Article 3

Within the limits of Articles 1 and 2, and consistent with the European Union's foreign policy as a whole, the European Community shall provide technical and financial aid for operations aimed at:

1. 1..

   promoting and defending the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the other international instruments concerning the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, in particular:

   1. (a)

      the promotion and protection of civil and political rights;

   2. (b)

      the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights;

   3. (c)

      the promotion and protection of the human rights of those discriminated against, or suffering from poverty or disadvantage, which will contribute to reduction of poverty and social exclusion;

   4. (d)

      support for minorities, ethnic groups and indigenous peoples;

   5. (e)

      supporting local, national, regional or international institutions, including NGOs, involved in the protection, promotion or defence of human rights;

   6. (f)

      support for rehabilitation centres for torture victims and for organisations offering concrete help to victims of human rights abuses or help to improve conditions in places where people are deprived of their liberty in order to prevent torture or ill-treatment;

   7. (g)

      support for education, training and consciousness-raising in the area of human rights;

   8. (h)

      supporting action to monitor human rights, including the training of observers;

   9. (i)

      the promotion of equality of opportunity and non-discriminatory practices, including measures to combat racism and xenophobia;

   10. (j)

       promoting and protecting the fundamental freedoms mentioned in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in particular the freedom of opinion, expression and conscience, and the right to use one's own language;

2. 2..

   supporting the processes of democratisation, in particular:

   1. (a)

      promoting and strengthening the rule of law, in particular upholding the independence of the judiciary and strengthening it, and support for a humane prison system; support for constitutional and legislative reform; support for initiatives to abolish the death penalty;

   2. (b)

      promoting the separation of powers, particularly the independence of the judiciary and the legislature from the executive, and support for institutional reforms;

   3. (c)

      promotion of pluralism both at political level and at the level of civil society by strengthening the institutions needed to maintain the pluralist nature of that society, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and by promoting independent and responsible media and supporting a free press and respect for the rights of freedom of association and assembly;

   4. (d)

      promoting good governance, particularly by supporting administrative accountability and the prevention and combating of corruption;

   5. (e)

      promoting the participation of the people in the decision-making process at national, regional and local level, in particular by promoting the equal participation of men and women in civil society, in economic life and in politics;

   6. (f)

      support for electoral processes, in particular by supporting independent electoral commissions, granting material, technical and legal assistance in preparing for elections, including electoral censuses, taking measures to promote the participation of specific groups, particularly women, in the electoral process and by training observers;

   7. (g)

      supporting national efforts to separate civilian and military functions, training civilian and military personnel and raising their awareness of human rights;

   8. (h)

      F1supporting efforts to foster the establishment of groupings of democratic countries within United Nations bodies, specialised agencies and regional organisations;

3. 3..

   support for measures to promote the respect for human rights and democratisation by preventing conflict and dealing with its consequences in close collaboration with the relevant competent bodies, in particular:

   1. (a)

      supporting capacity-building, including the establishment of local early warning systems;

   2. (b)

      supporting measures aimed at balancing opportunities and at bridging existing dividing lines among different identity groups;

   3. (c)

      supporting measures facilitating the peaceful conciliation of group interests, including support for confidence-building measures relating to human rights and democratisation, in order to prevent conflict and to restore civil peace;

   4. (d)

      promoting international humanitarian law and its observance by all parties to a conflict;

   5. (e)

      supporting international, regional or local organisations, including the NGOs, involved in preventing, resolving and dealing with the consequences of conflict, including support for establishing ad hoc international criminal tribunals and setting up a permanent international criminal court, and support and assistance for the victims of human rights violations.