Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

   česky      english     

Advanced search

Skip to menu

Article notification Print Decrease font size Increase font size

Transition Promotion Program Concept

 

The promotion of democracy in terms of the participation of citizens in good governance and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is a foreign policy priority of the Czech Republic as it enhances security, stability and prosperity. Among other activities we fund projects supporting democracy

Transition Promotion Program Concept to download (MS Word, 38 kB)

1. Introduction
2. Transition Promotion Program - definition, objectives
3. Integration into foreign development cooperation system
4. Transition promotion benefits
5. Funding and coordination
6. Transition promotion fields and forms


Ilustrační foto, autor: Ivo Šilhavý1. Introduction
The promotion of democracy in terms of the participation of citizens in good governance and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is a foreign policy priority of the Czech Republic as it enhances security, stability and prosperity. Commitment to these values is in conformity with the Constitution of the Czech Republic, the United Nations Charter, the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as international conventions on human rights and other documents .
As a member state of the European Union, NATO, UN and the international community of democratic countries, the Czech Republic recognizes the principle of solidarity among people and among states, assumes its share of responsibility for the solution of global problems and will continue to use transformation cooperation as one of the instruments in this respect.

2. Transition promotion program - definition, objectives
Transition promotion program dwells in the promotion of democracy and the defence of human rights, it focusses on the establishment and reinforcement of democratic institutions, the rule of law, civil society and the principles of good governance through education, spread of information, views and experience, in particular experience in the field of nonviolent resistance to the totalitarian system and the subsequent process of social transformation , experience of the Czech Republic and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe gained in the 1980s and 1990s.
Transformation cooperation is targeted on countries of priority interest of the foreign policy of the Czech Republic; it is complementary with its political and diplomatic steps .

3. Integration into foreign development cooperation system
Transition promotion program complements the system of Czech Republic's foreign development cooperation and becomes a separately defined part of the government policy pursued towards developing countries and countries in transition , as well as towards undemocratic regimes , where human rights and fundamental freedoms have been violated at variance with international law and international legal commitments of the countries concerned. The aim of the program is to work for the ongoing or potential future changes in these countries to become changes leading to democracy and the rule of law and not to chaos, conflict and destabilization.
Practical experience in the field of classic and economic diplomacy as well as theoretical findings identically prove that a) development assistance, b) humanitarian aid and c) transition promotion program are three separate, mutually irreplaceable instruments of foreign assistance. Transition promotion program puts stress on flexibility, operability and linkage with foreign policy principles and priorities. Its major characteristic feature is, however, systematic cooperation with civil society groups and nongovernmental organizations while contacts with the government authorities in the recipient countries may be deliberately excluded.
In the Czech Republic, transition promotion program as a segment of foreign development cooperation is for the time being fully coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The MFA, however, intends to participate in the drawing of a new framework within which these activities would be within the competence of a independent institution that would not be directly dependent on the government. The aim is to make engaged in transition promotion not only the executive but also e.g. the Parliament and the nongovernmental sector (civil society, academic circles, independent persons etc.).

4. Transition promotion benefits
Transition promotion facilitates the development of the recipient countries, based on a just and stable social system. The orientation of transition promotion towards the promotion of political systems sharing values compatible with ours at the same time reacts to new phenomena in international policy related to globalization . This approach is in conformity with political and security interests of the Czech Republic.
Cooperation with civil society is a long-term investment into relations with the recipient countries, both political and economic. Transition promotion is not aimed at the achievement of concrete profits in the economic field but may benefit this field in the long run.
Transition promotion is one of adequate responses to questions tabled by the global civil society and public opinion in the field of international relations and values represented by their actors. Well-targeted activities of the Czech Republic in the field of transformation cooperation may contribute to the country's good name as an advanced, responsible democratic country committed to solidarity. Transition promotion thus can also contribute to forming the identity of the Czech Republic, its good image abroad and to gaining international prestige.
Transition promotion along with a more systematic engagement of Czech civil society may also contribute to a wider social consensus on the main principles of foreign policy of the Czech Republic.

5. Funding and coordination
Transition promotion is funded from the state budget and is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . The earmarked funds are allocated in harmony with operative laws and service rules of the MFA and methods compatible with the foreign development cooperation system. The financial resources administered by the MFA for the purposes of Transition promotion program may be combined with resources of other partners, e.g. other Czech governmental and nongovernmental institutions, bodies of local self-government, nongovernmental organizations and private entities, governments of partner countries, European and international institutions and nongovernmental organizations abroad. Cooperation within the EU is most desirable in particular from the viewpoint of effectiveness of Transition promotion program.

6. Transition promotion fields and forms
Transition promotion with the recipient countries has the form of activities and projects effected on a bilateral or multilateral basis. Activities and projects are planned and prepared with regard to the needs of the recipient countries and with the aim to achieve maximum results with minimum funds. Activities and projects are realized either directly by the MFA (diplomatic missions abroad) or by partner institutions/organizations in the form of projects partly and completely covered from transition promotion funds.

6.1 Transition promotion fields:
a) Education in the fields of key importance for the process of social transformation (economics, justice and legislation, armed forces and security, education, social system, state administration and local self-government, rehabilitation of political prisoners, reform of special services and of the army, restitutions, privatization, etc.);
b) Promotion of civil society, civil life and relations within local communities, promotion of activities of nongovernmental organizations (in particular in fields important for social transformation), promotion of public engagement in decision-making processes;
c) Promotion of the establishment and work of local independent media, improvement of the standards of work of journalists;
d) Assistance in resolving problems related to undemocratic rule, and/or to the practice of repressive regimes, as well as in reducing these problems or eliminating them, provision of support to persecuted persons or groups (e.g. mediation of material, legal, psychological etc. assistance), promotion of alternative ways of spreading information;
e) Scientific research of aspects of transformation issues (economic, sociologic, socio-psychological, legal etc.) as a direct part of projects of transition promotion or their theoretical preparation;
f) Financial support (co-funding) of projects specified in items a) - e) seeking financial means from the funds of the EU or other international organizations.

6.2 Transition promotio forms
a) Training activities: study stays and scholarships, seminars, conferences;
b) Publication;
c) Study, work and exchange stays for students and young people, specialists, junior and communal politicians, journalists, representatives of nongovernmental organizations etc.;
d) Cultural events, presentations of cultural and training institutions;
e) Projects launched independently by entities in the recipient countries.


Related Links:

attachments

koncepce_trans_anjWEB 38 kB doc (Word document) Apr 29, 2005

.