applying laws, the training of local 
officials and direct assistance to the Ministry of Justice. 
A regional Seminar in South Africa on the topic of corruption, democracy and human 
rights in southern Africa stands out among the awareness-raising campaigns supported. 
Its prime purpose was to increase the awareness of political leaders and civil society of 
the importance of the fight against corruption. 
1.3 The promotion of a pluralist civil society 
The democratization process depends on the development of a democratic culture 
based on pluralism, tolerance and citizen participation. Chapter B7-52 gives ample scope 
to projects aimed at diversifying and consolidating the "social fabric" typical of 
democracy by encouraging the exercise of democratic "freedoms, the participation of the 
people and the constitution of dynamic forms of solidarity. 
1.3.1 - Promoting the independence, pluralism and responsibility of the media, support for 
the freedom of expression and of the press 
Freedom of expression is as much the right to express an individual opinion as it is 
to receive information and ideas and have the freedom to communicate them. The 
increasing role of the media in shaping public opinion and promoting democratic values 
makes the media a prime target of oppressive regimes. As a result journalists are 
threatened and harassed and legal, economic or commercial obstacles hamper both media 
independence and the freedom to disseminate information. 
As part of the European initiative for the promotion of human rights, approximately 
ECU 7 million has been allocated to 85 projects devoted to the defence and promotion 
of freedom of expression and in particular the right to free and independent information. 
(a) economic and financial support for the media in a survival context 
The aid provided, in the Republics of former Yugoslavia, which involved financial 
and economic support as well as logistical and technical back-up, went a long way to 
meeting the media's urgent needs. The stakes were high as it was a matter of preserving 
the only real remaining area of freedom in the region. The extremely difficult situation 
facing the media was largely the result of the authorities putting all sorts of obstacles in 
the way of media distribution and broadcasting so that in many cases it came down to a 
question of survival. 
In point of fact, a major part of Community aid was used to provide the basic 
equipment needed to continue activities as well as the vital funds to maintain the financial 
equilibrium of the press and the independent electronic media. Thus the independent daily 
"Nasa Borba", a figurehead of the freedom of the press in Belgrade, set up at the 
beginning of the year by journalists who had resigned from the "Borba" when it was 
n 
taken over by the authorities again, initially received financial support which was used 
for supplies of 300 tonnes of paper to produce a daily edition of the newspaper. On 
similar lines, the Commission contributed to the setting-up of a special fund to cover 
urgent and specific needs facing the media in the region. 
(b) support for independent sources of information 
The independence of the media is based on the free flow of information and free 
access to sources of information. Again in former Yugoslavia, projects have provided 
support for press agencies such as BETA, the most important independent press agency 
in Serbia, the new agency Montena Fax in Montenegro and the small but very effective 
agency, Stina, which provides information to the independent media in Croatia. 
Substantial support was also granted to the regional offices in former Yugoslavia of an 
international agency which transmits information electronically from a central computer 
in Paris. Another Community-funded project concerns the creation of an electronic 
newspaper connected to the Internet which aims to distribute news gathered from 
independent sources. This makes it possible to circumvent the obstacles put by the 
authorities in the way of the press and audiovisual media. 
(c) Development of independent media 
Community aid also seeks to help the media develop by enabling them to acquire the 
technical means and the personnel capable of increasing their readership or their audience 
(printing paper, printing equipment, computer equipment, graphic composition equipment, 
satellite communication equipment, rental of telephone lines, more powerful transmitters, 
press or distribution vehicles, distribution expenses, journalists' wages, etc). Under the 
Phare-democracy and Tacis-democracy programmes, attention focused more specifically 
on the technical and legal adjustments required for the media to work in a market 
economy. Accordingly, training activities have included comparative analysis of 
legislation, know-how transfer and an introduction to modern communication techniques. 
An original project undertaken in Russia and intended for media professionals combines 
a period of technical training with experience-sharing in trade-union negotiating 
procedures for the entertainment industry. 
Projects directly promoting pluralism also received priority; this refers in particular 
to projects in former Yugoslavia aimed at recruiting a cross-community readership or 
audience, for example through broadcasts or print runs in several languages (translations, 
subtitling, opening of new channels broadcasting in the languages of the other 
communities, etc), wider broadcasting or distribution range or by taking differences into 
account in the scheduling of programmes. 
(d) Highlighting the role of the media in society 
For similar reasons projects highlighting the role of the media in society, and in 
particular their specific responsibility in the development of democracy, received 
considerable support. Preference was given to publications which contributed to raising 
public awareness of democratic values while denouncing their violations, even when these 
can be partly blamed on the media. In this respect, the importance of projects to curb the 
development of hate-fuelling media which, under the cover of freedom of expression, 
propagate ethnic or religious hatred and extremist tendencies of all sorts, must be stressed. 
14 
In Burundi a project receiving Community support provided, among other things, 
emergency aid for independent media seeking to neutralize the impact of media intent on 
spreading extremist messages and slogans. In Belgrade the Media Centre attracted aid 
for carrying out a project on the responsibility of the media in fomenting hate. The 
Commission also helped fund independent journalists - expelled from the state-controlled 
media - to produce a televised documentary on the role of official propaganda before and 
during the war. 
(e) Enhancing professionalism in the media 
The independence, pluralism and credibility of the media in the eyes of the public 
largely rest on the professionalism of those who bear responsibility for them. Technical 
training and professional ethics have been the subject of specific initiatives, viz: a training 
programme for journalists and engineers working for the independent television network 
Studio B of Belgrade carried out through UNESCO; a project for a seminar in Senegal 
to study the conditions for reviving journalistic training in Africa; a 2-year training 
programme for journalists in Ghana; a human-rights training and awareness-raising 
programme for media students and professionals in various Latin American regions. 
Numerous training programmes were also carried out under the Phare-democracy and 
Tacis-democracy programmes (specifically in Albania, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Russia 
and Mongolia). 
The professional organizations of journalists make an essential contribution to the 
improvement of the category's social status and cohesiveness, and to the defence of its 
interests. In southern Africa a major programme - "Media for democracy" - launched 
initiatives aimed at establishing or strengthening national and regional associations of 
journalists which contribute to the general drive to improve professionalism in the media. 
In view of the specific role of the media in the electoral process, some training 
modules specifically focused on elections. Thus, an unusual training initiative involved 
15 Portuguese-speaking African journalists "shadowing" Portuguese colleagues covering 
the elections in Portugal. Another initiative provided training in electoral matters for 
journalists from Mongolia in preparation for the 1996 presidential elections. 
(f) Legal assistance and media monitoring 
It is essential that freedom of expression be guaranteed not only in the Constitution 
but. also in all the legislative and regulatory texts in accordance with the relevant 
international instruments. A number of projects to study and draft legislation concerning 
the freedom of the press received support from the Community budget (in Burundi, Latin 
America, Central and Eastern Europe, Albania and Mongolia). This in practice means 
support for the drafting of press codes, codes of conduct and instruments to regulate 
broadcasting. In addition, media monitoring activities carried out by warning networks 
or initiatives to provide specific assistance (in Burundi and former Yugoslavia in 
particular) make it possible to provide direct aid to the media and to national, regional 
and international organizations which champion freedom of expression. Thus, support 
was granted to the European fund for freedom of expression which, thanks to this 
contribution, in 1995 published a second report on the progress made on the road to 
democracy in 14 Central and Eastern European countries. 
15 
(g) Promoting freedom of expression 
Freedom of expression concerns each citizen: it does not begin and end with 
independent media. Thus, projects receiving Community funding have ranged from 
comparative analysis of legislation concerning freedom of expression to original initiatives 
aimed at ensuring the protection of persecuted writers through the establishment of an 
international network of asylum towns. 
1.3.2 - Human rights education and public awareness 
Education and public awareness make it possible not only to pass on information and 
knowledge but also to stimulate in each of us the ability to create, act and participate. 
The multiplier effect which is inherent in education and training makes them particularly 
effective means in promoting human rights. Accordingly, many projects funded from the 
Community budget have an educational component. Education is also regarded as a 
means of improving the social status of the most vulnerable sectors of population, as well 
as being an effective instrument against racism and xenophobia. In the first year of the 
UN-sponsored decade of human rights education, under Budget Chapter B7-52 nearly 
ECU 10 million went to initiatives intended to promote democracy in civil society 
through education and training. 
Firstly, Community aid contributes to the development of teaching, research and 
education in the field of human rights, in particular by supporting the development of 
appropriate teaching aids and the establishment of information networks on human rights. 
Thus, for instance, a centre in Moscow which makes publications on human rights 
available with a view to disseminating information among NGOs and giving them 
practical help, has obtained Community support. To enable the notion of human rights 
to gain the widest possible recognition, support was granted to an original Hong Kong-
based initiative for the development of a multimedia computer programme which includes 
adatabase describing the international instruments for the protection of human rights as 
well as training modules and educational games on human rights. Also in Hong Kong 
another project is contributing to the production of teaching material on human rights in 
Chinese. In Central America support was provided for the development of training 
methods and programmes for human rights teachers working for human rights 
organizations. In Guatemala two training and public-awareness programmes, one aimed 
at training local civic committees on various issues and the other for the general public, 
received Community support. In Africa too the Community funded major information 
and public-awareness campaigns and teacher training seminars (in Burundi, Guinea, 
Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti and Central African Republic) held locally or in Europe. 
In the interest of visibility, projects combining human rights themes and the widest 
possible dissemination of information on the European Union, its activities and 
undertakings have received Community funding. A project launched in Central and 
Eastern Europe aims to use the debate on Europe, currently pursued by members of 
parliament, academics, NGO's senior personnel and representatives of Community 
institutions, as a catalyst in the development of democratic traditions in the region. 
16 
Projects with an educational component, notably in Africa and Central America, have 
highlighted the interdependence between the concepts of peace, human rights observance 
and democratic principles. Two public-awareness programmes in Somalia and 
El Salvador, the production and distribution of video cassettes fostering peace and 
reconciliation in Rwanda and Burundi and an original initiative in the West Bank and the 
Gaza Strip to promote peaceful coexistence through training activities are all examples 
of such projects. Again on the topic of peace, the Commission lent its support to the 
organization of training courses for teachers, instructors and NGO personnel. 
Community funds go to measures intended to promote a more democratic society at 
local level and develop forms of local democracy. Under the Phare-democracy 
programme, these themes are included in wider-ranging programmes in the form of 
modules devoted in particular to the links between local democracy and business - both 
management and labour - (Czech Republic) and bringing together local leaders and senior 
personnel from local NGOs or associations (Poland) in discussion or training workshops. 
In Bosnia-Herzegovina a project highlights the overlap between local democracy issues 
and the existence of a multicultural society: it provides training and information activities 
to promote the development of democratic practices at municipal level (Tuzla). A 
different approach underpins a project carried out in El Salvador, the objective of which 
is to improve the effectiveness of the representatives of sectors of the population 
traditionally far removed from the decision-making centres. This means contributing to 
the creation of a nucleus capable of taking the initiative within the local community and 
influencing political and social developments. 
Education is a prime means of protecting and promoting the social status of certain 
sectors of society. This involves essentially fighting the prejudices which fuel 
discriminations, violence and intolerance right at the outset and may take the form of 
civics education initiatives and the teaching of democratic principles, such as respect for 
others, participation and pluralism, to young people. Support was also given to projects 
intended specifically for prisoners and refugees by means of educational initiatives 
focusing on their ultimate rehabilitation. These initiatives are addressed, inter alia, to 
police personnel who are exposed to situations where effective safeguard of human rights 
involves the observance of a given code of conduct. With regard to measures to help 
women, their strategy is to combat the discrimination of which women are victims and 
promote their status in society. Training and education are also paramount in promoting 
the rights of indigenous people and protecting the victims of extreme forms of violence. 
1.3.3 - Promoting equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practices 
Equal rights and equal dignity are one of the pillars of any system intended to 
safeguard fundamental human rights. This approach was gradually supplemented by 
greater attention being paid not only to particularly vul irable groups in society, but also 
to the various ways of ensuring personal fulfilment anc the observance of such rights as 
a fundamental principle of democracy. Prevention and long-term measures are essential, 
but assistance to the victims also enjoys priority among the initiatives receiving support. 
Equal opportunities issues have given rise to a broad range of activities involving both 
third countries and Member States. Education and public awareness are the key to 
improving the lot of the most vulnerable groups in society and combat intolerance in its 
various forms. Legal assistance is another priority, as illustrated by a project involving 
17 
a seminar to provide Hong Kong lawyers and senior personnel from NGOs and 
government departments with the expertise, essentially of a legal nature, required to 
translate equal opportunity principles into law. 
Chapter B7-52 enabled substantial contributions to be made to a number of initiatives 
to protect women and promote their status in society and in political circles. Such 
projects tackle the causes of discrimination and of the various forms of violence against 
women through training activities and public-awareness campaigns, measures to reinforce 
NGOs and women's associations and to protect women who are victims of violence. The 
Community budget also helped promote equal opportunities between women and men in 
the Member States of the European Union. 
Ensuring equal opportunities is particularly important for the younger generations and 
numerous initiatives set out to tackle the problem, in particular through the organization 
of educational activities. The goals set span all the various stages and aspects in the 
fulfilment of a person's potential, from encouraging participation in social, economic and 
political life to protection and rehabilitation following episodes of violence. 
Awareness of the intolerance and the various forms of discrimination exercised 
against certain social groups have prompted activities which adopt a similar approach, 
distinguishing between human rights defence and protection for the individual on the one 
hand and, on the other hand, improvement of those groups' social status. Projects on 
refugees, displaced persons or national minorities, particularly in Central and Eastern 
Europe, have taken both aspects into account. They make it possible both to combat 
discrimination in the legislative field in the countries concerned and to organize 
information and public-awareness campaigns which aim to eradicate the prejudices against 
those social groups. 
Inside the Community the fight against racism and xenophobia has become a priority 
in response to the spread of racist and xenophobic tendencies throughout Europe in the 
last few years. Measures adopted at European level must dovetail with national initiatives 
this field. This calls for the development of a joint action on the part of the relevant 
international and regional organizations and has led to both Community institutions and 
Member States taking action. The overall strategy adopted at the Vienna Summit of the 
Council of Europe provided a framework for action which resulted in more specific 
discussions on the means to be deployed. An advisory committee made up of eminent 
persons was instructed by the Corfu European Council (June 1994) to formulate 
recommendations for cooperation between the governments and the various components 
of society; in June 1995 the committee was invited to study, in close cooperation with the 
Council of Europe, the feasibility of establishing a European Observatory for racism and 
xenophobia. Simultaneously, Community measures completing those implemented by the 
Member States were implemented, notably in education, training and media briefing. 
Pilot schemes carried out by NGOs and associations of immigrants were given priority. 
An original initiative was launched - the "cities against racism" project - intended to 
support a small number of local activities aimed to encourage local partnerships built 
around three priority areas: the prevention of racist violence and juvenile delinquency; 
the development of methods to monitor racist incidents by several agencies, and the 
promotion of responsible citizenship and local democracy in multicultural societies. 
Community action programmes, particularly in the field of education and youth 
18 
(Leonardo, Socrates, Youth for Europe III), information and culture (Media II) also 
contribute to the fight against intolerance in all its forms. In December 1995 the 
Commission adopted a communication on racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism, 
accompanied by a proposal to the Council that 1997 be declared "European Year against 
racism". The text is intended to coordinate the Commission's activities in this field and 
to describe the work that lies ahead. 
1.3.4 - Strengthening non governmental organizations, associations and local 
groups 
Partnership with the various organizations of civil society, and in particular NGOs, 
associations and local groups upholding human rights, is a key element in ensuring the 
success of operations supported by the European Community in this field. The NGO's 
role in implementing initiatives to promote civil and political rights as well as economic, 
social and cultural rights has increased gradually and has extended to new fields of action 
such as the defence of the rights of vulnerable groups, advocacy of democratic freedoms 
and support for the electoral process. Substantial support is also given for the creation 
and consolidation of NGOs as essential components of a pluralist and democratic civil 
society. 
A large proportion of all operations funded from the Community budget in the field 
of human rights and democratization involve non-governmental organizations through 
direct support or via the financing of projects, the implementation of which is entrusted 
to them and which are in line with their priorities and with those of the European Union. 
In view of the NGOs' decisive role in the democratization of society and in the process 
of social and economic development, a substantial share of available resources is devoted 
to the reinforcement and consolidation of NGOs and other components of civil society. 
This consists primarily in developing the their structures, organization and operational 
capacity through direct support or by means of training activities adapted to their needs 
and priorities. Original formulas have been developed, as in the case of a project to 
establish a "Centre for Non-Governmental Development" in Croatia, responsible for 
enhancing NGOs' know-how through the provision of training, information and support 
for their work. Thus, the non-governmental sector is able to found its legitimacy within 
society on the quality of its action and become self-reliant having acquired its own 
training, communication and fund-raising structures. 
In granting its support to NGOs and to civil society at large, the Community seeks 
to achieve continuity. Substantial support was therefore granted towards the 
establishment of a network of Chilean organizations which had already received 
Community grants in the past. The project was specifically intended to enhance the 
expertise of those in charge of the network in the practice of democracy. A major 
programme to provide support for the development of civil society carried out in the Arab 
world and aimed at improving the NGOs' capacity for action, in particular through 
training activities, is the second stage of an initiative geared to the long term. The NGOs 
specific characteristics which cannot be used to full advantage where only one method 
of operation is used, have led to the development of formulae which allow for significant 
flexibility in the way NGO needs are met. Thus Community support has enabled a 
special fund to be set up to assist in the implementation of micro-projects intended to 
promote the observance of human rights. 
19 
Support for the democratization of civil society also applies to socio-economic 
structures, the role of which is paramount in promoting the democratic development of 
the countries concerned. Under the Phare-democracy and Tacis-democracy programmes, 
the Slovenian and Russian Chambers of Commerce benefitted from a reorganization 
programme which included technical assistance, training courses and the development of 
their activities, in particular through seminars on democracy and the market economy. A 
number of projects, in particular in the Baltic States, Slovenia, Romania, Russia, 
Mongolia and former Yugoslavia, focus on trade unions, primarily with the aim of 
strengthening their structures and raising awareness of their responsibilities in a society 
where democracy and market economy prevail. 
Funds were allocated to the reinforcement of institutional agencies at local and 
national level which are committed to the promotion and observance of human rights and 
democratic principles or hold a specific responsibility in this field This was the case 
specifically in Latin America, where numerous projects aim to provide support for local 
institutions with specific responsibilities in the administration of justice. The desire to 
bring the action as close to the citizens, their concerns and aspirations as possible inspired 
a project undertaken in Costa Rica combining public-awareness and information 
campaigns on human rights with the consolidation of networks set up to defend the 
citizens and enable their participation in the various aspects of local life. The same 
approach is at the basis of a programme for Central America which, inter alia, strives to 
tap NGOs' experience in organizing the work of the new civil service departments. 
Support for non-governmental organizations spans a number of different sectors. It 
is extended to organizations looking after specific social groups as well as to associations 
and groups focusing on specific topics. In the run up to the World Women's Conference, 
substantial support* was granted for the preparation and participation of NGOs and 
women's associations in that event, to the success of which their contribution was 
essential. Both European organizations and those based in Latin America and in Lomé 
IV countries received financial support and benefited from initiatives intended for the 
most part to encourage the setting up of women's networks, associations and 
organizations, such as the creation of a network of women with local responsibilities in 
Chile or the development of the activities of a network of Russian and Czech women's 
organizations. Youth organizations also attracted Community support under programmes 
centred on civic education and public awareness of topics related to democratic 
participation (Central and Eastern Europe, Georgia). Other projects involved 
organizations to help the disabled (Slovakia). Under the Phare-democracy and 
Tacis-democracy programmes, a substantial contribution was granted to environmental 
NGOs. 
The strengthening of the capabilities of NGOs and other groupings of civil society 
calls primarily for projects designed to develop their activities. This means initiatives 
capable of fostering the NGOs' educational role (in Estonia and Latvia) by enhancing their 
staffs qualifications and expertise on topics related to the democratic process and by 
encouraging the sharing of experience and contacts across national borders. Activities 
organized under the Phare-democracy and Tacis-democracy programmes have included 
exchanges and visits to EU Member States. One such project aimed at strengthening 
local structures in Poland through study visits to similar organizations in Spain, while 
20 
another focused on the development of non-governmental educational structures in Estonia 
and Latvia through a wide range of activities which included study visits to various 
Member States of the Union. 
It is equally essential that NGOs and other groupings of civil society develop positive 
relations with national and local authorities. The emphasis is on fostering cooperation 
between the political representatives and such groupings. The projects receiving support 
achieved synergies in the pursuit of common objectives. This was the case for initiatives 
carried out in Latin America and dealing with justice, the fight against impunity and the 
civil service at large. It was also one of the guiding principles of the initiatives supported 
under the Phare-democracy and Tacis-democracy programmes: training courses on topics 
of common interest linking social reform and democratic process and bringing together 
representatives of the public sector and senior personnel from NGOs and associations; 
training and popularization courses covering relations between NGOs and the public 
sector in a democratic context. This kind of initiative goes hand in hand with projects 
which contribute to the NGOs' involvement in the legislative process, either in relation 
to their fields of activity or to the legislative aspects pertaining to their status and the 
conditions of their existence (Estonia and Mongolia in particular). Other measures, as in 
the case of a pilot scheme carried out in Russia, aim at strengthening the NGOs' capacity 
to develop partnerships with the local authorities, particularly where there is no tradition 
of local government. 
Recognition of how important the NGO's contribution is in promoting human rights 
and democratic principles has resulted in substantial support being granted to NGOs 
working in the various international fora. This was the case in particular for all the 
initiatives taken to help NGOs and women's associations prepare for the Beijing 
Conference, but also for specific projects to coordinate and assist NGOs' representatives 
called to bear witness before UN bodies. A similar project sought to develop training, 
monitoring and awareness-raising activities so as to boost the involvement of the 
non-governmental sector in the work of the various institutions of the OSCE 
(Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe). 
1.4 Support for confidence-building measures to restore peace 
The international community is increasingly aware of the impact of human rights on 
peace and on international and regional security as well as on the overall situation of a 
country, on its political stability and on its social and economic development. This 
awareness is accompanied by growing interest for the prevention aspect of initiatives to 
promote observance of human rights and democratic principles. At the same time, the 
desire to take action as early as possible to achieve long-term results has led to initiatives 
which combine specific support for the peace process with measures to promote values 
such as tolerance, conciliation and mutual respect likely to bring about a climate 
conducive to peace. 
1.4.1 - Conflict prevention 
Prevention is not a new idea and any policy to promote human rights must of 
necessity include this aspect. However, extensive discussions have led to the 
development of a comprehensive and multidimensional approach (human rights, 
21 
development, environment) and to fresh strategies being identified. The original 
initiatives described below are a few examples. 
Numerous projects receiving Community support include aspects relating to the 
acquisition of conciliation and conflict resolution techniques. They are also characterized 
by the importance they attach to the links between the promotion of human rights, 
community education and the fostering of peace-related issues. A project undertaken in 
Hungary which comprises a wide range of training activities on topics concerning local 
government, lays particular emphasis on the pursuit of consensus, collective bargaining 
practices and the management of social conflicts. In the same spirit, an initiative 
receiving support in Nicaragua seeks to promote consensus at national level and various 
forms of solidarity at community level, in particular by encouraging experience sharing 
in economic, social and political life. As part of a programme to harness civil society's 
resources to the consolidation of democracy in Peru, three aspects have been given 
priority: administration of justice and democracy; civil defence in a democracy and 
citizens' participation in public life. The educational component was predominant in a 
project covering several cities of Kazakhstan and comprising training and information 
activities in the field of conflict resolution and crisis management. The initiative, which 
provides for the opening of a "Centre on Peace-building and Conflict resolution" in 
Almaty, also includes training periods, seminars and round tables which aim to stimulate 
the non-governmental sector. 
On-going debate on the preventive dimension of initiatives to promote peace and 
human rights has resulted in Community support being granted to projects proposing 
innovative action packages. Thus the development of capacities in conflict-resolution, 
early warning and preventive diplomacy is the core of a multiregional project aimed at 
regional agencies and organizations to enable them to settle conflicts before they 
degenerate into violence. Since in a crisis or after the alarm has been raised, immediate 
reaction is fundamental, an original project proposes a number of measures (such as 
evaluation missions and special envoys), enabling action to be taken before the conflicts 
escalate. 
Specific initiatives to support the peace process also received Community funding. 
They tend to be characterized by a strong educational component: programmes covering 
peace, reconciliation and democracy education in Nicaragua and El Salvador, national 
workshops providing civic education and popularizing the Lusaka peace protocol in 
Angola; training periods in community and social work in relation to human rights for 
Palestinians of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank ("peace trainees"); training for NGOs 
and institutions involved in the peace process in Guatemala. 
New methods have been developed applicable in situations of serious and persistent 
violations of human rights. Thus, the European Community lent its support to a mission 
of human rights observers sent to Rwanda to follow up the fact-finding mission of 
March 1995 and extended until 15 January 1996. The initiative sought to introduce an 
element of impartiality in a situation of serious and persistent violations of basic human 
rights, and aimed to ease tensions and to encourage, wherever possible, the return of 
refugees. It was carried out under the aegis of the UN High Commissioner for human 
rights within the framework of the UN mission, in conjunction with the UN Centre for 
Human Rights in Geneva. Chapter B7-52 also helped fund five observers sent to Burundi 
22 
with the task of contributing to the restoration of a climate of confidence and safety 
among the population by assisting the UN rapporteur on human rights and designing and 
carrying out human rights education programmes. Similarly, by way of contribution to 
the implementation of the Council's common position adopted in October 1995, an action 
plan implemented in Angola includes a human rights observer mission within the 
framework of the UN verification mission (UNAVEM III). 
1.4.2 - Support for measures to bring to justice the perpetrators of serious 
violations of humanitarian law and human rights 
Prevention may take on a repressive flavour, especially in situations where the 
impunity of the perpetrators of serious violations perpetuates a climate of insecurity which 
is conducive to renewed violence. The dire consequences of such a state of affairs have 
led in particular to the setting up of special Tribunals for former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, 
called upon to try the perpetrators of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian 
law. This represents a most significant innovation in international law and has enjoyed 
active support from the European Union and from the Commission's specific initiatives 
intended to assist the Tribunals in starting up their work. The Community contribution 
to the work of the two special Tribunals has made it possible to entrust specific 
supporting activities, viz: protection and support for the victims who come to testify; 
provision of 15 legal counsels; public awareness of the Court's role; collection of new 
evidence; opening of documentation centres and establishment of a database, technical 
monitoring of the Tribunal activities, provision of video-conferencing facility, etc. to 
specialist NGOs. To finance the various activities funds totalling ECU 3.1 million have 
been committed. 
At the instigation of the European Parliament, a new budget heading endowed with 
ECU 300 000 was introduced in 1995 to provide specific backing to non-governmental 
organizations working towards the establishment of a permanent international criminal 
court. The activities receiving support are contributing to the development of a European 
position on the issue. This has resulted in information and public awareness campaigns 
and initiatives aimed at promoting coordination and cooperation among NGOs, 
governments, the special Tribunals and the relevant UN agencies in the start-up phase. 
1.4.3 - Support for national efforts to encourage subordination of the armed forces 
to the civil authorities 
Under Chapter B7-52 the efforts of Latin-American countries to bring security and 
armed forces under the effective control of the civil authorities and encourage the 
separation of their roles in a democratic state. Since this objective is best attained 
through training, Community support went to a number of training activities for the armed 
forces in Central America, the Andean region, Paraguay and Peru focusing on human 
rights and the rule of law. Financial and technical assistance was also provided for 
similar activities for the benefit of the national police force in El Salvador. 
Special attention has been given to training initiatives for demobilized military, such 
as the project launched in Nicaragua to promote reconciliation and social reintegration of 
demobilized soldiers through training activities focusing on peace and conflict resolution. 
Initiatives supported under the Phare-democracy programme have led to information 
23 
and awareness-raising activities aimed at encouraging discussion on international 
security-related issues and on relations between armed forces and civil authorities. One 
such initiative was launched in Bulgaria and was targeted at various agents in civil 
society with a view to familiarizing them with international security concepts. Another 
project in Estonia is aimed at strengthening the national organizations concerned with 
relations between armed forces and civil authorities. This project comprises 
awareness-raising, information, a relevant survey of public opinion and a comparative 
study of relations between the military and the civil authorities in Latvia and Lithuania. 
1.5 - Initiatives for target groups 
1.5.1- Groups needing specific protection 
(a) Children 
Children rights are an integral part of human rights. Since children require specific 
protection, the international body of law for the protection of human rights was 
supplemented with a specific instrument protecting the rights of the child and his 
well-being. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which entered into force on 
2 September 1990 and has already been ratified by a large number of countries, covers 
the civil rights and individual freedoms of children, their economic, social and cultural 
rights as well as their right to specific protection against all forms of violence. 
Education is the focal point of initiatives to help children and a large proportion of 
projects having attracted Community support gives priority to educational and training 
activities. Fighting at the earliest possible stage the prejudices which perpetuate 
discriminations, violence and intolerance is a long-term task, but it is the only way of 
producing durable and far-reaching results throughout society. This is why Chapter 
B7-52 gives priority to projects to teach civic education and democratic values, such as 
respect for others, participation and pluralism, to voung people. With the aim of 
developing a culture where peace and tolerance have pride of place in Peru, priority is 
given to human rights education and the practice of democracy in schools. An original 
initiative, supported under the Tacis-democracy programme, focuses in particular on the 
teaching of history in Russia, contributing to the recent debate on the need to modernize 
history teaching methods. A pilot scheme in Lithuania follows a similar approach: by 
producing educational material and providing specific training for secondary school 
teachers, it seeks to encourage the pupils' active participation in the life of the city. 
Similarly, the main objective of a civic education programme being run in 250 primary 
and secondary schools in Poland is to raise the children's awareness of democracy and 
its fundamental principles. In Turkey a training programme is addressed to some 1200 
teachers covering 12 provinces. The importance attached to education is also reflected 
in projects aimed at introducing the teaching of human rights and democracy in school 
curricula (Panama, Honduras, Peru) or at providing the ministries concerned with the 
necessary technical assistance for drawing up the syllabuses (Tunisia). Some projects 
stress the significance of values such as participation and solidarity, and in particular the 
importance of voluntary work in the social field. 
Awareness of the fact that children are subjected to violence in all its forms has 
prompted numerous initiatives throughout the world. In India a programme to raise 
public awareness of child labour, whose long-term objective is to eliminate the problem, 
24 
received Community support. A second phase of the programme will propose alternatives 
to those who employ children. In order to remedy a situation where illiteracy and lack 
of legal protection prevail, field work in Haiti is developing a range of activities aimed 
at the social reintegration of street children (promoting literacy, putting the children back 
in school, raising awareness in the families, etc). Other initiatives in Peru cater for all 
the needs - legal, psycho-social and medical - of minors charged with criminal offences 
or victims of torture or other abuse. This work is supplemented by public-awareness and 
information campaigns. In Argentina Community support was granted to a specific 
initiative intended to provide backing for legal actions and inquiries to obtain subsidies 
for the families of children "disappeared" for political reasons. An additional measure, 
also in Argentina, provides assistance with medical, legal, psychological, educational and 
social problems to 140 adolescents from families which have been the victims of 
repression under the military dictatorship. A similar approach is behind a project in 
Slovenia which is aimed at the children of Bosnia. Another project launched in Croatia 
is trying group therapy on two groups of 6-12 year olds; should this prove successful, 
the method could be applied more widely. Specific projects for children refugees in 
camps in former Yugoslavia aimed at giving publicity to the evidence brought by children 
also enjoyed Community support. 
Community funds contributed to the organization of a conference bringing together 
organizations which are very active in providing assistance for children victims of 
violence. The conference led to a number of recommendations to being made with a 
view to developing know-how in this field, coordinating the activities of the relevant 
bodies and establishing operational procedures to ensure rapid response in case of danger. 
Recognition of the importance of forging links between governments and NGOs with 
regard to the protection of children caught in armed conflicts in Africa resulted in an 
initiative comprising a series of regional meetings as well as evaluation missions leading 
to the organization of a world conference. More specifically, a contribution was made 
to the organization of an international conference for magistrates held in Northern Ireland 
and aimed at providing them with a better understanding of the problems encountered by 
young people faced with situations of extreme violence. Community financing also 
allowed the participation of representatives from Asian, Latin American and African 
NGOs in the first international conference on the sexual and commercial exploitation of 
children held in Sweden in August 1996. 
Since the Convention on the Rights of the Child is the reference for all the projects 
qualifying for Community support, it is fitting to mention an original project which, from 
specific cases, aims to establish indicators to measure the extent to which the Convention 
has been honoured. 
(b) National minorities 
The issue of minorities is now one of the international community's foremost 
concerns. In 1994 the Union responded to an issue that had been acquiring increasing 
urgency since the start of the decade by launching a particularly ambitious diplomatic 
initiative, which culminated in March 1995 with the signing of a Stability Pact to be 
implemented by the OSCE. A political declaration with a list of about a hundred bilateral 
agreements, the Pact's preventive measures are designed to strengthen Europe's stability 
by promoting neighbourly relations on such issues as borders and minorities. Two 
25 
regional round tables, one for the Baltic and the other for the rest of Central and Eastern 
Europe, have produced agreements vital to ensuring legal situation between governments 
on the subject of minorities is clear. The flanking measures called for by this initiative 
have received considerable financing backing under the Phare and Phare-Democracy 
programmes. 
One of the main shortcomings identified when looking at the issue of minorities in 
Central and Eastern Europe is a lack of dialogue between government structures and the 
representatives of minorities and between the relevant government agencies in different 
countries of the region. With that in mind, backing is being provided under the Phare-
Democracy programme for a joint scheme with the Council of Europe aimed at 
establishing institutional ties between the authorities responsible for minorities in the 
different countries of the region. The core activity is to build up structured working 
relationships between the different government agencies involved through training, study 
visits and technical assistance. 
Other projects in the field of legal assistance are helping harmonize laws on religion 
in Bulgaria, Romania and Albania in order to bring them into line with the European 
Convention on Human Rights. A scheme under way in former Yugoslavia is offering 
direct legal aid to victims of ethnic discrimination, helping promote their rights and 
getting the different communities to talk to each other. Protecting minorities also 
involves schemes aimed at familiarizing the groups concerned with their rights and 
various aspects of their situation. Such schemes tie in with specific activities aimed at 
fostering links between existing networks in the interests of the more effective protection 
and promotion of minority rights. 
(c) Indigenous peoples 
In line with the demands of the European Parliament and the conclusions of the 1992 
World Conference in Rio, special attention is being paid to the lot of indigenous peoples, 
notably as part of an approach combining their rights with concern for the environment. 
Funding has been provided for innovative practical projects to help them organize, 
channel their demands and enhance the international impact of those demands, especially 
in the United Nations. Human rights workshops, seminars and programmes have also 
been set up for them. 
(d) Refugees and displaced persons 
According to recent estimates, there are in the world today about 20 million refugees 
and 24 million people uprooted in their own countries. The European Union is a 
substantial contributor to the work of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), 
in particular through ECHO, the humanitarian aid office set up by the European 
Community in 1992. The partnership formed between the UNHCR and the Community 
in December 1993 has increased overall effectiveness in such areas as prevention, 
emergency aid, protection, assistance and the promotion of lasting solutions. A total of 
ECU 345 million in Community budget resources has been allocated for schemes to help 
the world's refugees and displaced persons. 
Within the Union funding has been focused on training programmes. One example 
26 
is a contribution towards the funding of training for Greek judges, police officers and 
civil servants involved in handling and processing asylum seekers. Another project seeks 
to foster Europe-wide coordination of activities to help young refugees fleeing warzones 
to escape forced conscription into their country's army. Assistance for refugees is also 
at the heart of a project covering Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, which is geared to 
supporting and coordinating the activities of NGOs working with refugees in the region. 
A similar project is aimed at providing 600 Spanish and Latin American organizations 
working in the refugee field with access to documentation on different aspects relating, 
to the predicament and protection of refugees. The Community is also backing a scheme 
in Germany to survey and report on prison conditions, with a particular emphasis on the 
plight of asylum seekers awaiting deportation. 
Under the fourth Lomé Convention, seven countries (Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, 
Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda) have received a total of ECU 13 580 000 for 
measures to help refugees, returnees and displaced persons. 
The Community budget also allows funding to be provided for the creation and 
operation of specialized centres in Member States to provide medical, welfare and 
psychological assistance to refugees and asylum seekers, most of them from developing 
countries, who have suffered torture or other forms of abuse. 
(e) Prisoners 
Funding is provided for special projects to help prisoners, a topic close to the heart 
of Parliament. Education schemes for prisoners pursue practical objectives relating to 
their reintegration into society. In Russia, education and training are central to a 
particularly ambitious project, the components of which include education and information 
services for prisoners, training for prison staff and the formation of a network of lawyers 
to represent prisoners and push for reforms etc. With a view to raising public awareness, 
another project seeks to publish as widely as possible first-hand reports on prison 
conditions. Chapter B7-52 also helps fund a range of activities aimed at promoting 
prisoners' rights in Africa. The key vectors for this are education and raising public 
awareness, of which schemes to help NGOs operating in crises and campaigns to get the 
competent African authorities to ratify international conventions on human rights are a 
natural extension. Other projects, e.g. a project in Palestine, involve legal assistance to 
prisoners regarding both their defence and the conditions in which they are held. 
(f) Victims of torture 
The final document of the World Conference on Human Rights, which took place in 
Vienna in June 1993, describes torture as the worst violation of human dignity. 
Parliament endorsed this view by creating a special budget heading for the mental, 
physical and social rehabilitation of victims of torture. In 1995 ECU 5.5 million was 
earmarked for this purpose, enabling specialist organizations to assist local organizations 
with training and start-up help for activities including training, legal advice, investigation 
and welfare assistance. Other schemes involve education, research and documentation. 
Support also goes to war victims, as in former Yugoslavia, where activities have been 
stepped up this year. 
27 
1.5.2 - Priority groups for protection and aw areness-raising schem es 
(a) Women 
Women are at once both a vulnerable group and a group with a key role in society. 
Their fundamental rights are reaffirmed in the Vienna document as being an integral, 
inalienable and inseparable part of universal human rights, and their role is recognized 
and set out in the declaration and the platform for action adopted at the World Conference 
held in Peking in September 1995. The international community has reiterated the need 
for women to participate fully and equally in civil, political, economic, social and cultural 
life, and to become more involved in decision-making in all these areas. 
The Community budget contributed almost ECU 2 million to help women's 
organizations and NGOs from the developing countries and central and eastern Europe 
prepare and take part in all stages of the Peking conference and the NGO forum that took 
place on its fringes. Fifty representatives of Latin American and Caribbean women's 
organizations were thereby given the chance to take part in the conference and the NGO 
forum. This support was accompanied by training activities for representatives of NGOs 
and the organization of preparatory conferences and seminars, the conclusions of which 
provided material for the conference. The first schemes directly concerning the 
implementation of the conference's results have also been launched, e.g. a training 
programme to make organizations defending women's rights in Kenya, Zambia and 
Tanzania aware of the operational priorities arising from the Peking Conference. 
From the standpoint of prevention and protection, education plays a crucial part in 
action on behalf of women. Schemes have been targeted on groups of disadvantaged 
women, such as one to train displaced or marginalized women in Colombia and make 
them aware of their rights. Defending women's rights is also the crux of an scheme 
targeting women detained in Mexican rehabilitation centres. A project carried out as part 
of the Phare-democracy programme offers women in Poland and Albania training courses 
and seminars on specific topics, including family planning, the media, democratic practice 
and women's rights). Violence against women lies at the centre of a project in Turkey, 
which involves disseminating information on the different forms such violence can take 
and on the means of defence available. An original project under way in El Salvador 
employs a different approach: there members of the police and armed forces are trained 
to counter and deal with violence against women. Chapter B7-52 also provides support 
for special medical, psychological and welfare schemes to help women victims of sexual 
violence, particularly in former Yugoslavia. A project in Turkey combines therapy with 
legal assistance and public information activities. 
Some schemes are aimed at making civil society and human rights organizations more 
aware of violence against women. With prevention in mind, a programme in Poland and 
the Czech Republic bolsters the efforts of local NGOs through the organization of press 
campaigns and publicity on trafficking in women and information and assistance for 
potential victims. A scheme in the Caribbean primarily involves training human rights 
organizations to take account of women's equality in the broader context of protecting 
fundamental rights. 
Many projects exist to counter discrimination against women and promote their 
28 
participation in political, social and economic life. In Morocco there is a project to 
provide basic education as part of efforts to tackle the illiteracy that affects almost 80% 
of Moroccans. A project in India provides a special training programme to strengthen 
women's involvement in political decision-making both as voters and elected 
representatives. In Chile a project has brought together 1600 women holding local 
political office for a discussion on the discrimination they experience as political 
representatives. Under the Phare- and Tacis-democracy programmes young women are 
receiving education and special training to stimulate women's participation in the 
democratization process. Another project in Poland is designed to develop women's 
ability to take part in economic life and strengthen forms of solidarity via the creation of 
women's networks and the activities of women's movements and associations. In Slovenia 
there is a training programme for a group of women wishing to represent women's 
interests in the workplace and in trade unions, who will in their turn visit firms to educate 
other women in these issues. The Tuzla women's association has received Community 
funding for its efforts to promote the social, economic, political and cultural rights of 
women in Bosnia-Herzegovina. 
Women are often among the first victims of armed conflict: keeping or restoring 
peace is a precondition for their civil, political and social emancipation. Their 
contribution to peace is no less vital: the twin objectives of peace and women's 
emancipation are served by a training and awareness programme for Israeli and 
Palestinian women. 
The Community budget also provides for funding of equal opportunities activities in 
Member States. The execution of the third equal opportunities programme (1991-95) 
covers not only the application and development of legislation but the integration of 
women in the workplace and the improvement of their social status. Considerable 
backing is also given to the European Women's Lobby, the Union's largest body 
coordinating the activities of national and European women's NGOs, which has become 
a crucial partner in Community activities in this field. ECU 200 000 was granted to 
European NGOs proposing a clear programme of activities for the NGO forum on the 
fringes of the Peking Conference, which also received Community funding for the 
publication of its daily newspaper. 
(b) Journalists and other media professionals 
Journalists and other media professionals have a special role in the democratization 
process. Many projects have been carried out to develop their professional skills, instil 
professional ethics, organize the profession, improve their social status etc. At the same 
time there have been specific activities concerning their role in the electoral process and 
their part in the promotion of tolerance, peace and reconciliation (see 1.3.1). 
(c) Magistrates, lawyers and court and prison staff 
Schemes targeted at magistrates, lawyers and other court staff account for a major 
part of the support given to the strengthening or restructuring of judicial systems. These 
schemes are geared to the specific needs and legal traditions of the countries concerned. 
The rebuilding of the judicial apparatus calls for measures to provide basic training to 
meet the most pressing needs. The Community's support also covers original measures 
29 
5 aimed at underpinning or stimulating the modernization of judiciaries. Educating 
magistrates and lawyers in specific areas (juvenile delinquency, violation of laws 
governing the press etc.) is also vital (see 1.2.2). 
(d) The armv. police and security forces 
The army, police and security forces play a vital role in society, particularly where 
the freedom of the individual is concerned. This is why there is a need to increase their 
awareness of fundamental rights through special schemes that take account of the nature 
of their work. The Community has been funding an innovative scheme since 1992; the 
scheme in question is a multiannual human rights programme in Central America, which 
gives priority to projects aimed at educating and increasing the awareness of members of 
the police, armed forces, judiciary and prison services. What is innovative about the 
scheme is that it cements a close partnership in the assessment of the human rights 
situation and special projects concerning legal aid and support for the judiciary. In 1995 
a total of ECU 1 559 000 was granted for nine projects under Chapter B7-52. Such 
activities have been extended to the countries of South America. 
II. GEOGRAPHICAL APPROACH 
The geographical breakdown of human rights activities is mainly, though not 
exclusively,5 based on the structure of Chapter B7-52. The data below refers back to the 
more detailed descriptions given in the thematic section. 
2.1 Developing countries (except Latin America) 
a) ACP Countries 
The largest group of operations relating to the exercise of government concern 
electoral assistance and strengthening the rule of law. 
Almost 22% of the resources available under heading B7-522 have been spent on 
electoral assistance, which included operations in Haiti, Ghana and Zaire. Contributions 
have taken the form of technical assistance, training for deputies and the funding of 
equipment along with direct participation in the electoral processes. 
Strengthening the rule of law accounted for about a third of the grants made in 1995: 
schemes financed included the reconstruction and consolidation of the judicial systems 
in Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Haiti, missions by human rights observers to Rwanda, 
Burundi and Angola and backing for institutional reforms and operations aimed at making 
the prison system more humane. Rwanda received special attention: technical assistance 
for the reconstruction of the judicial system, support for the special tribunal and funding 
for a human rights observer mission. 
In the case of operations aimed at strengthening civil society, priority was given to 
Given that the Chapter's two thematic guidelines impose no geographical limits on the 
measures funded. 
30 
increasing awareness of education in human rights. The situation of women and the 
education of children were the subject of many schemes. Among the support provided 
for the most vulnerable groups, special attention was given to street children in Haiti. 
Some 125 NGOs received Community funding to help them prepare and take part in 
the different stages of the Peking Conference and the NGO forum, and in the first world 
conference on the sexual exploitation of children, which was held in Stockholm. 
Support for an independent, pluralist and responsible press accounted for 16% of 
financial commitments under heading B7-522. An operation to set up a warning network 
for dealing with violations of the freedom of the press warrants a special mention because 
of its innovative and experimental nature. 
Almost 3% of the resources available were spent on innovative schemes in the area 
of conflict prevention and settlement, including the setting-up of a special rapid-response 
fund for use in emergencies and a series of training programmes on methods for settling 
conflicts. 
Projects to help victims of torture have also received Community funding. The bulk 
of the resources went to specialized centres in the Union providing medical, psychological 
and welfare services to refugees or asylum seekers who have suffered torture or other 
forms of abuse in their country of origin. Other projects aimed at helping set up and fund 
the operation of such centres in the countries concerned, notably by means of special 
training sessions (e.g. in Kenya and Haiti). 
b) The policy of promoting human rights in the Maghreb under Chapter B7-52 is still 
at a very early stage. A large-scale programme covering the entire region and beyond is 
aimed at strengthening civil society by means of training and information activities 
targeted on developing the know-how and skills of NGOs in the Arab world. This 
programme constitutes the second stage of a scheme launched last year. Strengthening 
civil society also lies at the root of a scheme to make education authorities aware of the 
need to incorporate human rights issues into primary and secondary school textbooks. 
This was accompanied by a conference on the subject of teaching human rights, technical 
assistance for the revision,of textbooks and a special training programme for teachers. 
Also in the field of education, a programme in Morocco combines measures to combat 
female illiteracy with components designed to make them aware of their rights and 
training. In Algeria Community funding has also helped produce and distribute a weekly 
magazine focusing on the fundamental issues confronting the country's society and 
political system. Note also the support provided for an innovative scheme in Tunisia, 
which brings together experts from the region and elsewhere to debate the issue of the 
death penalty in Islamic countries. 
c) The Community also backed projects in the Middle East It helped fund 
accompanying measures and preparations for the electoral process. This included the 
setting-up of a computerized electoral register and the presence of media monitors to 
gauge the degree of independence of the media in the run up to and during the elections. 
The sensitive issue of prison conditions was the subject of a scheme to provide legal 
assistance on various issues relating to the basic rights of Palestinian prisoners. Other 
schemes are specifically aimed at developing a climate of peace and reconciliation in the 
31 
two communities, involving innovative measures to stimulate dialogue and mutual 
understanding (e.g. the peace trainees programme, in which Palestinian and Israeli women 
were trained together). 
d) Most of the projects funded in Asia concern women and children. In India training 
and assistance activities were financed to increase the involvement of women in the 
democratic decision-making process - both as electors and as elected representatives. 
Support was also provided for a public education campaign on child labour in India. The 
next stage of this scheme, the ultimate aim of which is the abolition of child labour, is 
- for reasons of realism - aimed at offering those employing children alternative solutions. 
In accordance with Parliament's wish to promote human rights in countries about to 
undergo a change of sovereignty,6 funding was granted for the implementation in 
Hong Kong of projects involving human rights education and information. These 
innovative measures consist primarily of the development of a human rights database and 
interactive educational software on the issue. Another project consists of reinforcing and 
popularizing human rights through the publication and distribution of documentation in 
Chinese and the constitution of suitable teaching materials. 
Mention must also be made of the support given to the preparation of the fourth 
World Conference on Women, which took place in Peking in September 1995, support 
which took the form of back-up to help NGOs and women's associations from all over 
the world contribute and take an active part in the conference and the accompanying 
NGO forum. 
2.2 Latin America 
Support for democratization and human rights in Latin America is aimed at assisting 
the Latin American countries' efforts to introduce and consolidate the rule of law and 
promote human rights. The general objectives of Community aid are as follows: 
* to foster peace in countries where there is still conflict; 
* to bring about a fundamental change to make civil society more structured, better 
informed, more responsible, more aware of its rights and responsibilities, more 
vigilant and more demanding; 
* to encourage complementarity between government and civil society in a climate 
of dialogue and negotiation, the aim being to overcome the antagonisms that 
have dominated the past decades; 
* to bring about a shift away from a culture of violence and towards one of peace, 
away from a culture of confrontation and towards one of negotiation. 
These objectives inform operations financed under the budget heading for 
democratization and human rights in Latin America, set up at the instigation of Parliament 
in 1990. They were initially confined to Central America and Chile, but now extend 
through the whole of South America. In the period 1990-95 a total of ECU 72 million 
was spent on 328 projects. 
Budget remark on heading B7-5240 concerning grants for certain activities pursuing 
human rights objectives. 
32 
In 1995 77 projects received Community funding. The bulk went to Latin American 
institutions, half of them governmental and half non-governmental, both national and 
regional, and international organizations conducting human rights activities in the region.7 
NGOs have not been the sole beneficiaries of Community support: funding has been 
provided for other schemes proposed by entities of civil society (local government, 
cooperatives, diverse associations etc.). Support has also been given to new prosecution 
services in Guatemala and Honduras and a series of operations to combat immunity from 
prosecution, back penal reform, foster equal access to justice for all, train judges and 
court staff and help set up bodies to supervise the judiciary. At continental level, the 
Inter-American Court of Human Rights has received Community aid, as have schemes 
aimed at developing legal assistance for organizations having recourse to the Inter-
American system for the protection of human rights. A total of ECU 2 195 500 was 
spent on 12 operations. Other operations included training and improving conditions in 
both adult and juvenile detention centres in Venezuela and Guatemala. 
One approach has been to support the efforts of Latin American governments to bring 
the security and armed forces under effective civilian control and to separate the roles of 
these institutions in a democratic state. The Community has backed projects to train 
armed forces in Central America, the Andes, Paraguay and Peru in the field of human 
rights and the rule of law. Financial and technical assistance was also provided for 
similar schemes for El Salvador's police force. 
In 1995 the Community budget continued to back the development of the institution 
of human rights prosecutors in El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia and Costa Rica and its 
creation in Panama and Nicaragua. This support helps guarantee the institution's crucial 
independence and the decentralization needed to extend the scope of its activities. It also 
includes training for the institution's staff. 
The multiannual programme to promote human rights in Central America, which got 
under way in 1992, warrants special attention for the way it cements a partnership in the 
area of human rights and, more specifically, projects to provide legal assistance, support 
for the judiciary and training for target groups, among them members of the police and 
armed forces most involved in the consolidation.of democracy. 
Support for the electoral process has covered not only the conduct of specific 
elections but operations to educate young people in this act of citizenship. Funding has 
also been granted for the modernization of political parties to foster consultation and 
negotiation. 
Note also the specific Community support for projects in Chile and Argentina to 
provide medical and psychological care for victims of torture and other forms of 
inhumane and degrading treatment. These activities are carried out in specialized centres 
and also include research into the treatment of victims and the psychosocial effects of 
torture on individuals and society as a whole. 
Some Caribbean countries, in particular Haiti, are covered by other budget headings, in 
particular B7-522. 
33 
2.3 Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and 
Mongolia 
The Democracy programme launched in 1992 on a pilot basis under the Phare 
programme is aimed at encouraging the consolidation of democratic societies governed 
by the fundamental principles of the rule of law in Central and Eastern Europe. Extended 
to the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Mongolia under 
the Tacis programme in 1993, it focuses on: 
teaching politicians representing different parties (deputies and elected local and 
regional representatives) and parliamentary staff the rules and methods of parliamentary 
practice and organization; 
reinforcing NGOs and associations which, by their nature and specific activities, 
can make an ongoing contribution to the promotion of a pluralist democratic society; 
the transfer of specific know-how and technical skills relating to democratic 
practices and the rule of law to professional bodies and associations in the countries 
concerned. 
Strengthening civil society is central to the operations conducted in Central and 
Eastern Europe. Seen as a key to the democratization process, this area of activity has 
given rise to operations to educate the general public and target groups in civics, the 
promotion of forms of local democracy, measures to make government more transparent 
and the development of a social partnership between all the key players in society. Many 
schemes aimed at or involving chambers of commerce (Slovenia and Russia), trade 
unions, associations, social organizations link the democratization process and the 
transition to a market economy, underscoring aspects related to the common responsibility 
of all social forces, institutional and otherwise. An active partnership with NGOs permits 
the Community to make a practical contribution to pluralism and the establishment of 
genuine democratic citizenship. 
Many schemes pursued equal opportunities, particularly for women. The emphasis 
was on increasing their involvement in civil, social and political life through 
predominantly educational projects designed to promote their role, capacity to organize 
and integration into the social fabric. 
The issue of national minorities lay at the root of a variety of operations. Particular 
attention was accorded to fostering dialogue between the authorities and representatives 
of minorities in the interests of negotiation and conciliation. Stimulating cooperation 
networks at local and regional level is also important. The chief means employed are 
education, developing awareness and promoting methods for settling conflict. Legal 
assistance to ensure that new legislation dealing with minorities is consistent with the 
European Convention on Human Rights is likewise vital. 
The Community has also provided funding for projects to rehabilitate victims of 
torture and research and increase public awareness of issue in Slovenia, Albania, 
Romania and the Baltic states. 
2.4 Former Yugoslavia (except Slovenia) 
34 
Chapter B7-52 provided ECU 6.5 million towards the peace process and the 
promotion of human rights in the Former Yugoslav republics. 
Priority was accorded to supporting the media, primarily through the purchase of 
equipment and materials. The aim is to help maintain and consolidate independent media, 
which remain the only real forum for free expression in the region. It is also vital to 
provide access to reliable sources of information. This is backed up by training to 
improve the professional standards of journalists and other media staff. Other projects 
have focused on increasing awareness of the role of the media in society, their pluralizing 
function and their special responsibility in the democratic development of society and 
human rights. 
Another line of action has been to reinforce local associations and institutions and 
support local or external schemes to promote multiparty democracy. In particular this 
involves supporting practical schemes to bring communities together and to foster 
reconciliation and coexistence between different ethnic groups, including schemes 
concerning information and education on human rights and democratic practices. 
The Community budget provides aid for the victims of serious violations of human 
rights or humanitarian law. Such help consists primarily of support for schemes set up 
on the spot or in a Member State by bodies and institutions specializing in the 
psychological, physical and social treatment of severely traumatized people. Special 
attention has been accorded to women victims of sexual violence and children, who have 
been particularly seriously affected by the atrocities committed. Almost ECU 1.5 million 
has been spent on measures of this kind. 
2.5 Turkey 
There is a special budget heading for the promotion of human rights and 
strengthening the rule of law in Turkey. Most of the projects backed involve training and 
raising awareness. Targeted on court staff, lawyers and other legal professionals, they 
also provide for the development of practical teaching reflecting the realities on the 
ground. Associations being thin on the ground in Turkey, an effort has been made to 
reinforce Turkish NGOs, in particular by enabling them to take part in international 
human rights conferences and make study visits to similar organizations abroad. This 
support is combined with activities aimed at disseminating sound information on human 
rights and training primary schoolteachers. 
Community aid also goes to schemes aimed at providing psychosocial assistance to 
women victims of violence. This assistance is backed up by measures to increase public 
awareness of the issue. Another project involves training medical experts working in 
particularly difficult conditions, especially in south-eastern Anatolia. 
35 
B. PROCEDURAL ASPECTS OF THE FINANCING OF ACTIVITIES TO 
PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY 
The creation of Chapter B7-52 in 1994 at Parliament's initiative has helped to highlight 
the dimension human rights have assumed in Community policies since the entry into 
force of the Maastricht Treaty. Parliament wanted to ensure consistent and transparent 
management of expenditure on the promotion of human rights and democracy outside the 
Community. In 1995 the Chapter contained eight budget headings covering different 
subjects or geographical areas and the upwards trend in funding continued. 
The budget headings of Chapter B7-52 are subject to special provisions to ensure the 
coordination, transparency and effectiveness of initiatives. 
1. Coordination 
The inter-departmental Human Rights Coordinators Group was set up in 1991 to concert 
the efforts of the various Commission departments involved in the promotion of human 
rights and democracy within and without the Community. The Group has laid down 
guidelines and identified references and common criteria for selecting projects and 
harmonizing procedures under these headings. The budget implementing Regulation 
specifies that "proposals shall be drawn up on the basis of guidelines and criteria defined 
by the permanent inter-departmental Human Rights Coordination Group (No 52)" . The 
meetings of the Group are also a means for disseminating information about positions 
adopted by the Community in international regional forums. 
Administrators of these Chapter headings can consult each other in ad hoc working 
parties set up for each project once the opinion of the other departments concerned and, 
where applicable, the Delegation, has been obtained. Any project requires a Commission 
decision, prior to which there is a written procedure during which the agreement of those 
administrating budget headings in this Chapter, the Legal Service, DG XIX (Budget) and 
o 
DG XX (Financial Control) is obtained. 
2. Transparency 
There are a number of different reports each year on the use of these appropriations. This 
subject area is dealt with horizontally in specific reports on the implementation of 
operations to promote human rights and democratization (1992-93 and 1994) and on the 
implementation of the resolution of 28 November 1991 of the Council and the Member 
States meeting within the Council on human rights, democracy and development (1992, 
1993 and 1994). The General Report on the activities of the European Communities 
gives an overall picture of the implementation of budget headings. In addition, there are 
reports on the use of individual Chapter B7-52 headings. 
The Member of the Commission responsible for headings B7-5240 and B7-5270 reports 
on them to Parliament and to the relevant parliamentary committees. Parliament also gets 
Apart from the microprojects component of the Phare democracy programme, which is 
administered directly by the Delegations without a written procedure being required. 
36 
information via the Commission's answers to written and oral questions. 
The Commission has also made an effort to provide non-governmental organizations with 
more information on the sources of Community financing in this field, the main source 
of information being the "Digest of Community resources available for the financing of 
NGO activities". The number of NGO representatives visiting the Commission 
departments concerned to get the information they need is also rising every year. 
3. Effectiveness 
The effectiveness of efforts to promote human rights and democratization depend on the 
quality of the projects. It is also closely related to the establishment of an open and 
constructive partnership with international and regional organizations. 
* Identification of recipients and projects 
Recipients may by public institutions, international or regional organizations, NGOs or 
other types of voluntary association. Most budget headings do not exclude any category 
of recipient but those for Tacis and Phare place priority on cooperation between NGOs 
of the EU and the recipient countries. 
The two ways of selecting candidates - calls for proposals under the Phare- and 
Tacis-Democracy programmes and spontaneous applications for financing under other 
headings - remain broadly the same. 
More dialogue with applicants on the formulation of requests has helped identify projects 
that match the applicant's objectives with the priorities of the Community. This ongoing 
dialogue provides the Commission with the information needed to check in advance on 
the reliability of the applicant organizations and the feasibility of their proposed projects 
in terms of their capacity to carry them out. It also enables the Commission to become 
better acquainted with the NGOs and their constraints, needs and priorities thanks to the 
ever increasing number of visits of NGO representatives (not necessarily already in 
receipt of a grant) to the Commission departments concerned. This has led to a flexible 
form of partnership which does not depend on the status of the NGO as is the case with 
the UN and the Council of Europe. The procedure is not, however, satisfactory in terms 
of the visibility of Community aid. 
Selection through calls for proposals has the advantage of transparency and some degree 
of visibility. The drawback is a lack of flexibility which means that some of the funds 
are earmarked for ad hoc operations with objectives laid down by the Commission on the 
basis of EU political priorities and some for projects costing less than ECU 10 000, which 
are carried out under the supervision of the Delegation by local NGOs of the Phare 
recipient countries with no requirement to have a partner organization. 
The desire to become better acquainted with the reality on the ground so as to ensure that 
proposed operations are pertinent in the local context has inspired a pro-active approach 
April 1995 edition (VIII/222/95-EN). 
37 
and this has led to the first missions of independent experts with the job of identify new 
areas of activity for the Commission (examples being Ethiopia, Cambodia and Haiti). 
Such missions may involve evaluation of projects that have already been granted 
Community aid. Also worth noting are the preliminary operations with a view to 
electoral assistance, which are preparatory missions are sent at a very early stage to 
identify requirements and establish a plan of action. 
* Monitoring and evaluation of projects 
During implementation 
A special effort has been made to improve the monitoring of projects at all stages, mainly 
by carrying out ongoing evaluations based on checks on organizations in receipt 
Community grants. 
Independent consultants and agencies have been called in to evaluate certain groups of 
projects under some of these budget headings, and, via the delegations, carry out 
documentary and on-the-spot checks. Evaluation of the work of European centres 
specializing in the rehabilitation of torture victims required consultation of medical 
experts. The European Human Rights Foundation, which manages macroprojects under 
the Phare-democracy and Tacis-democracy programmes, has also been involved in 
monitoring project implementation. It is a particularly complex task in view of the 
partnership structure required by the Democracy programme and the cofinancing rules. 
Retrospective 
All recipients have to submit a report on work carried out and project expenditure before 
the project can be closed. The reports are considered with reference to the initial work 
plan, objectives and budget and taking account of a number of factors such as its cost-
effectiveness, multiplier effect and the visibility of Community aid. If any irregularities 
are found which the organization cannot account for, a mission may be sent by the 
Commission department concerned or Financial Control and/or the Court of Auditors. 
In May 1995 the German Development Institute published its final report on the 
"Evaluation of positive measures to promote human rights and democracy in developing 
countries". The aim of this exercise was to increase the impact of EU-financed operations 
concerning human rights and democracy. The report's recommendations and conclusions 
emphasized the following: 
the objectives set out in the applications for financing were as a rule achieved: the 
choice of contractors had been an important factor in ensuring the effectiveness 
of many projects and a good allocation of resources; 
the adoption of measures, both administrative (simplification of procedures, more 
in-house expertise, better coordination and harmonization of operations and the 
like) and strategic (more consistency, better choice of priorities for the local 
context and greater synergy by grouping projects, etc.) likely to increase the 
impact of operations. 
38 
* Relations with international and regional organizations 
The effectiveness of the Community's operations also depends on an open and 
constructive partnership with international organizations, such as the UN Human Rights 
Centre, and regional bodies (the Council of Europe, the Organization on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe, the Organization of American States and the Organization of 
African Unity). These partnerships heighten the impact of operations thanks to an 
approach based on the criteria of subsidiarity, effectiveness, visibility, complementarity 
and transparency. 
Definitions: 
- , Subsidiarity: Community aid should normally focus on areas not covered by other 
organizations but it may make a contribution to specific operations reflecting 
shared priorities; 
Effectiveness: Community aid should engender synergy with other initiatives; 
Visibility: by adding these specific headings to the Community budget Parliament 
obviously wanted show what the European Union was doing for human rights and 
such operations should therefore be clearly identifiable as EU initiatives; 
Complementarity: where the circumstances warrant (see above), Community aid 
should complement other organizations' initiatives as long as Community budget 
rules are complied with; 
Transparency: whatever funds are used (Chapter B7-70 budget headings, financial 
and technical assistance appropriations, plus Lomé and social funding), they must 
be used in accordance with the budget procedures provided for in the Treaty, the 
Financial Regulations, Council Directives and internal implementing rules. The 
procedures vary according to the budget heading concerned; for instance, in the 
case of financial and technical assistance the initiative comes from the country 
concerned but the human rights headings (Phare- and Tacis-Democracy) are, for 
historical reasons, subject to a tendering procedure. Other human-rights related 
headings may be used directly by Commission decision on a formal application 
for grant aid. The procedures governing these financial instruments often 
determine the type of recipient since the rules confine access to NGOs in some 
cases. In the institutional framework procedures vary according to the operation 
envisaged, for example joint CFSP action prefigures the use of budget 
appropriations for that purpose. 
Relations with partners are also influenced by other considerations: 
economic: it is difficult to agree to an administrative surcharge of 13% for every 
project of a UN agency; 
those based on previous experiences: e.g. the good experiences with the 
international tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and he difficulties 
encountered with the observer missions to Rwanda and Burundi. 
To sum up, the European Community presents itself to international and regional 
organizations not as a mere donor but as a parmer in the establishment of a human rights 
policy, as set out in the Commission's communication of 22 November 1995. 
39 
CONCLUSIONS 
The ever increasing range of financial resources available for human rights projects has 
widened the scope of action both geographically and in terms of what can be done. At 
this stage, and in view of the difficulties inherent in coordinating such an extended field 
of action and the evolving requirements of activities to promote human rights, it would 
be advisable to see to what extent these resources will enable us to act effectively in the 
medium and long term, react to emergencies and ensure the necessary consistency, impact 
and visibility. 
Good progress has been made not only in promoting a pro-active approach in the various 
procedures and improving evaluation techniques tailored to human rights projects but also 
in terms of overall cohesion and impact. 
* Closer cooperation with international and regional organizations that promote and 
protect human rights: dialogue with the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe 
has been stepped up and this has been translated into operational collaboration in 
the form of complementary operations that draw on each organization's experience 
and expertise and prevent overlaps or conflicts.10 This has also helped bring about 
a greater continuity between the Community's positions in international and 
regional forums and operational activities. 
* Incentives: the incentive amounts formula included in the revised Lomé IV makes 
available resources for institutional and administrative reforms as long as the ACP 
State concerned has already decided to finance such reforms with Lomé funding 
earmarked for development projects. This formula is part of the "positive 
approach" outlined in the resolution on human rights, democracy and development. 
* Making instruments more complementary and ensuring continuity: some 
Chapter B7-52 headings have been conceived as a way of initiating or acting as 
a catalyst for new projects, meaning that a hierarchy of instruments is taking form. 
Innovatory projects which are aided on a small scale under specific headings can 
later be developed, if the results are satisfactory, on a larger scale with technical 
assistance or development funding. The rules on technical assistance and 
development cooperation provide for continuity of action in a geographical area 
thanks to multiannual programmes. 
These efforts have not yet produced notable results, mainly because of the lack of an 
overall strategy for the use of financial resources to promote human rights and 
democracy. This is why the Commission has embarked on an overview of work in this 
field which, following an outline of what has already been achieved, sets out guidelines 
for all aspects of these efforts to ensure consistency, effectiveness and visibility. The 
documents sets out the following proposals to ensure the optimal use of the financial 
10 Close operational relations have been established with the UN High Commissioner 
for Refugees, the Geneva Human Rights centre, the OSCE's Office for Democratic 
Institutions and Human Rights and the High Commissioner on National Minorities, the 
Council of Europe and the European Commission for Democracy through Law. 
40 
instruments concerning the observance and promotion of human rights. 
* Better appreciation at all levels of the specific nature of human rights activities. 
the characteristics of the recipients (above all the fact that their work is 
non-profit making), which should be taken into account throughout the 
budgetary procedure (selection, grants of funds, evaluation, payments); 
the need to differentiate between short-term operations calling for immediately 
available funding and medium- to long-term operations calling for continuity 
of funding beyond one financial year. 
* Dovetail the use of different types of instrument in order to avoid overlaps and 
provide the necessary continuity and impact (the corollary being that a 
proliferation of budget headings with the same general wording about human rights 
but referring to different geographical areas should be avoided). For instance, each 
project could also be assessed in terms of the likelihood of its attracting other 
funding, especially in cases where complementary operations are needed to achieve 
its objectives. 
* Develop incentives to enhance the impact of such initiatives, one possibility being 
to extend the idea of incentive amounts outside the framework of the Lomé 
Convention. 
* Better linkage between the thematic and geographical approaches would improve 
intervention capacity in situations where a speedy response is required. 
* Enlarge expertise on various aspects of human rights and increase capacity to 
initiate actions thanks to better knowledge of the specific requirements and 
features of the countries or areas in question. 
* Ensure that information is accessible and that institutional guidelines are taken into 
account in establishing operational priorities, in particular by promoting a 
constructive dialogue with Parliament. 
Enhance the continuity between action at Member State and Community levels by 
promoting a regular exchange of information with the Member States. 
* Increase synergies with international and regional organizations by medium- and 
long-term programming of priority activities to be implemented jointly and bv 
developing a capacity to handle one-off operations. 
4! 
ANNEX 1 
BUDGET HEADINGS AND OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES 
FOR FINANCING THE PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY 
A. Budget headings specific to the promotion of human rights and democracy: 
Chapter B7-52 "European Initiative for Democracy and the Protection of Human 
Rights" 
This chapter was created in 1994 at Parliament's initiative (resolution of 14 May 1992). 
It covers all Community budget headings specific to the promotion of human rights and 
democratic principles. This rearrangement was carried out in order to make Community 
aid in this field more coherent and transparent and also reflects the new responsibilities 
provided for in the Treaty on European Union and some structural changes within the 
Community institutions. The total amount of these appropriations in 1995 -
ECU 75,960 million as against ECU 59,1 million in 1994 - confirms the trend towards 
allocating more budgetary resources for the defence and promotion of human rights and 
democracy. These resources are given priority in the report. 
B7-520 Support for democracy in the countries of central and eastern Europe and in 
the Balkans (B7-5200 + B7-5201) 
1. B7-5200 Phare programme for democracy 
1994 appropriation ECU 10 000 0001 
1994 commitments ECU 10.000.000 
1995 appropriation ECU 10 000 000 
1995 commitments ECU 10 000 000 
1995 commitments ECU 10 000 000 
Budget remark 
The Phare programme for democracy supports the development of democracy and of the 
rule of law and the development of civil society in countries of central and eastern 
Europe. 
This appropriation can be used to support measures taken by women's associations 
actively campaigning for the restoration of democracy in civil life in the countries of 
central and eastern Europe. 
Of which ECU 5 million under Chapter BO-40. 
42 
B7-5201 Community measures to help democracy and support the 
peace process for the Republics formerly part of Yugoslavia 
1994 appropriation ECU 5 000 0002 
1994 commitments ECU 4 887 000 
1995 appropriation ECU 5 000 000 
1995 commitments ECU 5 000 000 
Budget remark 
This appropriation is intended to cover the financing of measures to support the peace 
process, calm tensions and develop democracy, by, among other measures, the promotion 
of free and independent media in the Republics formerly part of Yugoslavia (Slovenia, 
Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, FYROM, Bosnia-Herzegovina). 
Part of this appropriation should be utilized for action in favour of inter-ethnic dialogue, 
the media, women, democratic groups, press freedom and support for most vulnerable 
groups. 
Funding under this item is intended exclusively for operations relating to democratization 
and respect for human rights. 
3. Support for democracy in the Independent States of the former Soviet Union 
1994 appropriation ECU 10 000 0003 
1994 commitments ECU 10.000.000 
1995 appropriation ECU 10 000 000 
1995 commitments ECU 10.000.000 
Budget remark 
This appropriation is intended to cover the implementation of a programme to support 
democracy and the rule of law and to develop civil society in the Independent States of 
the former Soviet Union. It comes from the Tacis programme (technical assistance to the 
Commonwealth of Independent States and Georgia). 
Of which ECU 1 million (transfer) 
Of which ECU 5 million under Chapter BO-40. 
43 
B7-5220 Human rights and democracy in the developing countries 
1994 appropriation ECU 14 000 000 
1994 commitments ECU 14 000 000 
1995 appropriation ECU 19 000 000 
1995 commitments ECU 18 978 243 
Budget remark 
This appropriation is intended to cover support for operations promoting human rights and 
democracy in strict association with the development policies of the Community in 
developing countries, including those on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. 
It also covers the financing of the European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, 
support for the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups and the provision of technical 
expertise on issues related to electoral processes, good governance, the rule of law and 
the respect of human rights. 
5. B7-5230 Democratization process in Latin America 
1994 appropriation ECU 13 000 000 
1994 commitments ECU 12 999 978 
1995 appropriation ECU 14 000 000 
1995 commitments ECU 14 000 000 
Budget remark 
This appropriation is intended to cover the financing of special activities to contribute to 
the process of democratization in Latin America, including Haiti and Cuba, particularly 
in assisting the reintegration into civilian life of those who have fought in civil wars in 
Central America. 
It may also be used to support democratically elected authorities which have been the 
victims of coup attempts, and which retain the confidence of the European Community. 
Also charged to this article is support for funding the activities of the Latin American 
Parliament in the context of the agreements with the European Parliament. 
This article also covers expenditure on studies, meetings of experts, conferences, 
congresses, information and publications directly linked with the achievement of the 
objective of the measure of which they form an integral part; this excludes expenditure 
involved in the management of these measures or in general administration (see 
Commission communication of 22 April 1992). 
44 
B7-524 Other measures to promote human rights 
(B7-5240+B7-5241) 
6. B7-5240 Subsidies for certain activities of organizations pursuing 
human rights objectives 
1994 appropriation ECU 5 000 000 
1994 commitments ECU 5 000 000 
1995 appropriation ECU 5 500 000 
1995 commitments ECU 5 490 000 
Budget remark 
This appropriation is intended to cover the grant of aid to organizations pursuing 
humanitarian aims and promoting human rights, such as the European Human Rights 
Foundation and the European Foundation for Freedom of Expression. 
It also covers the administrative costs resulting from the administration of this item and 
the inspection of projects which have received grants. 
This aid is allocated for projects to be undertaken in non-Community states (developing 
countries, central and eastern European countries and others), as well as in the 
Community in the form of grants to: 
promote Community and international initiatives aimed at abolishing the death 
penalty in all countries by the year 2000, 
support rehabilitation centres for torture victims and other organizations offering 
concrete help to victims of human rights abuses which should continue to receive 
the same proportion of funding from the item as has been the case in the past, 
train people who are called upon to teach others about human rights (judges, 
lawyers, civil servants, those responsible for the training of police and security 
forces, teachers, etc.), 
reinforce respect for the rights of the child and bring assistance to children who 
are victims of human rights violations, 
promote training with organizations specializing in the defence of human rights, 
support the observation of prisons at international level and the publication of the 
reports produced, 
promote the protection of human rights in countries where there is soon to be a 
change of sovereignty. 
Priority is accorded to projects offering concrete and direct aid. Projects concerning 
research and academic seminars of particular merit are taken into consideration in so far 
as is possible. 
ECU 250 000 is introduced to support the activities of the International Prison 
Observatory, 
45 
Also charged to this item are subsidies to organizations devoted to the protection of 
human rights, such as the European Human Rights Foundation. 
ECU 200 000 is intended for the European Foundation for Free Speech. 
7. B7-5241 Aid by the European Union for non-govemmental 
organizations working to defence and promote human rights in Turkey 
1994 appropriation ECU 500 000 
1994 commitments ECU 500 000 
1995 appropriation ECU 500 000 
1995 commitments ECU 413 000 
Budget remark 
This appropriation is intended to cover Community aid to non-governmental organizations 
working for the defence and promotion of human rights in Turkey. 
8. B7-5270 Support for rehabilitation centres for torture victims and for 
organizations offering concrete help to victims of human rights abuses 
1994 appropriation ECU 2 000 000 
1994 commitments ECU 2 000 000 
1995 appropriation ECU 5 000 000 
1995 commitments ' ECU 5 000 000 
Budget remark 
No remark. 
46 
B. Summary list of other budget resources available for promoting human rights and 
democracy 
Chapter B7-30 Cooperation with Asian and Latin American developing 
countries 
1. B7-3020 
persons Aid towards self-sufficiency for refugees and displaced 
1994 appropriation ECU 60 000 000 
1994 commitments ECU 59 831 000 
1995 appropriation ECU 70 000 000 
-1995 commitments ECU 69 898 000 
Budget remark 
This appropriation is intended to cover measures to promote the self-sufficiency of 
refugees, displaced persons and other population groups, which have left their country of 
origin or residence because of fighting, lack of security or other man-made crises. 
In addition, it may be used to support measures to make survival, repatriation and 
resettlement possible. In particular, the aid may be extended to cover the local population 
in the host countries and countries of origin , where economic conditions so require. It 
may also be used, if necessary, to support actions aimed at the prevention of population 
displacement. 
These measures may be financed jointly with non-governmental organizations and 
international organizations. 
This appropriation also coyers expenditure on studies, coordination in the field, meetings 
of experts, conferences, congresses, information and publications directly linked with the 
achievement of the objective of the measure of which they form an integral part; this 
excludes expenditure involved in the management of these measures or in general 
administration (Commission communication of 22 April 1992). 
47 
Chapter B7-21 Humanitarian aid 
2. B7-210, B7-211, B7-214, B7-215, B7-217 and B7-219 
1994 appropriation ECU 500 159 000 
1994 commitments ECU 499 315 000 
1995 appropriation ECU 642 500 000 
1995 commitments ECU 641 927 000 
These budget headings are managed by the European Community Humanitarian Office 
(ECHO) and are intended to cover the financing of humanitarian relief operations for 
people of non-member countries hit by natural disasters or events which have major 
economic and social repercussions. The aid is granted without distinction of race, 
religion or politics. It takes the form of medical teams, medicines, medical equipment, 
various forms of shelter, foodstuffs, power and fuel supplies, basic necessities of various 
kinds and cleansing products. It may also be used to finance psychological support for 
victims, measure to rehabilitate the legal system and medical and psychological assistance 
for prisoners. 
Heading B7-217 is targeted at refugees and displaced persons and is designed to tackle 
population movements by assisting repatriation and resettlement in the country of origin. 
Chapter B3-41 
3. B3-4110 Social protection and freedom of movement 
Free movement of workers, measures to benefit migrant 
workers, including immigrants from outside the Union 
1994 appropriation ECU 9.200.000 
1994 commitments ECU 9.102.000 
1995 appropriation ECU 9.599.000 
1995 commitments ECU 9 599 000 
Budget remark 
In accordance with the provisions of the social action programme, the Commission grants 
financial aid to democratically run bodies and associations representing migrant workers, 
including those from outside the Union, or operating for their benefit (reception, advisory 
and information services, conferences and debates on subjects connected with immigrant 
promotion schemes favouring the integration and participation of migrant workers, 
including immigrants from outside the Union, in the various levels of social and 
administrative life in the host countries) and promotes measures in favour of integration, 
including, in areas of high population density, the renovation and construction of housing 
and the provision of social centres. 
48 
In addition, at least ECU 3 000 000 is to be earmarked for measures and projects 
covering the care and integration of migrants from non Community countries and re-
settlers. These measures and projects should primarily be implemented by 
non-governmental organizations. 
Pursuant to its communication of 9 December 1987 the Commission intends to ensure the 
correct implementation of Article 48(4) of the Treaty as regards the access to public 
service jobs in sectors considered as priority areas in the Community. 
This appropriation will also cover the outstanding commitments in respect of expenditure 
on studies. 
This item also covers expenditure on studies, meetings of experts, conferences, 
congresses, information and publications directly linked with the achievement of the 
objective or measure of which they form an integral part; this excludes expenditure 
involved in the management of these measures or in general administration (Commission 
communication of 22 April 1992). 
49 
B3-4114 Measures to combat racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism 
1995 appropriation ECU 5 400 0004 
Budget remark 
This action is intended: 
to promote cooperation with the various social institutions that advocate tolerance 
and oppose racial discrimination and xenophobic and anti-semitic situations and 
behaviour, and to finance effective measures in this sphere, 
to launch and develop measures to ensure a global Union strategy to combat racial 
and xenophobic violence, 
to launch education campaigns in the services of the national administrations most 
concerned with these phenomena. 
This appropriation is intended to cover the financing of measures to promote human 
rights and the combating of racism and xenophobia. 
It breaks down as follows: 
ECU 550 000 is earmarked for measures to combat racism and xenophobia in 
schools, 
ECU 200 000 will be used for NGOs combating racism, xenophobia and anti-
semitism, 
ECU 50 000 is earmarked for the European Migration Network, covering the 
monthly publication in 'Migration Newssheet' and the french edition (Migrations 
Europe', 
ECU 500 000 will be used to fund a campaign against racism and to highlight the 
economic and cultural importance of foreigners, 
ECU 100 000 will be used to fund a measure to combat racism by reminding the 
public of past events, 
ECU 250 000 is allocated to the European Centre for Research into Racism and 
Anti-Semitism, 
ECU 500 000 is earmarked for measures, to be implemented with the European 
Trade Union Confederation, designed to combat xenophobia aimed at migrant 
workers, including migrants from non-Community countries, 
ECU 200 000 is earmarked for a study of the cultural, legal, political and social 
situation of minorities in the European Community and in Europe with a view to 
clamping down on racism and xenophobia before it develops. 
4 Of which ECU 2 million (transfer) 
50 
Chapter B3-40 
5. B3-4012 Social dialogue and employment" 
Measures to achieve equality between men and women 
1994 appropriation ECU 6. 260. 000 
1994 commitments ECU 6.257.000 
1995 appropriation ECU 6.420.000 
1995 commitments ECU 6. 419. 000 
Budget remark 
This appropriation is intended to finance the implementation of the third programme, in 
particular the networks, local employment initiatives and other activities and projects. 
The Commission contributes to study and information projects in this field conducted by 
national bodies and initiates action in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on Equal 
Opportunities for Women and Men. 
In connection with these measures, the attention of those who effect the expenditure must 
be drawn to the situation of women who form part of minorities in society. 
Funds are also provided for action plans designed to establish temporary refuges, in 
particular for migrant women who are victims of domestic violence. 
This item also covers expenditure on studies, meetings of experts, conferences, 
congresses, information and publications directly linked with the achievement of the 
objective or measure of which they form an integral part; this excludes expenditure 
involved in the management of these measures or in general administration (Commission 
communication of 22 April 1992). 
51 
Chapter A-30 
6. A-3091 General subsidies 
Women's forum 
1994 appropriation ECU 350 000 
1995 appropriation ECU 450 000 
Budget remark 
This appropriation is intended to enable the Women's Forum to operate. 
Like the Youth Forum, the Women's Forum or Women's Lobby Group has become an 
essential back-up to Community projects aimed at women. 
7. A-3093 Support for international non-govemmental organizations 
working for the establishment of an international criminal jurisdiction 
1995 appropriation ECU 300 000 
Budget remark (new item) 
This appropriation is intended to cover a financial contribution to international 
non-governmental organizations working for the establishment of an international criminal 
jurisdiction. 
52 
ANNEX 2 
12 July 1996 Group 14 
Standing working 
party 
STANDING INTER-DEPARTMENTAL 
HUMAN RIGHTS COORDINATION GROUP 
Role Improve internal coordination to ensure consistency in Community policies, 
including the use of budget resources (see Note No 114903 of 24 September 
1994 from Mr Williamson) 
Commission decision: COM(84) PV 722 
Chairman: Ms Napoli (DG IA) 
Secretary: Mr Gavriliadis (DG IA) 
Member DGs: Secretariat-General, Forward Studies Unit, Legal 
Service, DGs, I, IA, IB, II, V, VIII, X, XI, XII, XIII, 
XV, XIX, XXII, XXIV, XXIII and ECHO 
Number of meetings: Seven in 1995 
Remit: 
The Group has been set up in response to a an ever greater need to coordinate all the 
Commission's initiatives relating to human rights and democracy, including aid for 
elections. This role, approved by the RELEX Directors-General, mainly involves: 
implementation of the communication from the Commission "The European 
Union and the external dimension of human rights policy: from Rome to 
Maastricht and beyond"; 
consistency and transparency in implementation of budget headings within 
Chapter B7-52 "European Initiative for Democracy and Protection of Human 
Rights"; 
appraisal of projects under headings B7-5240: "Subsidies for certain activities 
of organizations pursuing human rights objectives" and B7-5270 "Support for 
rehabilitation centres for torture victims and for organizations offering concrete 
help to victims of human rights abuses. 
53 

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