The European Commission's Special Programme for Victims of Apartheid was founded by the development ministers of (what was then still) the European Community, on initiative of the Parliament, in September 1985. It covered a period between 1986 and 1994, where 450 million Euros (then ECU) in funding was channelled solely through Non-Governmental Organisations to over 700 projects, all of which aimed at supporting the victims of Apartheid and bringing about peaceful transition in South Africa. This made it the biggest overseas development assistance programme to South Africa and one of the EU's largest aid programmes in any country.
Cette manifestation est devenue au fil des années incontournable dans le paysage culturel algérien, symbolisant l'interaction entre les traditions culturelles européennes et algériennes.