Ministers' Deputies / Rapporteur documents

RAP-PROG
Rapporteur on the Programme of Activities

RAP-PROG(2005)5-Add 2 7 November 2005[1]

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Examination of the Draft Programme of Activities for 2006 – Secretariat comments on the proposals of the Russian Federation to amend the Draft Programe of Activities for 2006 in the field of Human Rights

Item to be considered by the RAP-PROG at its meeting on 7 November 2005

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Russian Federation Proposal 1: To define more exactly Performance Indicators of Project 2004/DG2/24 "Coherence and synergies in the development of HR law and policy of different fora" (Expected Result 2, p.63).

Secretariat comments: It is suggested that the text be reworded as follows: “The content of CoE Human Rights instruments drawn up in 2006 will be consistent with and build on UN and EU standards. No CoE Human Rights instruments will merely duplicate UN and EU standards but provide specific CoE added value”.

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Russian Federation Proposal 2: To add to Project 2004/DG2/28 "Substantative legal analysis of HR issues and input in the development of CM policies on such issues", Expected Result 3, p.66 a sub-point "The evolution of the concept of HR will be examined".

Secretariat comments: It is not entirely clear whether the proposal relates to expected result 3 or whether this would be an additional expected result.

In the case of the latter, this suggestion for a new theme of work for the CDDH has not been discussed by the CDDH itself. That said, the Secretariat considers that such a theme is more suited to a debate in academic circles than to an intergovernmental activity which is expected to yield operational conclusions designed to enlighten the development of CM policies in the Human Rights field.

In the case of the former, it goes without saying that the CDDH’s analysis of current challenges to Human Rights in a multicultural society will embrace the issue of whether there is a need for any further development of the Human Rights in the face of these challenges. However, in 2006, the CDDH will focus essentially on identifying what challenges are at issue.

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Russian Federation Proposal 3: To add a sub-point "A seminar on Education for HR and European standards in the field of democracy and rule of law will be held in 2006" to Project 2004/DG4/92 "Developing standards and materials for democratic citizenship and HR education", Expected Result 1, p.82.

Secretariat comments: The Secretariat has taken due account of the request of the Russian Federation.  The proposal, however, is too detailed to be included in the Programme of Activities.

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Russian Federation Proposal4: To amend Project 2004/DG2/76 "Protecting and Promoting the rights of persons belonging to national minorities", Expected Result 2, Performance Indicators (p.96) as follows:

Activities organized on issues linked to the FCNM, including seminar "International legal instruments of protection and promotion of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities"."

Secretariat comments: This project is directly linked to promoting and facilitating compliance with the standards of the FCNM and the implementation of recommendations resulting from the monitoring mechanism. From this perspective, the project may be seen  to be an extended arm of the FCNM and its mechanism by providing for various technical support actions. The Secretariat considers it important to preserve this focus in this project. If the Russian proposal for a seminar were to be re-focused around the results of the monitoring mechanism, it would be sub‑sumed under the general reference to “Activities organised on issues linked to the FCNM”. Moreover, in this context, it might be noted that the DH-MIN, at its meeting held on 26-28 October 2005, took note of the international conference to be organised in the framework of the Romanian chairmanship on the role of consultative bodies of national authorities in enhancing the participation of persons belonging to national minorities in decision-making processes, which will take place in March 2006 to which the DH-Min members will be invited among others.