European partnership for democracy, EPD

EPD Launches Fellowship Programme

In October 2009, the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) will start a new fellowship programme at its Brussels headquarters that will give people working in organisations in the field of democracy assistance the opportunity to experience working at the nerve-centre of European decision making.

This fellowship programme is very much in line with one of the principles upon which the EPD was founded in 2008 - namely, fostering cooperation between European organisations working in democracy assistance.

The aims of these internships are to:-

-  make contacts with representatives of the EU institutions working in their field

-  exchange information and establish cooperation with EU officials on topics of common interest

- establish new links, or solidify existing ones, with Brussels-based organization

-  discuss possible cooperation in advocacy work at EU level with fellow NGOs

-  gain first-hand experience of the European Union's workings from close quarters

-  observe how NGOs operate in the Brussels environment

-  strengthen ties with the EPD, opening the door to further cooperation in the future

 
The first fellowship program has been agreed with the EPD's partners in the Czech Republic, the Association for Democracy Assistance and Human Rights (DEMAS). DEMAS, an independent platform of Czech non-governmental organisations (NGOs), was established in 2008. The founding members comprise eleven NGOs that have, over many years, demonstrated their commitment to supporting democracy assistance, human rights and civil society in the Czech Republic and abroad. DEMAS builds on the solid foundations laid by the important segment of the Czech non-profit sector engaged in the field of democracy assistance, on Czech experience and know-how of the transition to democracy, and also on an enduring sense of shared responsibility for democratic development in countries less fortunate than the Czech Republic. Within the framework of DEMAS, the members will be able to identify their common interests and values, and co-operate more effectively in achieving the maximum impact in the field of human rights.

www.demas.cz

 
Centre for the Study of Democracy and Culture (CDK)

CDK is an independent, non-profit educational organization, founded as a civil association in Brno in August 1993. CDK continues the work of some earlier initiators devoted to the development of independent activities and publishing "samizdat" magazines before 1989. CDK's main activities are furthering democracy, managing monitoring and research projects, and publishing magazines and books (300 specialized books, textbooks, and collected volumes). Among major projects of CDK focus on transferring the Czech experience from transition to democracy to other countries such as Iraq, Ukraine or Russia by means of preparation or publications, visits and seminars.

In 2004 the department for analysing the European legislation and policies was established within the CDK on the initiative of Hynek Fajmon MEP (EPP-ED/Civic Democratic Party). The department's objectives are: to conduct regular monthly monitorings of the European legislation; to produce analyses of selected legislative issues; and to report regularly the results of its work through media. Iveta Frizlova, assistant analyst from CDK, will join EPD in Brussels for two weeks to deepen her knowledge about the EU with regards to the project of monitoring the European legislation but she will also focus on gathering contacts and information of the Eastern European projects - mainly Ukraine and Russia. She will search for possible sources of funding and partners for cooperation with CDK in projects.

www.cdk.cz

 

EUROPEUM

The EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent institute. It focuses on the issues of European integration and its impact on the transformation of political, economic, and legal milieu in the Czech Republic. EUROPEUM strives to contribute to the long-lasting development of democracy, security, stability, freedom, and solidarity across Europe. EUROPEUM formulates opinions and offers alternatives to internal reforms in the Czech Republic with a view of ensuring its full-fledged membership and respected position in the European Union.

One of the programs of EUROPEUM focuses on transfer on know-how on the Czech transition to democracy but also sharing of Czech experience with the accession process to the EU. The internship of Vladimir Bartovic, analyst from EUROPEUM, will focus on creating contacts with representatives of EU institutions responsible for Eastern Europe and Western Balkans and presenting the expertise of EUROPEUM in these countries.

www.europeum.org

 

PASOS

The Policy Association for an Open Society was founded in 2003 as a network of Eurasian think tanks. PASOS promotes and protects open society values, including democracy, the rule of law, good governance, respect for and protection of human rights, economic and social development by supporting entities that individually and jointly foster public participation in public policy issues at the European Union level, in other European structures, and in the wider neighbourhood of Europe and Central Asia. PASOS members provide policy advice to the region's decision-makers and international organisations on issues as diverse as human rights, economic development, legal reform, management of governmental reforms, social policy, education, health, religion, international co-operation, small enterprise development, public participation and public sector management. Eva Rybkova, the advocacy and events manager at PASOS, will come to Brussels to broaden her contacts with representatives of EU institutions in the fields of their expertise targeted by PASOS and its members in their advocacy activities.

www.pasos.org

 

Transitions Online (TOL) 

Transitions Online (TOL) is an international publishing and media development organization based in Prague and registered as a Czech non-profit organization. Its mission is to champion democracy, pluralism, and freedom of expression by strengthening the professionalism, independence, and impact of media and civil society organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the former Soviet Union.
 
This opportunity would allow TOL to meet the appropriate desk officers for their target countries, discuss possible cooperation and create partnerships with organizations that have Brussels offices and work in the media scene. TOL would like to explore all the possible funding mechanisms for media development work, both for traditional journalism training and new opportunities in the area of new media (for journalism and advocacy purposes). Jeremy Drucker, the Executive Director of TOL, and Tina Franko, the development officer will come to Brussels to explore the new opportunities.

www.tol.cz

 

Civic Belarus

The International Association Civic Belarus was established in 2004 in order to support democratic initiatives and development of civil society and free media in Belarus. Civic Belarus is a founder and contributer to the European Radio for Belarus (ERB), a radio station based in Warsaw broadcasting in Belarusian. It has been providing independent news, information, and entertainment mainly to the young people of Belarus since February 2006. Civic Belarus also support the Human Rights House, a platform uniting most Belarusian human rights organizations and serving as place for their activities in Vilnius, Lithuania. Katerina Spacova, the Executive Director of Civic Belarus, will come to Brussels to meet with representatives of the EU institutions who deal with Belarus.

www.civicbelarus.eu

 

People in Need - Burma Projects

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech-based nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that provides relief aid and development assistance, while working to defend human rights and democratic freedoms. PIN is one of the largest organizations of its kind in post-communist Europe and has administered projects in more than forty countries over the past fifteen years. People in Need was founded in 1992 and is today active in four main areas: social integration programs, humanitarian and development assistance, educational and informational programs, human rights and democracy.

PIN has been supporting the Burmese democracy movement since the mid-1990s, in close cooperation with various Burmese organizations in Thailand and Burma. PIN focuses on supporting the families of political prisoners, independent journalists and small civic groups inside Burma. PIN is also active in the advocacy field in Europe, most recently PIN together with Burma Campaign UK served as a secretariat for the European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma. EPCB was founded in June 2008 to raise awareness on Burma in Europe and promote human rights and democracy in Burma. It  represents 16 European countries with more than 160 MPs. Marie Havlinove, Burma Project Coordinator, will spend two weeks in Brussels mainly to improve the work of the Caucus but also to meet with other officers from teh Council and the Commission on Burma.

http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/