ODIHR and the EEA and Norway Grants: Working together for human rights and a democratic Europe

Drawing on its expertise, networks and convening power, ODIHR brings together government officials, civil society, experts and community leaders to exchange experiences, strengthen skills and develop practical solutions.

The partnership focuses on four areas where targeted support can make a lasting difference: strengthening efforts to combat trafficking in human beings, improving support for hate crime victims, promoting the rule of law and judicial independence, and empowering Roma leaders to take a greater role in public and political life. Gender equality is integrated across all activities.

Survivors’ experience is essential to effective anti-trafficking policies and responses. Yet in many countries, survivor engagement remains limited or is not carried out in a way that is ethical, trauma-informed and meaningful. 

Through partnership with the EEA and Norway Grants, ODIHR is organizing two regional dialogue platforms bringing together anti-trafficking stakeholders, civil society organizations and survivor leaders from Southern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe.

The project helps participants:

• strengthen their understanding of ethical survivor inclusion
• explore practical tools and standards for establishing National Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Councils and similar mechanisms
• exchange experiences, challenges and promising practices
• strengthen cross-border co-operation in anti-trafficking efforts

Designed in consultation with ODIHR’s International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC), the project places survivor leadership at its core, helping countries move from consultation towards meaningful participation in decision-making.

People who experience hate crime often face discrimination based on multiple aspects of their identity. Understanding these intersecting experiences is essential to ensuring effective victim support and justice responses.

ODIHR is developing practical guidance on addressing intersectionality in hate crime and hate crime victim support work, with particular attention to gender-related dimensions.

The project will:

• provide practical guidance for criminal justice actors and victim support providers
• explain how intersectionality applies in hate crime contexts
• showcase promising practices from governments and civil society organizations
• identify common challenges and practical ways to overcome them

The project aims to help ensure that support systems better reflect the diverse realities and needs of hate crime victims.

Judicial independence, accountability and access to justice are fundamental pillars of democratic governance and human rights protection.

To support dialogue on these issues, ODIHR is organizing two regional roundtables bringing together judges, judicial councils, lawyers, academics, civil society representatives and international experts from Central and Southern Europe.

The roundtables will focus on:

• rule of law reforms
• judicial independence and accountability
• access to justice
• the right to a fair trial
• responses to emerging challenges affecting democratic institutions

Participants will exchange experiences and good practices, assess developments across the region and identify practical ways to strengthen the rule of law in line with international human rights standards and OSCE commitments.

The project builds on ODIHR’s extensive experience in judicial reform, legal review and support to participating States in strengthening independent and effective justice systems.

Roma remain significantly underrepresented in public and political life across much of the OSCE region. Strengthening Roma leadership is essential to ensuring that public institutions and decision-making processes reflect the diversity of the societies they serve.

The Roma Leadership Academy “Nicolae Gheorghe” is a five-day leadership programme designed for Roma elected representatives, public officials, aspiring political candidates and civil society advocates.

The Academy combines expert-led learning with practical exercises in:

• policy-making
• advocacy and strategic communication
• negotiation and stakeholder engagement
• public speaking
• leadership development
• crisis communication

By strengthening participants’ skills, confidence and networks, the Academy supports greater Roma participation in public affairs and contributes to more inclusive, representative and democratic governance.

The project also seeks to build partnerships with leading academic institutions and experts to further strengthen opportunities for Roma leadership development across the region.

The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, democratic and resilient Europe. 

There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the Donor States and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics.

The three Donor States cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). 

The donors have provided €6.1 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2021. 

For the period 2021-2028, the EEA Grants amount to €3.268 billion. Eligibility for the Grants mirror the criteria set for the EU Cohesion Fund aimed at member countries where the Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average.

The programme areas and funds for the period can be found in the  ‘Blue Book’.

For more information about ODIHR’s partnership with the EEA and Norway Grants and related activities, please contact ODIHR project co-ordination unit at PCU@odihr.pl.