Establishment
The Human Rights Trust Fund (HRTF) was set up in
March 2008
by Norway, initiator and a founding contributor, the Council of
Europe and the CEB - Council of Europe Development Bank. Since
its creation,
Germany,
the Netherlands,
Finland,
Switzerland
and the United Kingdom have also
joined.
Purpose
The Fund finances activities
that support member states’ efforts in implementing the European Convention
on Human Rights ("the Convention”) and other Council of Europe human rights
instruments and contributes to strengthening the sustainability of the
European Court of Human Rights, by:
preserving and promoting common fundamental values concerning human rights,
democracy and the rule of law
ensuring effective mechanisms for verifying the compatibility of legislation
and administrative practice with the Convention, including ensuring
effective domestic remedies
facilitating the implementation of national measures to prevent or redress
violations of human rights.
The Human Rights Trust Fund projects
contribute to ensuring :
that
effective remedies exist for anyone with an arguable complaint of violation
of the Convention
that
there are domestic procedures that comply with procedural obligations under
the Convention to conduct effective investigations and handle cases of
serious violation of the Convention
that
there are effective mechanisms for verifying the compatibility of draft
legislation and administrative practice with the Convention
that
adequate organisation, operation and infrastructure of administrative and
judicial public services exist. |
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"The Human Rights
Trust Fund is a unique and effective instrument to support the implementation
of the European Convention on Human Rights within the Member States of the
Council of Europe. It aims, in particular, at strengthening the sustainability of
the European Court of Human Rights. Six countries contribute to the Fund:
Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands and, since 2012,
the UK too. We hope others will join us as there is plenty to do to maintain
and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms on our continent."
Ellen Berends, Chairperson of the Governing Body of the HRTF,
Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Council of Europe |
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"Instruments such as the
Human Rights Trust Fund are invaluable in order to help translate our
human rights standards into practice. This Fund is an example of good
financial practice, encouraging Member States to better participate in
promoting the principles and values of the Council of Europe. Through
this financial tool, the Council of Europe and the CEB can widen and
enhance the impact of their action in this field and contribute to the
efforts of Member States in complying with their obligations under the
European Convention on Human Rights and other human rights instruments
of the Council of Europe."
Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General
of the Council of Europe |
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"The participation
of the CEB to the Human Rights Trust Fund is a clear sign of its strong attachment
to the values promoted by the Council of Europe and particularly of its support for the
European system of human rights protection. CEB's social mandate is intrisically
linked to these values."
Rolf Wenzel
Governor of the CEB |
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