History

Human rights conditions around the Mediterranean basin have for many years given rise to grave concern. Human rights organisations have amply documented how in parts of the region governments erode freedoms.

Among the Southern Partners, although progress in democratisation was made in the 1980s, authoritarian or despotic monarchic or military regimes dominate political life and, more generally, government approaches to human rights are governed by internal and external security considerations.

Civil society is weak, and human rights defenders often work under difficult and dangerous conditions. The latter nonetheless pursued their work despite being subjected to a growing number of restrictions of all kinds.

Feasibility Study

Given “the valuable work of individuals, groups and associations in contributing to, the effective elimination of all violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples and individuals”, the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) mandated a feasibility study on the establishment of a Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in the Mediterranean region in May 2002.

Objectives

Provide a need assessment for a human right foundation devoted to flexible and strategic small-scale funding in the South Mediterranean region
Give some advice and recommendations concerning the constituency and mode of functioning of the agency in question

Results

NGOs' needs are ranging from:

Support to human rights defenders under attack,
Office space and basic equipment,
Funds to cover minimal operating budgets,
Capacity building,
Costs of attending important meetings abroad and establishing contacts with international donors, etc.
Undertake investigations into the use of torture, violence against women, disappearances and corruption, etc. that, in some cases, require considerable technical, human and financial resources

The feasability study will soon be published on the website...

History

Deadline...