As a follow-up to the November 1995 Barcelona Declaration and Work Programme, and the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (the Partnership) between 27 countries (the Partner Countries), the Danish Centre for Human Rights called for a meeting of human rights organizations and individuals from the Middle East, North Africa and the EU to take part in the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network with the objective of contributing to the implementation of human rights in the Partnership.
The initiative was dually motivated. First, activities in the field of human rights are not included in the Barcelona Work Programme, although the political and security dimension of the Partnership implies a political commitment by all parties to implement and adhere to fundamental human rights. Secondly, it is stressed in the Barcelona Declaration that the role of civil society in the implementation of the Partnership is essential and should be encouraged.
The objective of the meeting, which was attended by 13 organizations and three individuals, was to outline guidelines for the objectives, priorities, strategies, and the structure of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (the Network).