Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Monday, 16 December 2019 01:53 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Human rights, rule of law and democracy are core values of the European Union (EU). Sustainable peace and stability, long-term development and prosperity cannot exist without respect for human rights and democratic institutions. The EU actively promotes and defends these values and principles both within its borders and when engaging in relations with external countries.
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Ambassador Denis Chaibi making the opening remarks |
At the occasion of the International Human Rights’ Day, the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives unveiled a number of important new projects society to support human rights and civil society in Sri Lanka. These seven projects are funded under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and the Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities (CSO/LA) Thematic Instrument.
The EU will be channelling approximately Rs. 813.7 million (4 million euros) to the following civil society organisations: ACTED, Sri Lanka Centre for Development Facilitation, Search for Common Ground, Helvetas Intercooperation GGMBH, Chrysalis, Humanity & Inclusion and FAGLIGT FAELLES FORBUND FORENING – 3F, who will work jointly with their local partners to promote social rights, women’s empowerment and freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.
These projects will also be instrumental to build the capacities of local communities and stakeholders, including the media, lawyers and women’s rights organisations.
Speaking at the official launch ceremony, Delegation of the EU to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Ambassador Denis Chaibi stated: “We cannot take human rights for granted. We know the struggles that are still taking place.”
Over the last 10 years, the EU has been funding around 80 projects (for a total value of 25 million euros) through the EIDHR and CSO/LA instruments to support human rights and civil society organisations in Sri Lanka. This comes in addition to the EU-Sri Lanka bilateral cooperation (approximately 760 million euros – Rs. 123 billion for the last decade) in fields as diverse as rural development, humanitarian aid, reconciliation, governance and public finance management.
