Transition Promotion Program Concept
29.04.2005 / 15:00 | Aktualizováno: 09.03.2009 / 16:55
The promotion of democracy in terms of the participation of citizens in good governance and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is a foreign policy priority of the Czech Republic as it enhances security, stability and prosperity. Among other activities we fund projects supporting democracy
Transition
Promotion Program Concept to download (MS Word, 38 kB)
1. Introduction
2. Transition Promotion Program - definition, objectives
3. Integration into foreign development cooperation system
4. Transition promotion benefits
5. Funding and coordination
6. Transition promotion fields and forms
1.
Introduction
The promotion of democracy in terms of the
participation of citizens in good governance and the protection of
human rights and fundamental freedoms is a foreign policy priority
of the Czech Republic as it enhances security, stability and
prosperity. Commitment to these values is in conformity with the
Constitution of the Czech Republic, the United Nations Charter, the
provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as
international conventions on human rights and other documents .
As a member state of the European Union, NATO, UN and the
international community of democratic countries, the Czech Republic
recognizes the principle of solidarity among people and among
states, assumes its share of responsibility for the solution of
global problems and will continue to use transformation cooperation
as one of the instruments in this respect.
2. Transition promotion program - definition, objectives
Transition promotion program dwells in the
promotion of democracy and the defence of human rights, it focusses
on the establishment and reinforcement of democratic institutions,
the rule of law, civil society and the principles of good
governance through education, spread of information, views and
experience, in particular experience in the field of nonviolent
resistance to the totalitarian system and the subsequent process of
social transformation , experience of the Czech Republic and other
countries of Central and Eastern Europe gained in the 1980s and
1990s.
Transformation cooperation is targeted on countries of
priority interest of the foreign policy of the Czech Republic; it
is complementary with its political and diplomatic steps .
3. Integration into foreign development cooperation system
Transition promotion program complements the system
of Czech Republic's foreign development cooperation and becomes a
separately defined part of the government policy pursued towards
developing countries and countries in transition , as well as
towards undemocratic regimes , where human rights and fundamental
freedoms have been violated at variance with international law and
international legal commitments of the countries concerned. The aim
of the program is to work for the ongoing or potential future
changes in these countries to become changes leading to democracy
and the rule of law and not to chaos, conflict and destabilization.
Practical experience in the field of classic and economic
diplomacy as well as theoretical findings identically prove that a)
development assistance, b) humanitarian aid and c) transition
promotion program are three separate, mutually irreplaceable
instruments of foreign assistance. Transition promotion program
puts stress on flexibility, operability and linkage with foreign
policy principles and priorities. Its major characteristic feature
is, however, systematic cooperation with civil society groups and
nongovernmental organizations while contacts with the government
authorities in the recipient countries may be deliberately
excluded.
In the Czech Republic, transition promotion program as a
segment of foreign development cooperation is for the time being
fully coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The MFA,
however, intends to participate in the drawing of a new framework
within which these activities would be within the competence of a
independent institution that would not be directly dependent on the
government. The aim is to make engaged in transition promotion not
only the executive but also e.g. the Parliament and the
nongovernmental sector (civil society, academic circles,
independent persons etc.).
4. Transition promotion benefits
Transition promotion facilitates the development of the
recipient countries, based on a just and stable social system. The
orientation of transition promotion towards the promotion of
political systems sharing values compatible with ours at the same
time reacts to new phenomena in international policy related to
globalization . This approach is in conformity with political and
security interests of the Czech Republic.
Cooperation with civil society is a long-term investment into
relations with the recipient countries, both political and
economic. Transition promotion is not aimed at the achievement of
concrete profits in the economic field but may benefit this field
in the long run.
Transition promotion is one of adequate responses to
questions tabled by the global civil society and public opinion in
the field of international relations and values represented by
their actors. Well-targeted activities of the Czech Republic in the
field of transformation cooperation may contribute to the country's
good name as an advanced, responsible democratic country committed
to solidarity. Transition promotion thus can also contribute to
forming the identity of the Czech Republic, its good image abroad
and to gaining international prestige.
Transition promotion along with a more systematic engagement
of Czech civil society may also contribute to a wider social
consensus on the main principles of foreign policy of the Czech
Republic.
5. Funding and coordination
Transition promotion is funded from the state
budget and is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . The
earmarked funds are allocated in harmony with operative laws and
service rules of the MFA and methods compatible with the foreign
development cooperation system. The financial resources
administered by the MFA for the purposes of Transition promotion
program may be combined with resources of other partners, e.g.
other Czech governmental and nongovernmental institutions, bodies
of local self-government, nongovernmental organizations and private
entities, governments of partner countries, European and
international institutions and nongovernmental organizations
abroad. Cooperation within the EU is most desirable in particular
from the viewpoint of effectiveness of Transition promotion
program.
6. Transition promotion fields and forms
Transition promotion with the recipient countries
has the form of activities and projects effected on a bilateral or
multilateral basis. Activities and projects are planned and
prepared with regard to the needs of the recipient countries and
with the aim to achieve maximum results with minimum funds.
Activities and projects are realized either directly by the MFA
(diplomatic missions abroad) or by partner
institutions/organizations in the form of projects partly and
completely covered from transition promotion funds.
6.1 Transition promotion fields:
a) Education in the fields of key importance for
the process of social transformation (economics, justice and
legislation, armed forces and security, education, social system,
state administration and local self-government, rehabilitation of
political prisoners, reform of special services and of the army,
restitutions, privatization, etc.);
b) Promotion of civil society, civil life and relations
within local communities, promotion of activities of
nongovernmental organizations (in particular in fields important
for social transformation), promotion of public engagement in
decision-making processes;
c) Promotion of the establishment and work of local
independent media, improvement of the standards of work of
journalists;
d) Assistance in resolving problems related to undemocratic
rule, and/or to the practice of repressive regimes, as well as in
reducing these problems or eliminating them, provision of support
to persecuted persons or groups (e.g. mediation of material, legal,
psychological etc. assistance), promotion of alternative ways of
spreading information;
e) Scientific research of aspects of transformation issues
(economic, sociologic, socio-psychological, legal etc.) as a direct
part of projects of transition promotion or their theoretical
preparation;
f) Financial support (co-funding) of projects specified in
items a) - e) seeking financial means from the funds of the EU or
other international organizations.
6.2 Transition promotio forms
a) Training activities: study stays and
scholarships, seminars, conferences;
b) Publication;
c) Study, work and exchange stays for students and young
people, specialists, junior and communal politicians, journalists,
representatives of nongovernmental organizations etc.;
d) Cultural events, presentations of cultural and training
institutions;
e) Projects launched independently by entities in the
recipient countries.
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