DOMESTIC AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AREA

1. Project “A common voice towards a world without GBV- Intervention mechanisms and good practice models on gender-based violence”

Beneficiary: National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men

Partener: Ministry of Justice and Public Security of Norway

Budget: 92.253 Euro

Implementation period: September 2018 - June 2019

Results:

• one international conference „A common voice towards a world without GBV- Intervention mechanisms and good practice models on gender-based violence” which aimed at presenting best practice on intervention mechanisms and good practice models on gender-based violence, with emphasis on the Spanish experience in the field, organized during 14-15 November 2018, in Bucharest, Romania. The event was attended by 104 specialists from Romania, Norway and other EU Member States receiving EEA/Norway Grants assistance in the field (Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia), representatives of civil society, experts from Spain, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Iceland, United Kingdom, United States of America and international organizations such as Council of Europe, Agency for Fundamental Rights, Embassies of Norway, Spain and Great Britain, representatives of the Romanian Parliament, etc.

• one SYNERGY Network against gender-based and domestic violence meeting organized on 15 November 2018. The need to adopt integrated public policies in order to prevent and fight against gender based and domestic violence was discussed, and the progress registered at European level in terms of ratification of the Istanbul Convention was presented.  The event was attended by 63 specialists in the field of domestic and gender-based violence from Romania, Norway and other countries benefitting of EEA/Norway grants (Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Estonia) and part of the participants to the Conference (representatives of the beneficiary, of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police etc.);

• one compendium on the good practice models regarding the coordinating and individualized response for victims of gender-based violence presented during the conference elaborated.

2. Project “ Towards a Europe free from violence against women and girls - the Istanbul Convention creating a new horizon  And a paradigm change for all stakeholders! (An EEA/Norway Grants bilateral project: organized in the context of the PRES RO of the EU  Council 2019)”

Beneficiary: National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men

Partener: Ministry of Justice and Public Security of Norway

Budget: 273.455 Euro

Implementation period: February 2019 - December 2020

Results:

• one international conference “Together for a Europe free from violence against women - the Istanbul Convention a tool for change in the area of preventing and combating the domestic violence” which aimed at presenting and discussing best practice and national experience regarding the ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention has taken place. The Conference was organised in Bucharest, during 4-6 June 2019, under the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council. The event was attended by 155 experts and specialists with competences in the field of domestic and gender-based violence from Romania, Norway, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Croatia, Finland, France, Slovenia, Denmark, Estonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland, United States of America, Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Malta, representatives of the national central and local administration with competences in the field of gender based and domestic violence (GBDV). Also, representatives of the European Commission and of the European and international institutions with competences in the field of GBDV (European Institute for Men and Women Equality, Council of Europe, UN Women, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europa, etc.), representatives of the Embassies of Norway, France, Croatia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland, the permanent Norway representative to the Council of Europe, etc.;

• a new working meeting of the SYNERGY Network coordinated by Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security was organised, during which an exchange of experience as regards the implementation of programmes/projects financed by the EEA/Norway Grants, by the beneficiary states members of the SYNERGY Network was made, good practice from the Donor States as regard GBDV were presented and the working plan of the SYNERGY Network was discussed. The event was attended by 65 specialists in the field of domestic and gender-based violence from Norway, Iceland and other countries benefitting of EEA/Norway grants (Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Malta, Spain, etc.) and part of the participants to the Conference;

• a good practice guidance on integrated policies against domestic and gender-based violence including the information presented during the conference was elaborated;

• a brochure bridging the results of the Conference organised in November 2018 on the coordinated and integrated response to the gender-based violence and the Conference organised during 4-6 June 2019.

3. Project “ Working visits and showcase Romania on Istanbul Convention”

Beneficiary: National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men

Partener: Ministry of Justice and Public Security of Norway

Budget: 4.939 Euro

Implementation period: August 2019 - February 2019

Results:

• participation of 3 ANES representatives to the workshops on domestic violence organized in the framework of the Third European Conference on Domestic Violence (4th September 2019), to a working meeting with the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and to a visit to the Oslo crisis centre for supporting the victims of rape, in Norway (5th September 2019), in order to explore the potential partnerships in implementing the predefined project “Supporting the implementation of the Istanbul Convention”. ANES delegation presented, during the conference, the progress registered by Romania as regards the implementation of the Istanbul Convention and agreed, together with the representatives of the Norwegian Ministry of Justice the new proposals of bilateral initiatives. 

4. Project “Participation at the international Conference – European experience with the Istanbul Convention- and to the 4th SYNERGY Network meeting”

Beneficiary: National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men

Partener: Ministry of Justice and Public Security of Norway

Budget: 2.499 Euro

Implementation period: October 2019 – November 2019

Results:

• participation of 2 ANES representatives to :
  • the International Conference – „European experience with the Istanbul Convention”, organized in Prague, Czech Republic, on the 7th of October 2019 during which the importance of ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention at European level was presented in order to facilitate a discussion on ratification of this Convention by the Czech Republic. During this event, ANES representatives presented the positive aspects and concrete measures resulting from the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by Romania.
  • The 4th SYNERGY Network meeting against domestic and gender based violence (08.10.2019), during which teen dating violence & cybercrime and awareness-raising campaigns on domestic violence and gender based violence. Thus, ANES delegation stressed the posivites aspects in relation to the introduction of certain social services for the victims of domestic violence. Also, part of the best practice presented by the Norwegian delegation will be analysed by ANES in order to be taken over in the National Strategy for the prevention and fight against sexual violence „SINERGIE 2020-2030”

5. Project: "Strategic action of the Programme Operator addressing the cooperation in the field of domestic and gender-based violenc"

Beneficiary: Ministry of Justice of Romania, as Programme Operator for the Justice Programme

Budget: 4.300 Euro

Implementation period: 31 October 2019 – 1 November 2019

Results:

• participation of two Programme Operator representatives to a Conference on gender equality „A key for economic and social development In Europe and beyond ”, which aimed at introducing  the successful tools in the field of gender equality, and facilitate potential cooperation and best practice transfer as regards the lessons learnt in gender cooperation from Donor countries (Iceland, Norway) and Portugal, to the Beneficiary states of EEA/Norway Grants (Estonia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romani, Poland, Lithuania), which implement programs in the field of domestic and gender based violence. The event was organised by the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality and the Norwegian Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombudsman, in Reykjavik (Iceland), în during 31 October – 1 November 2019.

 

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AREA

 

1. Project “Looking back. Looking ahead” 

Beneficiary: National Probation Directorate

Partner: National Administration of Penitentiaries

Budget: 14.816 Euro

Implementation period: October 2018 – January 2019

Results:

• participation of two representatives of the National Probation Directorate and two representatives of the National Administration of Penitentiaries to the 20th Annual Conference of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) “Beyond Prisons: The way forward”, during  which best practice/methods used in various countries to work with the convicted persons in order to increase the chances for social reintegration, with an emphasis on the preparation for liberation and post liberation assistance for the convicted persons were presented. The Romanian delegation participated to the debates regarding the development/introduction of new working instruments with the convicted persons, the workshops regarding the reform of the probation services in Norway and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland, and presented the successful bilateral cooperation with the Norwegian partners within the previous Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014. The event was organised in Montreal, Canada, during 21-28 October 2018 and it was also attended by two representatives of the  Norwegian Correctional Services, donor programme partner of the „Justice” Programme.

2. Project „Partnership for the future”

Beneficiary: National Administration of Penitentiaries

Partners: Department of the Norwegian Correctional Services and National Probation Directorate

Budget: 59.875 Euro

Implementation period: January 2019 – July 2019

Results:

• the neccessary actions for preparing the partnership agreements with the Norwegian institutions, in order to implement the predefined projects „Correctional” and “Improving the correctional services in Romania by implementing the normality principle 4NORM (–ality)”, as regards the setting of the roles and responsibilies of the Romanian and Norwegian partners, the content of the common activities, etc., by:

• organising two working visits in Romania, during 13-17.01.2019, during which the Norwegian parteners met with the management teams of the Tg. Ocna National Training School of Prison Agents, and with the Vaslui and Baia Mare Penitentiaries where 2 pilot correctional centers will be built within the „Correctional” project. The external sections of Craiova, Ploiești, Constanța-Poarta Albă Penitentiaries, partners in the 4NORM (–ality) project, where the three pavilions and the greenhouses will be built were also visited.
• organising one working meeting and one study visit in Norway, during 18-22.03.2019, attended by 5 representatives of the National Administration of Penitentiaries and National Probation Directorate, during which Stavanger, Halden and Hedmark Penitentiaries were visited and the main activities and their timeframe of the „Correctional” and “Improving the correctional services in Romania by implementing the normality principle 4NORM (–ality)” were discussed with the Norwegian partners, etc.

3. Project „Contemporary challenges in European prison systems- Preventing radicalization in prison and reducing overcrowding”

Beneficiary: National Administration of Penitentiaries

Partners: Department of the Norwegian Correctional Services

Budget: 96.670 Euro

Implementation period: December 2018 – September 2019

Results:

• one conference „Contemporary challenges in European prison systems - Preventing radicalization in prison and reducing overcrowding” was organised in Sinaia (Romania) during which the latest trends and practices as regards radicalisation and overcrowding in penitentiaries were debated as well as other topics connected to the activities of the penitentiary system (treatment of the detainees, social reintegration programes, training of the penitentiary staff, etc.). The Conference was organised during 01-04 of April 2019 under the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council. The event was attended by 78 participants of 21 EU and non-EU states, including Romania and Norway (e.g. representatives of penitentiary and probation systems, experts on radicalization and representatives of Radicalization Awareness Network, representatives of the Romanian institutions with competences in preventing and fighting radicalization, etc.)

“EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND STRENGTHENING THE RULE OF LAW”

1. Project „Successful implementation without faceless collaboration”

Beneficiary: Superiour Council of Magistracy

Partners: Norwegian Court Administration

Budget:  4.348 Euro

Implementation period: November 2018 – September 2019

Results:

• the actions neccessary to prepare the partnership agreement between the Superiour Council of Magistracy (CSM) and the Norwegian Court Administration were taken. Thus, 2 representatives of the Superiour Council of Magistracy participated to a working meeting organised in Trodheim, Norway, 11-12 December 2018, during which the content of the Partnership Agreement for the implementation of the predefined project „Judicial Training and Capacity Building” financed under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, was agreed upon, together with other aspects pertaining to the project implementation such as the organization and content of the trainings that will be organized in the project.

2. Project „Better trainings for better professionals within the Judiciary”

Beneficiary: Superiour Council of Magistracy

Partners: Norwegian Court Administration, National Institute of Magistracy

Budget: 26.444 euro

Implementation period: June 2019– November 2021

Objective: ensuring the best premisis for the implementation of the predefined project „Judicial Training and Capacity Building”, financed under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, by strengthening the continuous training for legal professionals, by establishing methodological guidelines for the selection of experts and organizing the training activities within the pre-defined project “Judicial Training and Capacity building”, financed under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021. 

 

The Ministry of Justice, in its capacity of Programme Operator, manages the Bilateral Fund (the Fund) at the level of the Programme "Justice". The main purpose of the fund is to facilitate project partnerships with donor state entities as well as networking and exchange of experience between project promoters and donor state entities.

 

The Bilateral Fund will support the following actions:

 

1. actions/initiatives selected following the receipt of project proposals subsequent to the launch of the call for proposals by the Programe Operator;

2. direct use of funds by the Programme Operator and the Donor Programme Partners, including the Council of Europe, as International Partner Organisation for activities under the Programme aimed at addressing strategic topics, directly agreed by the Cooperation Committee.

1. Actions financed by the call of proposals

The Ministry of Justice launched on 23rd of August 2018 the call for proposals for selecting the initiatives that will be financed out of the Bilateral Fund (the Fund) at the level of "Justice" Programme.

Eligible applicants:

• Donor Program Partners (DPPs), project promoters for the pre-defined projects financed by the Norway Grants 2014-2021, donor project partners, including the Council of Europe, as International Partner Organisation (IPO), as well as other relevant institutions from the Donor States, including possible project partners in the programme area recommended by the DPPs.

• Bilateral Fund budget: EUR 220.000. This amount might be supplemented upon justified request of the Programme Operator.

Eligible activities:

The call for proposals will support activities provided by Art 8.8 „Eligible expenditures under the fund for bilateral relations”, para 1, letters a-c, of the Regulation on the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, as follows:

(a) activities aiming at strengthening bilateral relations between Norway and the Beneficiary States;

(b) the search for partners for donor partnership projects prior to or during the preparation of a project application, the development of such partnerships and the preparation of an application for a donor partnership project;

(c) networking, exchange, sharing and transfer of knowledge, technology, experience and best practice between entities in Beneficiary States and entities in Norway and/or international organisations;

The projects/strategic actions are funded entirely by the Bilateral Fund at the level of „Justice” Programme.

Implementation period:

The call will be open for applications until the last date of eligibility of projects, namely until 30th of April 2024, or until the entire financial allocation available is committed.

Deadlines for the implementation of actions/projects: 31 July 2024.

The selection of projects will be made according to the principle "first come, first served".

 

Approval of ideas for bilateral actions

The ideas of bilateral actions will be approved by the Cooperation Committee of the „Justice” Programme which is made up of representatives of the Programme Operator, of the Donor Programme Partners (Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Norwegian Court Administration, Norwegian Correctional Service) as well as of Council of Europe (as IPO), being subsequently assessed by the Programme Operator. In its assessment, the Programme Operator will use the following criteria:

• Compliance with the administrative conditions (e.g. period of eligibility, etc.)
• Quality of the proposed application regarding its relevance, budget and cost effectiveness, consistency, methodology and expected results.
• Sustainability.

Only the expenditures declared eligible by the Programme Operator subsequent to the verifications carried out by the PO, according to the legal provisions applicable, will be borne out of the Bilateral Fund.

 

Financing contract

The selected applicants will sign the financing contract with the Programme Operator. The contract will set the terms and conditions for granting the financing, the roles and responsibilities of the parties, provisions on the payment and reporting systems.

 

2. Approval of strategic bilateral actions

 

Eligible applicants:

The Programme Operator or the Donor Programme Partner may propose the financing of strategic actions under the Bilateral Fund.

 

Budget alloted: EUR 30.000, which may be suplemented upon justified request of the Programme Operator and Donor Programe Partner.

 

Eligible activities

The financed activities are those provided by Art. 8.8 „Eligible expenditures under the fund for bilateral relations”, para. 1, letters a and d, of the Regulation on the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, as follows:

 

(a) activities aiming at strengthening bilateral relations between Norway and the Beneficiary States;

(d) activities aiming at strengthening cooperation and exchanging experiences and best practices between the Programme Operators and similar entities within the Beneficiary States and Norway, as well as international organisations, provided at least one entity within Norway is involved in the activity.