DIANET.org - New round of strategic grants for the Minority Rights in Practice project

Dialogue for Interaction. Advocacy and Networking Capacity Building in Southeast Europe

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Welcome to DIANET!

DIANET (Dialogue for Interaction, Advocacy and Networking Capacity Building) is the most recent project undertaken by the King Baudouin Foundation as part of its wider programme, the Minority Rights in Practice in Southeast Europe , which operates at national, regional and European levels with the aim of improving minority rights practice and participation across all countries of Southeast Europe.

The DIANET project was launched in January 2006, with the support of the European Commission’s CARDS Regional Programme. Its objectives are to improve advocacy skills at local, national and regional levels through an established network of civil society organisations in Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia and Montenegro.

This web site represents the main hub of the DIANET network and will ensure a constant source of advice and information to all CSOs involved. As well as providing up-to-date information on minority rights (existing legal frameworks, reports on the situation of minorities and existing practices in the countries in the region), the website will also encourage the transfer of knowledge and know-how through training and capacity building tools and practical cases produced by the project partners as well as the latest news about their work.

New round of strategic grants for the Minority Rights in Practice project

Launched in 2004, the Minority Rights in Practice project (MRP) aims to increase opportunities for the inclusion and participation of ethnic minorities in the countries of South-East Europe in view of their European integration objectives. Strategic grants amounting to a total of € 285,000 have been approved for Phase II of the programme (2006-2008).

Partner NGO’s in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Romania and Serbia were invited to build on the results of their activities during the first phase and submit plans for Phase II of the programme which will run from 2006-2008. Macedonia will follow in the Spring while a coalition of four NGO’s has been created for the launching of the project in Montenegro. The action plans will focus on three key aspects:

The local level: there is a need for a policy that would reconcile local self-governance with the principles of multi-ethnicity. Minorities should indeed be recognised not only at national but also at local level, this especially in the context of the new policy of decentralisation, and their position should be strenghtened through the effective implementation of existing institutional mechanisms;

EU accession/integration has proven to be a powerful driving force for reforms throughout the region and particularly in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. It has also increased awareness and attention amongst European decision makers and institutions;

The need for training and capacity building, particularly for public institutions and representative bodies such as minority councils.

For further information, please contact Fabrice de Kerchove,
Project Manager - King Baudouin Foundation
dekerchove.f@kbs-frb.be
http://www.kbs-frb.be/code/page.cfm?id_page=125&ID=751

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An Initiative of the King Baudouin Foundation with the support of the European Commission - CARDS Regional Programme