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Work on rights
Retfærdighed, ofres rettigheder og retligt samarbejde
Ofrenes rettigheder
Forsvarets rettigheder
Civilret
Retligt samarbejde og retssamfund
Sikkerhed
Erhvervslivet og menneskerettigheder
Ligestilling, ikkeforskelsbehandling og racisme
Børn, unge og ældre
Mennesker med handicap
Hadforbrydelser
Racemæssig eller etnisk baggrund
Religion og tro
Roma
Sex, seksuel orientering og kønsidentitet
Asyl, migration og grænser
Adgang til asyl
Grænser og informationssystemer
Beskyttelse af børn
Irregulær migration, tilbagesendelse og tilbageholdelse i forbindelse med immigration
Regulær migration og integration
Ulovlig handel og udnyttelse af arbejdskraften
Databeskyttelse, privatlivets fred og ny teknologi
Kunstig intelligens og big data
Grænser og informationssystemer
Databeskyttelse
Ulovlig profilering
Støtte til menneskerettighedssystemer og -forkæmpere
EU's charter om grundlæggende rettigheder
Mellemstatslige menneskerettighedssystemer
Nationale menneskerettighedssystemer og -organer
Civilsamfundet
EU's charter om grundlæggende rettigheder
Hvad er grundlæggende rettigheder?
What is the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights?
Præambel
Afsnit I: Værdighed
1 - Den menneskelige værdighed
2 - Ret til livet
3 - Ret til respekt for menneskets integritet
4 - Forbud mod tortur og umenneskelig eller nedværdigende behandling eller straf
5 - Forbud mod slaveri og tvangsarbejde
Afsnit II: Friheder
6 - Ret til frihed og sikkerhed
7 - Respekt for privatliv og familieliv
8 - Beskyttelse af personoplysninger
9 - Ret til at indgå ægteskab og ret til at stifte familie
10 - Ret til at tænke frit og til samvittigheds
11 - Ytrings
12 - Forsamlings
13 - Frihed for kunst og videnskab
14 - Ret til uddannelse
15 - Erhvervsfrihed og ret til at arbejde
16 - Frihed til at oprette og drive egen virksomhed
17 - Ejendomsret
18 - Asylret
19 - Beskyttelse i tilfælde af udsendelse, udvisning og udlevering
Afsnit III: Ligestilling
20 - Lighed for loven
21 - Ikke-forskelsbehandling
22 - Kulturel, religiøs og sproglig mangfoldighed
23 - Ligestilling mellem kvinder og mænd
24 - Børns rettigheder
25 - Ældres rettigheder
26 - Integration af mennesker med handicap
Afsnit IV: Solidaritet
27 - Ret til information og høring af arbejdstagerne i virksomheden
28 - Forhandlingsret og ret til kollektive skridt
29 - Ret til arbejdsformidling
30 - Beskyttelse i tilfælde af ubegrundet opsigelse
31 - Retfærdige og rimelige arbejdsforhold
32 - Forbud mod børnearbejde og beskyttelse af unge på arbejdspladsen
33 - Familieliv og arbejdsliv
34 - Social sikring og social bistand
35 - Sundhedsbeskyttelse
36 - Adgang til tjenesteydelser af almen økonomisk interesse
37 - Miljøbeskyttelse
38 - Forbrugerbeskyttelse
Afsnit V: Borgerrettigheder
39 - Stemmeret og valgbarhed til Europa-Parlamentet
40 - Stemmeret og valgbarhed til kommunale valg
41 - Ret til god forvaltning
42 - Ret til aktindsigt
43 - Den Europæiske Ombudsmand
44 - Ret til at indgive andragender
45 - Fri bevægelighed og opholdsret
46 - Diplomatisk og konsulær beskyttelse
Afsnit VI: Retfærdighed i retssystemet
47 - Adgang til effektive retsmidler og til en upartisk domstol
48 - Uskyldsformodning og ret til et forsvar
49 - Legalitetsprincippet og princippet om proportionalitet mellem lovovertrædelse og straf
50 - Ret til ikke at blive retsforfulgt eller straffet to gange for samme lovovertrædelse
Afsnit VII: Almindelige bestemmelser
51 - Anvendelsesområde
52 - Rækkevidde og fortolkning af rettigheder og principper
53 - Beskyttelsesniveau
54 - Forbud mod misbrug af rettigheder
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EU Fundamental Rights Information System - EFRIS
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Anti-Muslim hatred database
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Work on rights
Retfærdighed, ofres rettigheder og retligt samarbejde
Ofrenes rettigheder
Forsvarets rettigheder
Civilret
Retligt samarbejde og retssamfund
Sikkerhed
Erhvervslivet og menneskerettigheder
Ligestilling, ikkeforskelsbehandling og racisme
Børn, unge og ældre
Mennesker med handicap
Hadforbrydelser
Racemæssig eller etnisk baggrund
Religion og tro
Roma
Sex, seksuel orientering og kønsidentitet
Asyl, migration og grænser
Adgang til asyl
Grænser og informationssystemer
Beskyttelse af børn
Irregulær migration, tilbagesendelse og tilbageholdelse i forbindelse med immigration
Regulær migration og integration
Ulovlig handel og udnyttelse af arbejdskraften
Databeskyttelse, privatlivets fred og ny teknologi
Kunstig intelligens og big data
Grænser og informationssystemer
Databeskyttelse
Ulovlig profilering
Støtte til menneskerettighedssystemer og -forkæmpere
EU's charter om grundlæggende rettigheder
Mellemstatslige menneskerettighedssystemer
Nationale menneskerettighedssystemer og -organer
Civilsamfundet
EU's charter om grundlæggende rettigheder
EU's charter om grundlæggende rettigheder
Hvad er grundlæggende rettigheder?
What is the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights?
Præambel
Afsnit I: Værdighed
1 -
Den menneskelige værdighed
2 -
Ret til livet
3 -
Ret til respekt for menneskets integritet
4 -
Forbud mod tortur og umenneskelig eller nedværdigende behandling eller straf
5 -
Forbud mod slaveri og tvangsarbejde
Afsnit II: Friheder
6 -
Ret til frihed og sikkerhed
7 -
Respekt for privatliv og familieliv
8 -
Beskyttelse af personoplysninger
9 -
Ret til at indgå ægteskab og ret til at stifte familie
10 -
Ret til at tænke frit og til samvittigheds
11 -
Ytrings
12 -
Forsamlings
13 -
Frihed for kunst og videnskab
14 -
Ret til uddannelse
15 -
Erhvervsfrihed og ret til at arbejde
16 -
Frihed til at oprette og drive egen virksomhed
17 -
Ejendomsret
18 -
Asylret
19 -
Beskyttelse i tilfælde af udsendelse, udvisning og udlevering
Afsnit III: Ligestilling
20 -
Lighed for loven
21 -
Ikke-forskelsbehandling
22 -
Kulturel, religiøs og sproglig mangfoldighed
23 -
Ligestilling mellem kvinder og mænd
24 -
Børns rettigheder
25 -
Ældres rettigheder
26 -
Integration af mennesker med handicap
Afsnit IV: Solidaritet
27 -
Ret til information og høring af arbejdstagerne i virksomheden
28 -
Forhandlingsret og ret til kollektive skridt
29 -
Ret til arbejdsformidling
30 -
Beskyttelse i tilfælde af ubegrundet opsigelse
31 -
Retfærdige og rimelige arbejdsforhold
32 -
Forbud mod børnearbejde og beskyttelse af unge på arbejdspladsen
33 -
Familieliv og arbejdsliv
34 -
Social sikring og social bistand
35 -
Sundhedsbeskyttelse
36 -
Adgang til tjenesteydelser af almen økonomisk interesse
37 -
Miljøbeskyttelse
38 -
Forbrugerbeskyttelse
Afsnit V: Borgerrettigheder
39 -
Stemmeret og valgbarhed til Europa-Parlamentet
40 -
Stemmeret og valgbarhed til kommunale valg
41 -
Ret til god forvaltning
42 -
Ret til aktindsigt
43 -
Den Europæiske Ombudsmand
44 -
Ret til at indgive andragender
45 -
Fri bevægelighed og opholdsret
46 -
Diplomatisk og konsulær beskyttelse
Afsnit VI: Retfærdighed i retssystemet
47 -
Adgang til effektive retsmidler og til en upartisk domstol
48 -
Uskyldsformodning og ret til et forsvar
49 -
Legalitetsprincippet og princippet om proportionalitet mellem lovovertrædelse og straf
50 -
Ret til ikke at blive retsforfulgt eller straffet to gange for samme lovovertrædelse
Afsnit VII: Almindelige bestemmelser
51 -
Anvendelsesområde
52 -
Rækkevidde og fortolkning af rettigheder og principper
53 -
Beskyttelsesniveau
54 -
Forbud mod misbrug af rettigheder
Tools
Tools
EU Fundamental Rights Information System - EFRIS
Criminal detention database
Anti-Muslim hatred database
Case-law database
Charterpedia
FRA e-learning platform
Data visualisation
Equality data collection: promising practices
Fighting hate crime: promising practices
Produkter
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Work On Rights
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Civil society
Protecting civil society – Update 2023
18
October
2023
Protecting civil society – Update 2023
Civil society
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Civil society organisations struggle to maintain an environment safe from threats and attacks. FRA’s sixth annual update on civic space explores the challenges for organisations across the EU. While there has been significant development since FRA began monitoring the situation in 2018, civil society organisations remain under immense pressure. Abusive lawsuits and attacks against those involved in migrant search and rescue at sea are just some of the challenges identified. This report presents ways forward to protect civil society and human rights.
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Foreword
Key findings
Promoting an enabling legal environment
Ways forward
Addressing threats and attacks
Ways forward
Improving access to resources for CSOs under pressure
Ways forward
Strengthening meaningful participation in policymaking
Ways forward
1. Overall developments in civic space and EU initiatives
1.1 Developments in the EU in 2022
1.2 EU initiatives on civic space
1.2.1 Legislative and policy initiatives
1.2.2 Supporting civil society and countering threats
1.2.3 Enabling participation
1.3 International organisations’ initiatives
1.4 Developments in three EU candidate countries
2. Legal environment
2.1 Developments in EU Member States
2.1.1 Freedom of association
2.1.2 Freedom of expression
2.1.3 Freedom of peaceful assembly
2.2 Spotlight: Strategic lawsuits against public participation
3. Threats and attacks
3.1 Developments in EU Member States
3.2 Spotlight: Challenges for migrant rights defenders involved in search and rescue at sea
4. Access to resources
4.1 Developments in EU Member States
4.2 Spotlight: Supporting civil society organisations under pressure through funding
5. Participation
5.1 Developments in EU Member States
5.2 Spotlight: Participation of organisations representing groups at risk of exclusion
Ways forward
Bibliography
Annex: Methodology
About this publication
Bibliography
CoE, Commissioner for Human Rights (2020),
Human rights comment: Time to take action against SLAPPs
, 27
October 2020
.
European Commission (2020),
The European democracy action plan
, COM(2020)
790
final, Brussels, 3
December 2020.
European Commission (2020),
Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU
, COM(2020)
711
final, Brussels, 2
December 2020.
European Commission (2020), ‘
2020 rule of law report
’.
European Commission (2021), ‘
2021 rule of law report
’.
European Commission (2022), ‘
2022 rule of law report
’.
European Network Against Racism (2022),
Racialisation and shrinking space: Defending the human rights of racialised people in Europe
.
hu2014),
Criminalisation of migrants in an irregular situation and of persons engaging with them
, Luxembourg, Publications Office.
FRA (2016),
Violence, threats and pressures against journalists and other media actors in the European Union
, Luxembourg, Publications Office.
FRA (2018),
Challenges facing civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU
, Luxembourg, Publications Office.
FRA (2018),
Fundamental rights considerations: NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and criminal investigations
, Luxembourg, Publications Office.
FRA (2019),
Civil society space – Views of organisations
, Luxembourg, Publications Office.
FRA (2019), ‘
2019 update – NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and criminal investigations
’.
FRA (2020),
Civic space – Experiences of organisations in 2019
, Luxembourg, Publications Office.
FRA (2021),
COVID-impact on civil society work. Results of consultation with FRA’s Fundamental Rights Platform
.
FRA (2022),
Human rights cities in the European Union
, Luxembourg, Publications Office.
Front Line Defenders (2021),
Sex worker rights defenders at risk
.
Hayes, B. and Joshi, P. (2020),
Rethinking civic space in an age of intersectional crises: A briefing for funders
.
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) (2022), ‘
Civic space scan of Portugal
’ (in Portuguese).
OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) (1998),
Declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms
, 9
December 1998.
OSCE (2022),
Strengthening the resilience of NHRIs and responding to threats – Guidance tool
, Warsaw, OSCE/ODIHR.
PartnersGlobal (2020),
Resiliency+ Framework – A guide for civil society to thrive in uncertain times
.
SOS Children’s Villages (2021),
Toolkit for children and young people’s participation in advocacy
, Vienna, SOS Children’s Villages.
Ways forward
Annex: Methodology
Country Research
05 July 2023
An update on developments regarding civic space in the EU and an overview of the possibilities for human rights defenders to enter EU territory 2022 - Country research
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Civil society
These documents were commissioned under contract as background material for comparative analysis for the project ‘Update on developments regarding civic space in the EU‘. The information and views contained in the documents do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of FRA. The documents are made publicly available for transparency and information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or legal opinion.
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2022
Europe's civil society: still under pressure - 2022 update
Civil society is a key component of Europe’s fundamental rights architecture. From supporting people affected by the pandemic to helping those fleeing the war in Ukraine, civil society plays a crucial role in upholding people’s rights. In so doing, it contributes to a healthy rule of law culture. FRA’s civic space report provides an overview of the many ways in which civil society contributes to the checks and balances that underpin the rule of law.
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Report / Paper / Summary
Support for human rights systems and defenders
11
October
2021
Human rights cities in the EU: a framework for reinforcing rights locally
This report proposes a framework for becoming, and functioning as, a ‘human rights city’ in the EU. It includes ‘foundations’, ‘structures’ and ‘tools’ for mayors, local administrations and grassroots organisations to reinforce fundamental rights locally. It is based on existing good practice and expert input by representatives of human rights cities in the EU, academic experts, international organisations and city networks.
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Report / Paper / Summary
Civil society
22
September
2021
Protecting civic space in the EU
Civil society organisations play a vital role in promoting fundamental rights, but they face diverse challenges across the European Union. This report presents FRA’s findings on a range of such challenges. The findings are based on research, and on two online consultations with civil society organisations, carried out in 2020.
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Download country studies
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Report / Paper / Summary
Civil society
Support for human rights systems and defenders
28
July
2020
Civic space – experiences of organisations in 2019
This paper presents key findings from FRA’s second consultation of its Fundamental Rights Platform, focusing on the experiences of civil society organisations (CSOs) working on human rights. FRA started an annual consultation with organisations participating in its platform in 2018.
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More on the Fundamental Rights Platform
Report / Paper / Summary
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Civil society
19
June
2019
2019 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and criminal investigations
In 2018, some 2,299 people are estimated to have died or gone missing at sea while crossing the sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life. This is on average more than six people per day. Before mid-2017, a significant share of migrants in distress at sea have been rescued by civil society vessels deployed with a humanitarian mandate to reduce fatalities and bring rescued migrants to safety. In 2018, however, authorities in some Member States viewed civil society-deployed rescue vessels with hostility. As a reaction, they seized rescue vessels, arrested crew members, and initiated legal procedures against them (more than a dozen altogether). In some cases, rescue vessels were blocked in harbours due to flag issues.
Report / Paper / Summary
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Civil society
1
October
2018
Fundamental rights considerations: NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and criminal investigations - 2018
This note draws attention to the recent trend of criminalising search and rescue operations (SAR) in the Mediterranean Sea carried out by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or other private entities. This includes seizing rescue vessels, as well as arrests for crew members, in some EU Member States. Most of such incidents concerned NGOs operating in the Central Mediterranean Sea.
Report / Paper / Summary
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Children, youth and older people
People with disabilities
Hate crime
Roma
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
17
May
2018
Challenges facing civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU – Summary
Civil society organisations in the European Union play a crucial role in promoting fundamental
rights, but it has become harder for them do so – due to both legal and practical restrictions.
This summary outlines the main
findings and FRA’s opinions on the different
types and patterns of challenges faced by civil society
organisations across the EU,
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Report / Paper / Summary
Civil society
Support for human rights systems and defenders
18
January
2018
Challenges facing civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU
Civil society organisations in the European Union play a crucial role in promoting fundamental rights, but it has become harder for them to do so – due to both legal and practical restrictions. This report looks at the different types and patterns of challenges faced by civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU.
Report / Paper / Summary
Hate crime
Sex, sexual orientation and gender
16
November
2016
Violence, threats and pressures against journalists and other media actors in the European Union
A free and pluralist media is vital to the democratic functioning of the European
Union (EU) and its Member States. However, journalists and other media actors
in the EU face various challenges, including violence, threats and other forms of
pressure, both direct and indirect.
Report / Paper / Summary
People with disabilities
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
21
May
2014
The right to political participation for persons with disabilities: human rights indicators
The opportunity to be involved in political life, whether by standing for elected office, joining a political party, or following political news stories in the media, is at the heart of what it means to live in a democratic society. The report analyses data on the situation of political participation of persons with disabilities collected from across the 28 European Union (EU) Member States by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Commission-funded Academic Network of European Disability Experts (ANED).
FRA 2014
Report / Paper / Summary
Asylum, migration and borders
27
March
2014
Criminalisation of migrants in an irregular situation and of persons engaging with them
This paper examines the sanctions applied to counteract irregular migration, building on previous work by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) on the rights of migrants in an irregular situation.
Report / Paper / Summary
Asylum, migration and borders
6
August
2013
Fundamental rights at Europe’s southern sea borders - Summary
This FRA report examines the conditions at Europe’s southern sea borders with respect to the most fundamental rights of a person, the right to life and the right not to be sent back to torture, persecution or inhuman treatment. It looks at sea border surveillance and disembarkation procedures, as well as general issues such as European Union (EU) policy, training and Frontex-coordinated operations, and examines practices across the EU Member States researched – Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain.
Report / Paper / Summary
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems
27
March
2013
Fundamental rights at Europe’s southern sea borders
This FRA report examines the conditions at Europe’s southern sea borders with respect to the most fundamental rights of a person, the right to life and the right not to be sent back to torture, persecution or inhuman treatment. It looks at sea border surveillance and disembarkation procedures, as well as training and Frontex-coordinated operations. It examines practices across the EU Member States researched – Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain.