Cooperation: EIUC
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EUROPEAN INTER-UNIVERSITY CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS & DEMOCRATISATION (EIUC)

EIUC, located in a monumental monastery of San Nicolo in Venice/the Lido, is a centre of education, training and research activities in European policy areas related to the promotion of human rights and democracy.

ACTIVITIES

EIUC's activities include:

  1. Providing high level action-oriented and interdisciplinary education;
  2. Developing advanced training for field personnel and other human rights professionals meeting operational requirements;
  3. Identifying processes and means of transferring academic and institutional expertise into the public sphere;
  4. Creating a fertile environment for research and research cooperation and the transformation of results into realistic policies;
  5. Organising international conferences and seminars;
  6. Representing and supporting a network of approximately 700 graduates of the European Master's Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation now working for governments, major international organisations, and non-governmental organisations in and outside Europe;
  7. Initiating cultural events aimed at raising social awareness in the field of human rights and democratisation.

Academic activities of EIUC are complemented by the unique European Joint Degree on Human Rights and Democratisation - the only degree fully compliant with the so-called Bologna Process. This unique degree places EIUC and its human rights programme in an avant-garde of activities contributing to establishment of European Higher Education Area. The Joint Degree is now conferred by six Universities, which ratified in September 2004 the Joint Degree Agreement and its protocol of implementation, namely: University of Padua; Ca' Foscari University, Venice; University of Deusto, Bilbao; Ruhr-University Bochum; University of Graz; and University of Hambourg.
In its activities, EIUC applies innovative models for programmes and projects which bridge theory, practice and different disciplines. By doing so, EIUC significantly contributes to building European human rights policies and to development of co-operation in the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy, realizing rule of law and principles of democracy as well as good governance.

HISTORY

As the network of participating institutions and E.MA graduates has expanded through years, it has become increasingly important to create a structure to reinforce and maximise the potential of this network. A decisive step in this direction was taken on 15 September 2002 in Palazzo Ducale in Venice with the official signature of the EIUC Statute by twelve of the E.MA participating universities and the formation of the Centre as an autonomous institution. Eight universities joined in December 2002. As of March 2006, EIUC composition includes 34 E.MA participating universities.

PARTNERS

EIUC activities are primarily funded by the European Union, which continuously brings significant and invaluable contribution into development of the network.
Financial support is also provided by the municipality of Venice and Veneto Region.
Moreover, EIUC closely co-operates with:

  1. UNESCO,
  2. United Nations High Commisioner for Human Rights,
  3. GTZ,
  4. Council of Europe,
  5. OSCE,
  6. Biennale di Venezia,
  7. Fundacion Tres Culturas,
  8. as well as with other important international organisations, including:
    1. International Committee of the Red Cross,
    2. Human Rights Watch,
    3. International Commission of Jurists,
    4. International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims.

Since January 2005, Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commisioner for Human Rights, holds an office of Honorary EIUC President.
Given the extensive involvement of academics and experts of the highest level from all 25 EU Member States as well as leading experts and representatives from the EU institutions and other intergovernmental organisations, EIUC is uniquely positioned to pool and mobilise European expertise in the area of human rights and democratisation.

VALUES

Decision N°791/2004/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (21 April 2004) identified EIUC as one of the 7 European Institutions which seek "to extend and deepen knowledge of the building of Europe, or to contribute to the achievement of the common policy objectives in the field of education and training both inside and outside the Community".
EIUC furthermore declares commitment to realization of the values enshrined in the Constitution for Europe and contributes to a shared global understanding of human rights and democracy.
In order to learn more about EIUC visit http://www.eiuc.org/

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