EU support for Human Rights and Human Development

The EU Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives yesterday said yesterday it has unveiled a number of important new projects aimed at promoting human rights, the role of civil society and the value of civic engagement. 

It said this was part of the #EU4HumanRights initiative which highlights all the work being carried out by the EU and Member States in these areas. 

The EU is channeling approximately Rs.770 million (EUR 4.7 million) towards the building of stronger communities and a vibrant civil society. With this funding, organisations ACTED, Care Deutschland, World Vision, Handicap International, ChildFund Deutschland, Media in Cooperation and Transition and ZOA will work to promote economic development in some of Sri Lanka’s poorest areas and build capacities of community stakeholders, including the media, lawyers and judges. 

Speaking during the event, co-chaired by Minister of National Co-existence Dialogue and Official Languages, Mano Ganeshan, the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, David Daly said, “For the European Union, the universality of human rights is one of our fundamental values. Human rights are ‘the silver thread’ of EU foreign policy.” 

“As a long standing partner of Sri Lanka’s civil society, the EU has supported work to address the challenges to upholding these rights. I also welcome the growing collaboration between the Government of Sri Lanka and civil society organisations; such cooperation is vital in building a more inclusive Sri Lanka and to re-establish the country as a leader in Asia and the South Asian region,” he added. 

The EU has provided approximately Rs. 4 Billion (EUR 24 million)over the past 10 years in support of democratic participation and civil society, human rights, civilian peace building, conflict prevention and gender equality. For the years 2016-2017,the EU will provide approximately Rs. 1 billion (EUR 6 million)as grants to civil society organisations, Local Authorities and other related actors.

Pic by Pradeep Pathirana