Fund For Societies Affected By Human Rights Abuses

European Commission supports additional assistance for reconciliation of societies affected by human rights abuses

The European Commission has established a funding facility of € 12 million under the Stability Instrument to provide timely and focused assistance to ad-hoc tribunals and transitional justice initiatives around the world. The aim is to encourage reconciliation and help build sustainable peace in post crisis situations. This funding facility will allow the Commission to rapidly mobilise resources in the form of policy advice, technical, logistical and financial assistance, to support individual actions and projects.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy commented: "Transitional justice and ad-hoc tribunals have become central elements for peace building and post-conflict resolution as can be seen in Ruanda, Sierra Leone or Cambodia. Hence, they have been integrated into our broader EU crisis management responses. Addressing the question of human rights abuse in transitional and post-conflict situation is instrumental in order to foster reconciliation and sustainable peace and stability. This initiative underlines again our strong commitment to enhance the global fight against impunity and to promote reconciliation in post-crisis situations."

This new EC funding facility under the Stability Instrument will provide additional assistance for ad-hoc international criminal courts and ad-hoc national tribunals, as well as truth and reconciliation commissions. In addition, it will support mechanisms for the legal settlement of human rights claims and the assertion and adjudication of property rights, established in accordance with international human rights and rule of law standards. Consideration will also be given to supporting institutional reform measures aiming to prevent serious abuses from recurring. Implementing partners are international and regional organizations, state and non-state actors and the specific tribunals and truth commissions.

The European Union has been providing considerable support in this area under various funding instruments during the last years, in terms of assistance to transitional justice mechanisms like the international criminal tribunals in Ruanda, Sierra Leone or in Cambodia and in the context of broader programmes covering areas such as good governance, rule of law and the security sector through mainstream EU development assistance.

Further information on the Stability Instrument: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/stability-instrument/index_en.htm

ENDS

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