Healthy Societies

Within and across national borders, societies are threatened by problems that fall beyond the realm of traditional political-military security, but are just as important to the lives of individuals and to the overall health and well-being of nations. The focus in this area will be on health issues, corruption, trafficking in persons, the environment, and strengthening civil society.

Healthy societies require healthy neighbors, on the borders of the Northern Europe region and further afield. Health and environment issues in Russia have a direct impact on the countries it borders, and vice versa. Consultations within this policy framework will build on existing assistance programs to strengthen democratic institutions and civil society in the Nordic Baltic region, Russia, and countries to the south and in Central Asia. The Baltic countries have useful lessons to convey on how to make the transition to a more open society, while the Nordic nations have long histories of supporting democracy and human rights beyond their borders.