Meetings of the Fundamental Rights Platform
Besides project related activities, the organisations participating in the FRP meet once a year in the Fundamental Rights Platform Meeting, which allows the FRA to listen to concerns and suggestions coming from the civil society. The event offers plenty of opportunities for networking, good practice exchange as well as lively discussions on how to facilitate fundamental rights protection and promotion in the European Union.

Fourth meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform
Date: 14 - 15 April 2011Location: 14 - 15 April 2011 - Vienna, Austria
On 14-15 April the fourth Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP) meeting brought together around 180 civil society representatives from all Member States of the EU and working across all themes included in the Agency's Multi-Annual Framework. The principle issues covered in the meeting included:
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Access to justice: which explored how civil society organisations can help victims to claim their rights through courts and other complaints procedures
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Participation: which explored the role played by civil society organisations in the implementation of UN Human Rights Conventions, focusing on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
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Cooperation: which looked at how to get the most out of the relationship between the FRA and the FRP
A large proportion of the meeting was dedicated to interactive workshops and networking opportunities, as well as knowledge exchange between civil society organisations and FRA experts.
The entire afternoon of day one was allocated to "The Floor Is Yours", an innovative forum where FRP participants were given the opportunity to present ideas, projects and issues of their choice. Over 30 different sessions took place, with themes ranging across all areas of the FRA's work.
Lunch was structured around ‘Talking Tables', with 15 tables dedicated to specific themes, such as human rights education, violence against women, the rights of persons with disabilities, and rights of the child as well as some cross-cutting issues, such as communications. FRA experts working in these areas were present at each table to respond to questions about the work of the FRA and to listen to suggestions by civil society.
"By widening the channels carrying your input into our work, the Platform can become part of the very DNA of the Agency, rather than an appendage" said FRA Director Morten Kjaerum in his speech to the FRP participants.
View the photo gallery on Facebook.
Document(s)

Third Meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform
Date: 15 - 16 April 2010Location: 15-16 April 2010 - Vienna (Austria)
On 15-16 of April the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) welcomed around 150 representatives from non-governmental organisations dealing with human rights, trade unions, religious associations, employer associations, professional unions, academic and other qualified experts of European and international bodies and organisations to the Fundamental Rights Platform Meeting (FRP) - the Agency's key event of the year devoted to dialogue and cooperation with civil society.
The meeting focused on three key themes:
* The human rights dimension of poverty and social exclusion;
* The Lisbon Treaty and its implications for the protection of fundamental rights; and
* The Agency's Work Programme 2012.
During the meeting, the election of the new Advisory Panel was held and, amongst other topics, the future strategy of the cooperation between FRP and the FRA was discussed. The Fundamental Rights Platform is a network for cooperation and information exchange between the Fundamental Rights Agency and civil society.
Document(s)
- Agenda - 3rd Fundamental Rights Platform Meeting
(PDF File 89 KB)
- 3rd FRP meeting Summary Report prepared by the Advisory Panel
(PDF File 131 KB)
- Final report of the election of the new advisory panel
(PDF File 80 KB)
- Presentation of the Fundamental Rights Platform
(PDF File 230 KB)
- Evaluation of the First Advisory Panel - Speech of Pierre Barge
(PDF File 105 KB)
- Final report of the FRP 2010 meeting
(PDF File 635 KB)
- Presentation of the Fundamental Rights Platform
(PDF File 230 KB)
Second Meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform
Date: 05 - 06 May 2009Location: 05-06 May 2009 - Vienna (Austria)
The second meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP) took place in Vienna on 5-6 May. Almost hundred Civil Society Organizations from all over the European Union participated and contributed to the discussion.
The Chair of the Management Board and the FRA Director opened the meeting and exchange views with the participants on the three issues discussed in the plenary: a) the draft FRA Annual Work Program 2010; b) ‘The impact of the economic crisis on human rights'; and c) ‘‘Under-reporting by victims of human rights violations: lack of awareness on where to report: what Civil Society Organizations and the FRA can do?'. Participants were then divided in Working Groups and expressed suggestions and recommendations on: a) the FRA Annual Work Program 2011; and b) ‘‘Under-reporting by victims of human rights violations: lack of awareness on where to report: what Civil Society Organizations and the FRA can do?'.
The second day was devoted to the appointment of an Advisory Panel/Contact Group and discussion on the timeline for next steps of the cooperation beween the Platform and the Agency. The nine members of the Fundamental Rights Platform elected to serve for one year on the Advisory Panel/Contact Groups are:
Ms Ali Parvin (FATIMA Women's Network); Mr Barge Pierre (European Association for the defense of Human Rights (AEDH); Ms Charhon Pascale (European Network Against Racism (ENAR); Mr Kinderman Peter (Mental Health Europe); Ms Kitanovic Elizabeta (Conference of European Churches (KEK); Mr Martin Rodrigo (Rainbow Rose); Mr Pavlou Miltos (Hellenic League for Human Rights - KEMO); Mr Porteous Wood Keith (International Humanist and Ethical Union); Ms Rudolf Beate (European Women Lawyers Association (EWLA).
Ms Beate Rudolf gave a presentation at the Management Board Meeting (29 May 2009) on the Platform suggestions for the FRA Work Programme 2011 and a report of the Second Fundamental Rights Platform Meeting.



Document(s)
First meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform
Date: 07 - 08 October 2008Location: 7-8 October 2008 - Vienna (Austria)
The first meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP) took place on 7 and 8 October in Vienna.
The meeting, consisting of around 100 experts from civil society organizations involved in the work for fundamental rights, focused on the suggestions for the FRA's work programme 2009 and on collecting feedback on the Annual Report 2008. In addition, it offered an opportunity to discuss the means of communication between the Platform participants to ensure an effective cooperation in the future.
Document(s)
- Summary report of the outcome of the first FRP meeting of 07-08.10.2008 to the FRA Management Board
(PDF File 50 KB)
- Conclusions and Suggestions for the FRA Work Programme - Miltos Pavlou (i-RED, HLHR-KEMO) - Rapporteur of the Interim FRP Panel to report the outcome to the FRA Management Board
- Meeting Participants - FRP meeting (07-08.10.2008)
(PDF File 75 KB)
- Draft agenda - FRP meeting (07-08.10.2008)
(PDF File 53 KB)










