The programme Human rights in European policies develops a monitoring and advocacy tool in cooperation with (non-governmental) human rights organisations in the EU and in a number of pilot-countries, in order to combine different views and expertise. In addition, policymakers and individual experts will be involved in the process of developing the tools. In order to ensure that the tools meet the needs of the organisations interested in applying them, the tools will be developed based on the model of participatory cooperation. This approach offers organisations the possibility to further develop the tools and adjust them if necessary.

Geografically, the programme focuses on the Middle East and North Africa. It relates to existing NGO networks between the EU and the Mediterranean region, in particular the Euromediterranean Network for Human Rights (www.euromedrights.net), with which Aim for human rights works closely together.

The programme combines policy with practice. On the one hand, the ENP Action Plans are an important starting point for the development of the tools, as the Action Plans – within the ENP framework - include the most concrete agreements regarding human rights. Besides, they are reviewed on a regular basis. On the other hand, the programme also involves the human rights situation ‘on the ground’. International human rights instruments as well as the legal and political instruments of the EU constitute the general framework of reference.

For more information about our other projects on human rights in EU policies, see the publications mentioned aside. If you have any questions relating to the programme Human rights in European policies, please do not hesitate to contact Anne Marie Kuijpers via tel: + 31(0)30 233 40 27 or e-mail.