Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network
Encyclopedia
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN, French
: Réseau euro-mediterranéen des droits de l'Homme) is a network of 64 human rights
organisations, institutions and individuals based in 30 countries in Europe
and the Mediterranean
region. It was established in 1997 in response to the Barcelona Declaration, which led to the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership
.
The members of the EMHRN admit to universal human rights principles and are convinced of the value of cooperation and dialogue across and within borders. The EMHRN promotes networking, cooperation and development of partnerships between human rights NGOs
, activists
and a wider civil society.
(EMP), and in particular, the Barcelona Process proposed by the EMP. The EMHRN's role is primarily as an intermediary between governmental institutions and grassroots human rights organisations. It received most of its funding during its first years from governmental sources and is closely linked to the EuroMed Civil Forums that constitutes a relatively government-linked alternative to the grassroots Alternative Mediterranean Conference that was organised in 1995. As of 2008, the EMHRN had become well recognised both by European Union
(EU) institutions and NGOs. Its activities range from communication among NGO members and activist campaigning through to lobbying of institutions. The effectiveness of its range of grassroots through to lobbying strategies remain unclear.
The EMHRN describes itself as a regional forum for human rights NGOs and a pool of expertise on promotion, protection and strengthening of human rights. It states that it brings people together in inter-cultural settings to promote dialogue and understanding, with stress on the following subjects:
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Réseau euro-mediterranéen des droits de l'Homme) is a network of 64 human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
organisations, institutions and individuals based in 30 countries in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation...
region. It was established in 1997 in response to the Barcelona Declaration, which led to the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership
Euromediterranean Partnership
The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership started in 1995 with the Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean Conference. The European Union stated the intention of this "partnership" is "to strengthen its relations with the countries in the Mashriq and Maghreb regions"...
.
The members of the EMHRN admit to universal human rights principles and are convinced of the value of cooperation and dialogue across and within borders. The EMHRN promotes networking, cooperation and development of partnerships between human rights NGOs
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, activists
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
and a wider civil society.
Aims and achievements
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network was created in relation to the existence of the inter-governmental Euromediterranean PartnershipEuromediterranean Partnership
The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership started in 1995 with the Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean Conference. The European Union stated the intention of this "partnership" is "to strengthen its relations with the countries in the Mashriq and Maghreb regions"...
(EMP), and in particular, the Barcelona Process proposed by the EMP. The EMHRN's role is primarily as an intermediary between governmental institutions and grassroots human rights organisations. It received most of its funding during its first years from governmental sources and is closely linked to the EuroMed Civil Forums that constitutes a relatively government-linked alternative to the grassroots Alternative Mediterranean Conference that was organised in 1995. As of 2008, the EMHRN had become well recognised both by European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) institutions and NGOs. Its activities range from communication among NGO members and activist campaigning through to lobbying of institutions. The effectiveness of its range of grassroots through to lobbying strategies remain unclear.
The EMHRN describes itself as a regional forum for human rights NGOs and a pool of expertise on promotion, protection and strengthening of human rights. It states that it brings people together in inter-cultural settings to promote dialogue and understanding, with stress on the following subjects:
- lobbying human rights mechanisms within the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) and the Euromediterranean PartnershipEuromediterranean PartnershipThe Euro-Mediterranean Partnership started in 1995 with the Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean Conference. The European Union stated the intention of this "partnership" is "to strengthen its relations with the countries in the Mashriq and Maghreb regions"...
, exspecially concerning the association agreementsEuropean Union Association AgreementA European Union Association Agreement is a treaty between the European Union and a non-EU country that creates a framework for co-operation between them. Areas frequently covered by such agreements include the development of political, trade, social, cultural and security links...
with the Mediterranean Partners and the European Neighbourhood PolicyEuropean Neighbourhood PolicyThe European Neighbourhood Policy is a foreign relations instrument of the European Union which seeks to tie those countries to the east and south of the EU into the EU... - supporting reform processes in the Arab WorldArab worldThe Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
by strengthening democratizationDemocratizationDemocratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime. It may be the transition from an authoritarian regime to a full democracy, a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy or transition from a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic...
processes originating from the civil societyCivil societyCivil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal... - working towards transforming the non-European Mediterranean region into states of lawRechtsstaatRechtsstaat is a concept in continental European legal thinking, originally borrowed from German jurisprudence, which can be translated as "legal state", "state of law", "state of justice", or "state of rights"...
, especially by backing movements for the enforcement of the freedoms of speech and assemblyFreedom of assemblyFreedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests... - bringing human rights values and principles as well as women rights and the idea of public educationPublic educationState schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
to the public in order to achieve a broad popular participation in changing the living conditions where human rights are abused or denied - sending of delegations and observersObserver statusObserver status is a privilege granted by some organizations to non-members to give them an ability to participate in the organization's activities. Observer status is often granted by intergovernmental organizations to non-member states and international nongovernmental organizations that have...
, and publishing urgent alerts in cases of deterioration of human rights and when members are in danger or imprisoned - close and critical monitoring of the own efforts of the EU
- information on human rights violations in North AfricaNorth AfricaNorth Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and the Middle EastMiddle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
by publishing reports, policy papers and newsletters - research and training by means of training seminars and workshops
History
- December 1997: The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network was founded during a meeting at the Danish Centre for Human RightsDanish Institute for Human RightsThe Danish Institute for Human Rights is a national human rights institution operating in accordance with the UN Paris Principles. The DIHR was originally established as the Danish Centre for Human Rights by a parliamentary decision on 5 May 1987. On 1 January 2003 the DIHR changed its status as...
(DHRC) in CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
by a group of human rights activists from the North and the South of the Mediterranean. Founding people were then director of the DHRC, Morten Kjaerum, and Said Essoulami from MoroccanMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
human rights organisation CMF-MENA. Further participants in the founding assembly (but no members of the EMHRN) were the Dutch Council for Refugees, the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights, and the European Council on Refugees and ExilesEuropean Council on Refugees and ExilesThe European Council on Refugees and Exiles is a pan-European network of refugee-assisting non-governmental organisations that promotes a humane and generous European asylum policy...
.
- 1999: The network co-organised the EuroMed Civil Forum in StuttgartStuttgartStuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
.
- 2000: The EMHRN received a European Union funding contract. On its fourth General Assembly in MarseilleMarseilleMarseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, a new action plan was adopted, which saw the network multiplying its activities. In the following years, an office in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
was opened and preparations for offices in RabatRabatRabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
and AmmanAmmanAmman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
were taken. More staff in addition to the Executive Director were hired.
- 2006: During the European Ministerial Conference in IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
a five-year plan for promotion of the role of the women in society was adopted, which included proposals carried out by the EMHRN.
Structure
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network has the following members:| Country | Organisation |
|---|---|
 Algeria |
Collectif des Familles des disparu(e)s en Algérie - Group of families of disappeared persons in Algeria Ligue Algérienne des Droits de l'Homme - Algerian League for Human Rights Ligue Algérienne pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme - Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights |
 Austria |
Bruno Kreisky Foundation for Human Rights |
 Belgium |
European Association for the Defense of Human Rights (regional member) |
 Cyprus |
Mediterranean Institute for Gender Studies at University of Nicosia University of Nicosia The University of Nicosia is the largest private university in Cyprus, with campuses based in the three largest cities in Cyprus: Nicosia, Lemesos and Larnaca. It was formally known, until September 2007, as Intercollege... Rights and Freedom Association |
 Denmark |
Danish Institute for Human Rights Danish Institute for Human Rights The Danish Institute for Human Rights is a national human rights institution operating in accordance with the UN Paris Principles. The DIHR was originally established as the Danish Centre for Human Rights by a parliamentary decision on 5 May 1987. On 1 January 2003 the DIHR changed its status as... founder Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims The Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims is a self-governing institution independent of party politics located in Denmark... Iraqi Human Rights Association |
 Egypt |
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (regional member) |
 Finland |
Tampere Peace Research Institute at University of Tampere University of Tampere The University of Tampere is a university in Tampere, Finland. It has 15,400 degree students and 2,100 employees. It was originally founded in 1925 in Helsinki as a Civic College , and from 1930 onwards it was known as a School of Social Sciences... |
 Early Modern France |
Fédération des Tunisiens pour une citoyenneté des deux rives - Tunisian federation for a two banks citizenship Ligue des droits de l'homme - Human Rights League founder |
 Greece |
Greek Committee for International Democratic Solidarity founder |
 Republic of Ireland |
80:20 Education and Acting for a Better World |
 Israel |
Adala - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel Arab Association for Human Rights B'Tselem B'Tselem B'Tselem is an Israeli non-governmental organization . It calls itself "The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories"... Public Committee Against Torture in Israel Public Committee Against Torture in Israel The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel is an Israeli human rights organisation specifically dedicated to combating torture, and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment and punishment... |
 Italy |
Intercenter Italian Refugee Council |
 Jordan |
Amman Center for Human Rights Studies Sisterhood is Global Institute |
 Lebanon |
Palestinian Human Rights Organization Institute for Human Rights Lebanon René Moawad Foundation René Moawad René Moawad was President of Lebanon for 17 days in 1989, from the 5th to the 22nd of November, when he was assassinated by unknowns. Syria accused Michel Aoun of the assassination.... http://www.rmf.org.lb/main/main/default.html SOLIDA movement |
 Libya |
Libyan League for Human Rights Libyan League for Human Rights The Libyan League for Human Rights is a Human Rights League in the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. LLHR was established on March 2, 1989 by Soliman Bouchuiguir, Hussein Raiani, Mohammad Zayyan, and Mansour Kikhia... |
 Malta |
Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies at University of Malta University of Malta The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in... |
 Morocco |
Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc - Democratic Association of Moroccan Women Association Marocaine des Droits Humains - Moroccan Association of Human Rights Espace Associatif Organisation Marocaine des Droits Humains - Moroccan Organisation of Human Rights founder Centre for Media Freedom in the Middle East and North Africa (CMF-MENA) founder (regional member) |
 Netherlands |
Aim for Human Rights Euro-Arab Dialogue from Below (associate member) |
 Norway |
Norwegian Helsinki Committee (associate member) |
 Palestinian territories |
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights Al Mezan Center for Human Rights The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is a nongovernmental organization based in the Jabalia Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Al Mezan was chartered "to promote, protect and prevent violations of human rights in general and economic, social and cultural rights in particular, to provide... Al-Haq founder Palestinian Center for Human Rights |
 Spain |
ACSUR Las Segovias Federation of Associations for the Defence and the Promotion of Human Rights |
 Sweden |
Kvinna till Kvinna |
 Syria |
Committees for the Defense of Democracy Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies Damascus Center for Theoretical and Civil Rights Studies |
 Tunisia |
Tunisian Association of the Democratic Women Conseil National Pour Les Libertés En Tunisie - National Council for Freedom in Tunisia Ligue tunisienne des droits de l'homme - Tunisian League of Human Rights Committee for the Respect of Freedom and Human Rights in Tunisia Arab Institute for Human Rights (regional member) Collectif 95 Maghreb Egalité (regional member) |
 Turkey |
Human Rights Association |
 United Kingdom |
Bar Human Rights Committee Human Rights Centre at University of Essex University of Essex The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965... founder Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA) Article 19 - the International Centre Against Censorship (associate member) |
| International | Amnesty International Amnesty International Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's... (associate member) Penal Reform International Penal Reform International Penal Reform International was founded in London in 1989, and has members in five continents and in over 80 countries. PRI is an international non-governmental organisation working on penal and criminal justice reform worldwide... (associate member) International Federation of Human Rights International Federation of Human Rights The International Federation for Human Rights is a non-governmental federation for human rights organizations. Founded in 1922, FIDH is the oldest international human rights organisation worldwide and today brings together 164 member organisations in over 100 countries.FIDH is nonpartisan,... (associate member) Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,... (associate member) International Service for Human Rights International Service for Human Rights The International Service for Human Rights is a Geneva- and New York-based human rights NGO that specializes in providing training, information and advice for defenders of human rights worldwide. Established in 1984, ISHR provides information on both international and regional human rights law... (associate member) World Organisation Against Torture World Organisation Against Torture The World Organisation Against Torture is the world’s largest coalition of non-governmental organisations fighting against arbitrary detention, torture, summary and extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances and other forms of violence... (associate member) |