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| Adoption of EMHRN's plan of action | Date: 08-07-1997 |
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Steering Committee adopts bylaws and a plan of action for the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. Eight representatives from the European Mediterranean region have adopted, after a two day meeting in Copenhagen (July 4-5), bylaws and a plan of action for a Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. The Network, whose main objective is the promotion and protection of human rights according to the Barcelona Declaration of November 1995 * will hold its second General Assembly in December 1997. The first meeting of the General Assembly was held last January (11-12) in Copenhagen and was attended by 20 members representing human rights organisations and activists from European and Mediterranean countries. The two-day meeting focused on priority issues and strategy for the newly formed Network. A steering committee, composed of eight members from North and South was established to draft bylaws, a plan of action, and to prepare the second General Assembly. The Network will invite 60 representatives of human rights organisations and will coordinate with international human rights groups who are active in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The Network´s objectives, in coordination with national human rights organisations, is to defend and promote human rights and rule of law in the Euro-Mediterranean region in accordance with the principles of the Barcelona Declaration and the association agreements. The objectives of the Network include defending freedom of expression and association, combatting racism and intolerance, promoting training and education, and the protection of human rights defenders as well as underlining the linkage between peace, democracy and human rights. They will be achieved through means of education, training, monitoring, research, and campaigning. The Network will therefore monitor the compliance of all countries signatories to the Barcelona Declaration with its human rights clauses.** * On 27-28 November 1995 the 15 EU countries and 12 South Mediterranean Partners established the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership by adopting the Barcelona Declaration and a Work Programme. Besides the governments of the 15 EU countries, the signatories are governments of Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, and the Palestinian Authority. ** The network was established with financial assistance from the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA). |
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