Title:	Promoting Human Rights and Minority Protection in South East Europe
Contractor:	Council of Europe (Contribution Agreement in Joint Management, with 100% financing from IPA Multi-Beneficiary 2011)
Beneficiaries:	Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Kosovo*	*All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo”.
Implementation start date:	29/11/2011
Duration	36 months
EU contribution to budget	3,6 M EUR

Overall objective

The overall objective of the programme is to improve respect for human rights, particularly minority protection in the Beneficiaries in practice, by enhancing the capacities of the relevant national bodies and the regional coherence of their activities. The specific objectives are to (i) strengthen the proper implementation of relevant national legislation and promoting best practices and to (ii) develop a functioning regional network of the relevant national bodies and exchange of best practices in the field of minority protection at regional level.

Expected results

• The capacity of national specialised bodies dealing with minority protection, according their mandate and in line with national legislation, international and European standards, is strengthened.


• Co-operation and co-ordination between minority protection bodies present within each Beneficiary at central and local level are reinforced.


• Relations and co-operation between minority protection bodies and the legislative, executive and judicial authorities in each Beneficiary is enhanced.


• A regional “Network” of all specialised minority protection bodies from each Beneficiary is established and operational.
• Documentary resources of common interest are produced by the Network.
• The best practices of NGOs in the field of the minority protection are identified and promoted through selected projects.