News Item

Visas as an EU tool for protection for human rights defenders at risk

FRA contributed to a conference hosted by the Spanish Presidency of the EU and ProtectDefenders.eu. The event focused on visas as an EU tool for providing a human rights defenders a safe haven.

FRA presented its recent report on Protecting human rights defenders at risk: EU entry, stay and support in the opening panel.

It also moderated a panel discussion on the EU framework and protecting human rights defenders.

Day 2 was a closed workshop among officials from ministries of foreign affairs and ministries of the interior of over 20 Member States. The workshop looked into how to step up efforts in protecting human rights defenders through relocating to the EU, as well as how to improve defenders’ access to visas.

The event took place in Madrid from 24 to 25 October.