In its programme “Human rights in European policies”, Aim for human rights links in to a special EU policy: the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). This policy governs relations between the EU and neighbouring countries in the Caucasus, the Middle East and North Africa. Promoting respect for human rights is part of this policy. Aim for human rights has based its programme on this specific aspect of the ENP and focuses in particular on the activities of local human rights organisations in the Euromediterranean region. Egypt has been selected as a first pilot-country.

Progress in the field of human rights is often difficult to measure, for a variety of reasons. One of the causes mentioned – both by the EU and civil society – is the lack of clear objectives, criteria and a timeframe. This can for example be concluded from the reviews and progress reports of the ENP Action Plans.

Aim for human rights intends to contribute to a more systematic and transparent approach of the evaluation of human rights situations and related policies. To this end, a monitoring and advocacy tool will be developed, together with a number of European and national human rights organisations. Policymakers and experts are also involved. Organisations can make use of these tools in order to monitor human rights situations and to assess what might be the most strategic and effective way to channel the information into the EU framework. More information on the program