South Programme IV – Regional Support to Reinforce Human Rights

Project Duration
2020 - 2022
Budget
€3,340,000
Status
Ongoing
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Countries covered:

  • Algeria
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • Palestine *
  • Tunisia

Brief Description

South Programme IV continues assisting Southern Mediterranean countries in building a common legal space together with the EU, with a focus on reforming Southern Mediterranean countries’ legislation and reinforcing their democratic governance institutions as well as accompanying reform processes. Good governance building, strengthening rule of law and respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights are strong pillars of the South Programme.

Additionally, particular attention is given to activities combatting gender-based violence against women and girls. Work on the Istanbul Convention dealing with violence against women is a priority, both for DG NEAR and for the neighbourhood policy.

Under its fourth phase, the South Programme will strengthen its regional dimension and work on addressing violence against women and anticorruption.

Countries covered: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia.

Objectives

• Strengthening and pursuing efforts towards the creation of a common legal space between Europe and the South Mediterranean region;

• Supporting the effective implementation of human rights standards, the respect of rule of law and improving democratic governance, through institutional capacity building;

• Combating violence against women and girls in the region;

• Strengthening and expanding regional co-operation to address national shortcomings and regional challenges.

Actions in brief

  • Technical assistance to revise national legislation in line to Council of Europe Conventions,
  • Capacity building on CoE treaties and human rights mechanisms,
  • Support to independent bodies,
  • Support and capacity building of the judiciary, UNIDEM,
  • Work with the CEPEJ and the Venice Commission,
  • Work with national governments and bodies, as well as CSOs on combating violence against women under the Istanbul Convention framework (among many others).

News

Thematics
Gender Human Rights Sustainable Development