The Programme of Advanced Training in the field of Human rights, the rule of law and democracy for Southern Mediterranean (PATHS) is organised in the context of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Towards Strengthened Democratic Governance in the Southern Mediterranean”. PATHS aims to strengthen awareness and knowledge of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. The programme is addressed to young professionals, public servants and civil society representatives from countries of the Southern Mediterranean. The programme was initially targeted to Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan and then extended to Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya and the Palestinian National Authority.

The programme covers a three-year period, from 2015 to 2017, and is organized in four-days modules that take place in Venice, Strasbourg and Rabat.

 The first module on ‘Constitutional Justice, Transitional Justice and the legislative process’ aimed at highlighting how the role of parliamentary institutions in the creation of norms is fundamental to democracy. This module, which took place in Venice from 30 November to 4 December 2015, was directed to members of Constitutional Courts, Parliaments and Ministries of Justice.

During the third session, hosted by the Venice Office from 6 to 9 December 2016, the training focused on international systems for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and on how these rights and freedoms are safeguarded in practice. These modules were addressed to legal professionals, lawyers and judges and regarded the mechanisms to transpose international standards such as the ones enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the ones promoted by the Council of Europe. The module centred around anti-discrimination, protection of vulnerable groups, namely women and children, and fight against human trafficking.

 Further sessions dealt with anti-corruption measures, fight against economic crimes, international cooperation in criminal matters, education for democratic citizenship and human rights education.