The project Rooting for Rights (R4R) brings together human rights organisations and experts from Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Portugal, as well the Greek National Commission of Human Rights (GNCHR), being lead organisations in the area of asylum within their national contexts. Our intention is to answer the question: “the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and refugees: what’s the link?”
The aim of this unique Southern European consortium, acknowledging the main regional similarities and particularities of this area, is to increase the Charter’s impact on the lives of refugees by:
- strengthening capacities of civil society organisations and justice practitioners to support litigation;
- improving rights-holders’ awareness on effectively claiming their rights;
- raise awareness within and mobilize first responders, law enforcement bodies and rights-defenders to identify potential violations and take preventive action;
- engaging with national authorities and independent human rights bodies for the promotion and enforcement of EU values and the Charter.
In view of the particular challenges faced by refugees in the targeted Member States, the project seeks to bring about effective, sustainable and meaningful change in the area of reception, including detention, reception conditions, identification and care of vulnerable persons, including unaccompanied children.
So far?
Since we started work on this project we’ve attended a train the trainers even delivered by ECRE, giving us the skills and knowledge necessary to train our colleagues in Malta. We’ve also carried out an extensive survey in the 4 EU Member States, asking entities involved with refugees whether the Charter is a familiar instrument in their work. The results of this survey are providing us with the basis for designing national training activities in each country.
The Malta training is approaching. At the beginning of 2024 we will invite legal practitioners to discuss use of the EU Charter in Malta.
Ultimately, our aim is to push for better and increased use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as a key legal instrument for refugee protection.
This project is co-funded by the European Union.
