Cooperation, third countries: democracy, rule of law, respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms

OBJECTIVE: to provide a legal basis for the Community's 'human rights' activities. SUBSTANCE: the proposal for a Regulation specifies the type of support offered by the Community in this field. The Community will support operations aimed at: promoting economic, social and cultural rights, supporting the process of democratic change (including the holding of free and regular elections), promoting the rule of law (independence of the judiciary, institutional reforms), supporting local, national, regional or international institutions involved in the protection of human rights and supporting efforts to establish a permanent international criminal court, promoting civil society, promoting the independence of the press, supporting human rights education, promoting equal opportunities, promoting good governance and measures to fight corruption, supporting conflict prevention and the observance of humanitarian law, supporting efforts to reintegrate demobilized troops into civilian life, promoting the rights of children, migrants, displaced persons, etc. and supporting action against trafficking in human beings, protecting ethnic or religious minorities etc., protecting indigenous peoples (their rights and cultures). Measures will be taken by the Commission at the request of its partners or on its own initiative. They will be coordinated with, and will complement, measures adopted by Member States and international organizations active in this field. The Commission will be responsible for managing and implementing measures. It will be assisted by an advisory committee with regard to certain decisions of a financial nature. Finally, provision is made for emergency measures; the Commission may respond to urgent and unforeseeable needs arising from the sudden suspension of the democratic process or the emergence of a state of crisis. In such cases it will take its decision alone and inform the Member States forthwith. Provision is made for the regular