Brussels, 09/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - Through the written procedure, the European Commission has approved funding of three projects aimed at improving the protection of human rights in the Mediterranean region. They come within the "Meda Programme for Democracy". These decisions were made before the end of the year 2000 so as to allow for the financing of these measures on the basis of credits earmarked for this purpose in the budget 2000. The projects, with a duration of 36 months, aim to:
- Promote the culture of human rights and support the activities of NGOs in the Arab world, with as target groups: the media, judges, lawyers, teachers and those responsible for drawing up school programmes. Six countries are concerned: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia. The EU will take on 80% (1,660,838 euro) of the cost of the project that has to allow, notably, for the organisation of training seminars and conferences, as well as the realisation of different publications. The project will be implemented by the Arab Institute for Human Rights (IADH) of Tunis in collaboration with different local partners in the countries concerned;
- Strengthen the rights of citizenship of women and equal opportunities in the Maghreb, with as target groups: women, associations of women, NGOs and trade unions. Three countries are concerned: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. The EU is taking on 80% (1,416,200 euro) of the cost of the project which comprises, notably, the creation of three "Women's Houses" in Algiers, Tangiers and Tunis (reception, information, legal assistance), the organisation of training and awareness-raising activities. The project will be implemented by the Istituto oer il Mediterraneo (IMED) of Rome, with local partners in the countries concerned.
- Improve training into the respect of human rights for the Palestinian police force. This project, which comes within the framework of action undertaken within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (Cfsp) will benefit from Community funding to the tune of 649,000 euro.
