Common legal space

The creation of a common legal space between both shores of the Mediterranean based on the universal values enshrined in European and international standards has been at the heart of the South Programme since its launch in 2012. It represents undisputed and sustainable gains for the consolidation of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the region by anchoring national legislation in international standards

Achievements

19	ratifications of Council of Europe Conventions by 5 national authorities in the region	1^st	National referral mechanism for victims of human trafficking in the region set up and launched in Tunisia www.mno.tn
1^st	online reporting platforms to combat cyberviolence of children in the region launched and promoted in Tunisia and Morocco in collaboration with Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)	+ 10.000	copies of the of the Kit on the rights of women victims of violence disseminated in Tunisia and Morocco
	Online hub platform and resources on gender and gender-based violence « contre-violences-femmes-tunisie.com »		Launch of the Espace Maroc Cyberconfiance (EMC)

Promoting the creation of a common legal space also translates into providing technical support to ongoing national legislative reforms with a view of aligning legislation with European standards, which is in some cases a prerequisite to accede to Council of Europe conventions. At the request of beneficiary authorities, the programme supports legislative reviews or produces opinions through the Venice Commission and/or other relevant instances of the Council of Europe. Read more about the Quick Response Mechanism

Conventions and standards

Council of Europe conventions and standards are recognised as a key reference for the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. They form the legal acquis of the Council of Europe, and of the whole European continent, as they are also an essential part of the Organisation’s instruments used to harmonise national laws at the pan-European level and beyond. Out of more than 200 conventions, around 150 of them are open for accession by non-member States of the Organisation which is a key asset of this legal acquis.

List of the Council of Europe conventions and standards in Arabic