Participation of the Commissioner for Administration an protection of Human Rights in a Regional Project, funded by the EEA and Norway Grants, that aims to provide support to National Human Rights Institutions of member states of the European Union, in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law
Participation of the Commissioner for Administration an protection of Human Rights in a Regional Project, funded by the EEA and Norway Grants, that aims to provide support to National Human Rights Institutions of member states of the European Union, in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law.
Following an invitation from the European Union Agency of Fundamental Rights (FRA), the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights submitted a successful proposal, to participate, as Cyprus’s National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), in a regional Project that aims to provide support to NHRIs of member states of the European Union, in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law.
The participants to the Project, which is funded by the EEA and Norway Grants, are the FRA, as lead partner, and the NHRIs of Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria and Latvia, as beneficiary partners. Also, the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) participates in the Project as an expertise partner.
The Project, which is expected to be completed by February 29th 2024, covers the following three (3) Work Packages:
· Work Package 1: «Enhancing the use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights by NHRIs and strengthening their role in its enforcement at national level, including by building the capacity of NHRI staff in using EU fundamental rights law in their work».
· Work Package 2: «Strengthening NHRIs’ capacity in monitoring fundamental rights and the rule of law, by increasing their engagement with relevant EU mechanisms and by promoting national dialogues on fundamental rights and the rule of law».
· Work Package 3: «Developing the capacity of NHRIs to monitor fundamental rights compliance in the implementation of EU funds, as foreseen by newly applicable EU law».
For the purposes of the implementation of the Project, it is planned to carry out studies and draw up a number of Reports with relevant recommendations, in relation to the following topics:
- The present fundamental rights situation in Cyprus, and the potential for strengthening it through a stronger use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
- An overview of the essential national human rights structures, their mandates and scope of action, including their interlinkages with EU frameworks and international human rights mechanisms.
- The use of Charter in Cyprus and a collection of promising practices and examples on how the Cyprus NHRI has engaged with the Charter.
- The strengthening of the NHRI’s capacity to report on the state of Rule of Law in Cyprus and the improvement of its methodology and national data collection on rule of law reporting, including monitoring over time.
- Analysis and guidance on how the NHRI may exercise its role in monitoring fundamental rights compliance in the implementation of EU funds in Cyprus.
The Project also provides for the organization of educational/training seminars regarding the application of the EU’s human rights Law and, in particular, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The seminars will be offered to both staff of the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights, and, to other target groups that have been identified (such as legal practitioners and Officers of selected Public Authorities).
It is pointed out that FRA, as the lead partner, oversees the overall implementation of the project, promotes cooperation between the partners and provides advice and guidance to participating NHRIs on project activities and outputs.
ENG - Supporting National Human Rights Institutions in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law.pdf