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The European Union has launched a
financial support, totalling N360 million, for various projects on
democracy and human rights in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Kelechi
Onyemaobi, the Press and Information Officer of the EU, on Wednesday,
he said the money will cover projects for two years (2009 and 2010),
and will be implemented by non-governmental organisations:

“The European Union (EU) Delegation to
Nigeria has launched a financial support for various new projects
dealing with democracy and human rights. The total amount for the
projects, covering 2009 and 2010, is €1.8 million (about N360 million).

“The projects will be implemented by
non-governmental organisations that will be selected on a competitive
basis and awarded grants by the EU Delegation in Nigeria.”

Projects to be funded

The union also listed the priority
areas that will receive funding under the scheme. They include –
protection of the rights of children and young people (including
actions aimed at addressing child trafficking); protection of women’s
rights (including actions that support the implementation of the
Convention Against All Forms of Discrimination against Women); actions
that aim at the abolition of the death penalty; and actions that target
the prevention of torture and ill-treatment by state agencies,
including extra-judicial killings.

Others are actions that contribute to the peace process in the
Niger-Delta region of Nigeria; and actions that aim at conflict
prevention and/or resolution, especially in Nigerian societies deeply
divided by religious and ethnic issues, by means of civil society
dialogues which seek to bridge societal divides and which bring
together a wide range of stakeholders to share experience and analyse
common problems.