Information Documents
SG/Com(2002)822 (restricted) 18 December2002
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Communication by the Secretary General
to the 822nd meeting of the
Ministers’ Deputies
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List of Items
Secretary General
1. Konrad-Adenauer StiftungRoundtable “The Convention for the Future of Europe – 25 or 47?”, Brussels (12 December 2002)
2. Placement of national officials at the disposal of the Council of Europe
3. Voluntary contributions
4. Future visits
Communication from the Secretary General
1. Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung Roundtable “The Convention for the Future of Europe – 25 or 47?”, Brussels (12 December 2002)
On 12 December 2002, I was invited to address the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation offices in Brussels at their weekly Roundtable Luncheon. I chose to speak about “The Convention for the Future of Europe – 25 or 47?”. In my speech, I outlined the history of both the European Union and the Council of Europe: there was a common vision at the beginning. The two institutions then developed in accordance with specific political conditions put forward by different states. It is now our challenge to bring these two institutions together and to strive for close co-operation to the benefit of all European citizens and residents. For the moment, the EU is party only to 8 out of 190 Council of Europe conventions; in other words there is plenty of scope for further co-operation. For coherence in the protection of fundamental human rights, the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights is of paramount importance!
There ensued a lively discussion where the Members of the European Parliament present, among others, expressed their strong interest in increased co-operation with the Council of Europe.
The Head of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation in Brussels, Josef Reuter, expressed strong interest in forging further contacts with the Council of Europe.
2. Placement of national officials at the disposal of the Council of Europe
Directorate General II – Human Rights
I am pleased to inform you that I have approved the placement of Mr Adrian TUDORICA from Romania in the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in DGII. Mr TUDORICA currently works as legal counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Directorate for the Government’s Agent before the European Court of Human Rights. He will take up his duties in April 2003 for an initial period of one year. I would like to thank the Romanian authorities for this generous offer.
Directorate General of Political Affairs
The Directorate General of Political Affairs is currently looking for a Human Rights Field Officer to be seconded to the Council of Europe Pristina Office for a minimum period of one year.
He/she should constitute a focal point on the ground for the Council of Europe’s human rights activities. He/she is expected to develop and maintain the necessary contacts with the relevant local and international actors in Kosovo and co-ordinate their participation in, or support towards, the Council of Europe’s human rights activities.
A detailed description is attached to this communication as Appendix I. I should be grateful to receive your proposal in this respect by 24 January 2003.
3. Voluntary contributions
I should like to thank the Spanish authorities for their contribution of € 18, 000 to the activities in support of the work of the Council of Europe experts in the Office of the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the respect of human rights, civil rights and freedoms in the Chechen Republic.
I should also like to thank the Lithuanian authorities for their contribution of € 25, 000 to the Special Account of Regional Co-operation.
4. Future visits
Nicosia, Cyprus – Official visit, 5 to 9 January 2003
Graz, Austria – Official opening, Graz, European Cultural Capital for 2003, 11 January 2003
Paris, France – Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly, 13 January 2003
Appendix I
Directorate General of Political Affairs
The Directorate General of Political Affairs is currently looking for a Human Rights Officer to be based in the Council of Europe’s Secretariat Office in Kosovo. He/she will constitute a focal point on the ground for the Council of Europe’s human rights activities, in particular as regards the training of professional groups and the promotion of human rights among civil society.
He/she will :
- conduct, in co-operation with DGII, human rights activities and in particular:
training for professional groups in Kosovo, including judges, prosecutors, lawyers and NGO representatives, namely on key aspects of the ECHR;
· develop, in co-operation with DGII, human rights awareness activities to be carried out in coordination with OSCE, OHCHR and other relevant Organisations;
· develop and maintain the necessary contacts with the relevant local and international actors and co-ordinate their participation in, or support towards, the Council of Europe’s human rights activities;
· liaise and co-operate with local and international organisations, in particular the Office of Good Governance in the Office of the Prime Minister, UNICEF and UNIFEM;
· recommend possible Council of Europe action and assistance in the human rights field;
· develop a network of contacts and information regarding developments in the media field in Kosovo;
· co-operate closely with the Deputy Head of Office/Legal Affairs Officer on activities where legal and human rights issues overlap ;
- facilitate visits of experts and Council of Europe staff members to Kosovo and organise meetings as and when necessary;
- maintain the Office’s documentation room, in relation with the Council of Europe’s Information Point (registration of documents, information for visitors, ordering of publications and translations), in co-operation with the Legal Assistant.
The person appointed will also be expected to replace, whenever necessary, colleagues temporarily absent from the Council of Europe Secretariat office in Kosovo.
He/she will report to the Head of the Council of Europe Secretariat Office in Kosovo on all administrative issues and to the Council of Europe headquarters, Directorate General of Human Rights, on the substantive programmes.
Direction Générale des Affaires politiques
La Direction Générale des Affaires politiques est actuellement à la recherche d’un(e) conseiller(ère) en droits de l’homme pour le Bureau du Secrétariat du Conseil de l’Europe au Kosovo. Il/elle constituera le contact privilégié sur le terrain pour les activités du Conseil de l’Europe en matière de droits de l’homme, en particulier en ce qui concerne la formation de groupes professionnels et la promotion des droits de l’homme au sein de la société civile.
Il/elle sera chargé(e) :
- de mettre en oeuvre, en coopération avec la DGII, les activités en matière de droits de l’homme et en particulier la formation de groupes professionnels, y compris des juges, des procureurs, des avocats et des représentants d’ONG, notamment sur des aspects clés de la CEDH ;
- de développer, en coopération avec la DGII, des activités de sensibilisation aux droits de l’homme en coordination avec l’OSCE, l’OHCDH et d’autres organisations pertinentes ;
· de développer et maintenir les contacts nécessaires avec les acteurs locaux et internationaux pertinents et de coordonner leur participation ou leur soutien aux activités du Conseil de l’Europe dans le domaine des droits de l’homme ;
· de faire la liaison et de coopérer avec des organisations locales et internationales, en particulier le Bureau de Bonne Gouvernance du Bureau du Premier Ministre, l’UNICEF et l’UNIFEM ;
· de formuler des recommandations pour l’action et l’assistance du Conseil de l’Europe sur le terrain dans ce domaine ;
· de développer un réseau de contacts et d’informations lié aux médias au Kosovo ;
· de coopérer étroitement avec le Chef adjoint du Bureau/Conseiller en affaires juridiques pour les activités où les questions juridiques et de droits de l’homme sont toutes deux concernées ,
· de faciliter les visites d’experts et de membres du Secrétariat du Conseil de l’Europe au Kosovo et, au besoin d’organiser, des réunions;
· en coopération avec le Conseiller en affaires juridiques, de tenir à jour la documentation du Bureau en relation avec le Point Information du Conseil de l’Europe (enregistrement des documents, information des visiteurs, commande des publications et de leur traduction),.
La personne recrutée sera également appelée à remplacer, si nécessaire, les collègues temporairement absents du Bureau du Secrétariat du Conseil de l’Europe au Kosovo.
Il/elle fera rapport au Chef du Bureau du Secrétariat du Conseil de l’Europe au Kosovo sur toutes les questions administratives et au siège du Conseil de l’Europe, Direction Générales des Droits de l’homme, sur toutes les questions liées aux programmes.