The general objectives of the new financing instrument, as defined by the EIDHR Regulation, are to contribute to the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, within the framework of the Community’s policy on development cooperation and economic, financial and technical cooperation with third countries and to be consistent with the European Union’s foreign policy as a whole.

This Call for Proposals will support the implementation of the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty which provide the general framework for EIDHR assistance in this area as well as the EU policy towards third countries.

EIDHR support will be given to activities focusing on promoting the restrictive use of, the establishment of a moratorium on, and the abolition of the death penalty.

These could include, amongst others: promoting the restriction of the number of offences for which the death penalty may be imposed, insistence on the application of the minimum standards when an execution is carried out and the establishment of a moratorium on executions with a view to the abolition of the death penalty.

Deadline: 2 October 2008. For full details about this open call for proposals please log on to http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl and enter the reference number 127238 in the ‘Search by Reference’ box