Systems

Support for human rights systems and defenders

Many organisations work to defend your rights. We help their efforts with independent evidence, advice and expertise.

We support their frontline work. And we shine a light on potential risks and priority areas. Together we make your rights a reality.

Highlights

  • Report / Paper / Summary
    12
    December
    2025
    As the EU prepares to join the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), this report outlines the main changes that accession would bring, offering an overview of the legal and operational implications. Presented in a Q&A format, it provides answers to 19 key questions for legal professionals and a broader audience. It describes the steps needed to conclude accession, the expected benefits for protecting rights, and some of the challenges that may come up. This legal analysis contributes to the current discussions on EU accession.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    8
    December
    2025
    This report examines how human rights impact assessments (HRIAs) are built into lawmaking across the EU and its Member States. It highlights that, although progress has been made, the use of HRIAs remains uneven and often superficial. In many EU countries, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is frequently overlooked. The report identifies insufficient consultation with external experts, limited stakeholder participation and a lack of evaluation once laws are in force. To address these gaps, it offers practical recommendations for more systematic, inclusive and evidence-based HRIAs that strengthen human rights protection and ensure better, more accountable legislation throughout the EU.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    11
    July
    2023
    Across the world, human rights defenders protect and uphold human rights in some of the most challenging situations. In some countries they face worrying levels of threats and attacks, intimidation and harassment. This report outlines how human rights defenders can enter and stay in the EU when they need protection. It suggests how EU institutions and Member States could use the flexibility in existing legal provisions and provide shelter for defenders who seek protection.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    19
    December
    2023
    All EU funds must be spent in a way that respect fundamental rights. The EU spends billions of euros on creating jobs, economic growth, sustainable development and improving people’s lives. To prevent funds from being spent in ways that directly violate people’s fundamental rights, the EU strengthened the conditions how funds can be spent in 2021. This report looks at how the newly introduced conditions related to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities can be upheld in practice. It analyses the potential role of national human rights institutions, ombudsperson institutions and equality bodies. These safeguards can advance compliance with fundamental rights.
    Publications and data
    The Fundamental Rights Report 2025 provides a comprehensive overview of the state of fundamental rights in the European Union, highlighting major developments and trends in 2024. This video provides an insight into the issues covered by this year's report.
    12
    December
    2025
    As the EU prepares to join the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), this report outlines the main changes that accession would bring, offering an overview of the legal and operational implications. Presented in a Q&A format, it provides answers to 19 key questions for legal professionals and a broader audience. It describes the steps needed to conclude accession, the expected benefits for protecting rights, and some of the challenges that may come up. This legal analysis contributes to the current discussions on EU accession.
    8
    December
    2025
    This report examines how human rights impact assessments (HRIAs) are built into lawmaking across the EU and its Member States. It highlights that, although progress has been made, the use of HRIAs remains uneven and often superficial. In many EU countries, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is frequently overlooked. The report identifies insufficient consultation with external experts, limited stakeholder participation and a lack of evaluation once laws are in force. To address these gaps, it offers practical recommendations for more systematic, inclusive and evidence-based HRIAs that strengthen human rights protection and ensure better, more accountable legislation throughout the EU.
    10
    June
    2025
    This publication is an excerpt from the Fundamental Rights Report 2025, the annual report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). It presents selected critical developments in fundamental rights in 2024, as well as the key findings and FRA opinions from the report’s chapters.
    10
    June
    2025
    The Fundamental Rights Report 2025 is the annual report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). It provides an overview of the state of fundamental rights in the EU and highlights selected critical developments and trends in 2024. The report covers issues such as inclusive elections, gender-based violence, and the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. It presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, setting out the actions that the EU and Member States should take. This annual publication is a valuable resource for those seeking to stay informed about the EU’s shifting landscape of fundamental rights.
    29
    April
    2025
    National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) play an important role in providing independent human rights protection in EU Member States. Since 2020, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has been tracking the accreditation status and mandates of NHRIs across the EU. The 2025 annual update continues this work. These updates examine whether NHRIs are involved in monitoring compliance with fundamental rights in the use of EU funds, and how they use the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights when advising governments or carrying out education, training, and awareness-raising activities.
    This FRF theme examines key challenges such as tackling disinformation, widening participation, protecting protests, sustaining civil society, ensuring political transparency, safeguarding institutions, and resisting the erosion of fundamental rights. Notable speakers include Emily O'Reilly, former European Ombudsman, Didier Reynders, former EU Commissioner for Justice, Alma Zadić, Austria's former Federal Minister of Justice, and Lilian Thuram, President of the Lilian Thuram Foundation - Education against racism, among others.
    The Fundamental Rights Forum (FRF) is a unique space for dialogue, bringing together diverse voices to tackle Europe’s most pressing human rights challenges. By uniting thinkers, creators and decision makers, the Forum sparks fresh ideas and solutions for a more just future.
    5
    June
    2024
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2024 analyses the year’s developments in fundamental rights. It focuses on the most pressing fundamental rights concerns facing Europe in 2023: the cost-of-living crisis, rights concerns at the EU’s external borders and migration, and threats to democracy. Re-structured, this year’s new approach is a shorter and sharper analysis. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a summary of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    5
    June
    2024
    The year 2023 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions. In so doing, it provides a compact but informative overview of the main fundamental rights challenges confronting the EU and its Member States.
    Highlights from the Fundamental Rights Forum 2024 that took place in Vienna on 11-12 March.
    6
    February
    2024
    The 2024 update on NHRIs accreditation status and mandates also covers their engagement in the monitoring of fundamental rights compliance in the use of EU funds at national level. Moreover, the update also shows how NHRIs make use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in their work when advising government or in education, training and awareness raising activities. Since its 2020 report 'Strong and effective national human rights institutions – challenges, promising practices and opportunities', the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has been regularly tracking the accreditation status and mandates of NHRIs.
    19
    December
    2023
    All EU funds must be spent in a way that respect fundamental rights. The EU spends billions of euros on creating jobs, economic growth, sustainable development and improving people’s lives. To prevent funds from being spent in ways that directly violate people’s fundamental rights, the EU strengthened the conditions how funds can be spent in 2021. This report looks at how the newly introduced conditions related to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities can be upheld in practice. It analyses the potential role of national human rights institutions, ombudsperson institutions and equality bodies. These safeguards can advance compliance with fundamental rights.
    20
    October
    2023
    FRA’s strategic priorities and objectives are based on the agency’s role and mission as defined in its amended founding regulation. They build on FRA’s 2018–2022 strategy as well as how it performed, its experience and its vision. Their design takes into account future fundamental rights challenges facing Europe, the agency’s mandate, the broader operational context and the resources available.
    18
    October
    2023
    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.
    11
    July
    2023
    Across the world, human rights defenders protect and uphold human rights in some of the most challenging situations. In some countries they face worrying levels of threats and attacks, intimidation and harassment. This report outlines how human rights defenders can enter and stay in the EU when they need protection. It suggests how EU institutions and Member States could use the flexibility in existing legal provisions and provide shelter for defenders who seek protection.
    8
    June
    2023
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews major developments in the field in 2022, identifying both achievements and areas of concern. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    8
    June
    2023
    The year 2022 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews major developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered, and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    2
    February
    2023
    Many cities throughout the European Union hosted people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU currently faces the largest displacement of people in Europe since World War II. Since February 2022, over seven million people came to the EU. The arrival of such large numbers of people thrust cities and local governments to the forefront of the EU and its Member States’ relief work. This short publication provides a snapshot of cities’ initiatives to address this humanitarian crisis.
    13
    December
    2022
    National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) continue to play a key role in upholding fundamental rights. FRA keeps track of the accreditation status and the mandates of the NHRIs. In 2022, the NHRI in Cyprus was upgraded to an ‘A-status’ institution. In addition, the mandates of six NHRIs changed to include child protection or the protection of LGBTI people.
    The Fundamental Rights Report 2025 provides a comprehensive overview of the state of fundamental rights in the European Union, highlighting major developments and trends in 2024. This video provides an insight into the issues covered by this year's report.
    This FRF theme examines key challenges such as tackling disinformation, widening participation, protecting protests, sustaining civil society, ensuring political transparency, safeguarding institutions, and resisting the erosion of fundamental rights. Notable speakers include Emily O'Reilly, former European Ombudsman, Didier Reynders, former EU Commissioner for Justice, Alma Zadić, Austria's former Federal Minister of Justice, and Lilian Thuram, President of the Lilian Thuram Foundation - Education against racism, among others.
    The Fundamental Rights Forum (FRF) is a unique space for dialogue, bringing together diverse voices to tackle Europe’s most pressing human rights challenges. By uniting thinkers, creators and decision makers, the Forum sparks fresh ideas and solutions for a more just future.
    Highlights from the Fundamental Rights Forum 2024 that took place in Vienna on 11-12 March.
    In this vlog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty talks about the need to push back against the shocking levels of human rights abuse and violation across the world. On the occasion of Human Rights Day, he refers to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the need to standing up for human rights.
    In this video, human rights leaders, experts and activists share their views on the human rights impact of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.
    In this video, several human rights leaders, experts and activists share their views on the impact of disinformation on human rights and the ways to address this phenomenon.
    In this vlog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty talks about the EU’s response to the war in Ukraine. He argues that it is only if we all work together, with human rights as our roadmap, that we can make our way towards a peaceful future.
    In the internet age, information travels faster and further than ever before. But so does disinformation, feeding off rumours, prejudices and stereotypes. How can we tackle it? Watch FRA’s practical guide on how to go about tackling disinformation using +INPUT – be positive, identify, narrate, pioneer, unite and track.
    The Fundamental Rights Forum is the space for dialogue on human rights challenges facing the EU today.
    The Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, welcomes the launch of the Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea), the merger of the European Foundation Centre (EFC) and the Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (Dafne), on 7 December 2021.
    The Fundamental Rights Forum is the space for dialogue on human rights challenges facing the EU today.
    Highlights from the Fundamental Rights Forum 2021 – Michael O’Flaherty on the Forum as a roadmap for a vision of hope.
    Speaking up for human rights has never been more important!

    But how can we bring people together and cut through the noise?
    International and regional human rights organisations across Europe have joined forces with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, united behind the '10 keys to effectively communicating human rights'.
    A clip on human rights cities upon launch of ‘Framework of commitments for human rights cities’
    On the occasion of the launch of FRA’s report ‘Protecting civic space in the EU’ this clip sheds light on the challenges civil society faces across the European Union.
    On 23 February 2021, FRA’s Director, Michael O’Flaherty, listened to fundamental rights concerns and discussed ways to solve them. The second Fundamental Rights Dialogue invited young people to participate in shaping our societies, placing human rights centre stage.
    On 23 February 2021, FRA’s Director, Michael O’Flaherty, listened to fundamental rights concerns and discussed ways to solve them. The second Fundamental Rights Dialogue invited young people to participate in shaping our societies, placing human rights centre stage.
    On 13 November, the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) hosted its first Fundamental Rights Dialogue - a virtual event that gave young people an opportunity to voice their fundamental rights concerns and discussed ways to solve them with FRA's Director Michael O'Flaherty.
    Key statements from the FRA/Euractiv online event Reinforcing the EU Charter: rights of people in the EU in the next decade, 7 December 2020.
    In January FRA attended several meetings for the EEA/Norway Grants Local Development Programme in Bulgaria and Roma Inclusion and Empowerment Programme in Czechia, organised by the respective Programme Operators.
    FRA has launched its annual Stakeholder Feedback Survey for 2025, and we want to hear from you. The survey is your opportunity to share your views on FRA’s activities and outputs over the past year.
    FRA participated for the first time in the EEAS/Commission Inter-Service Group on Human Rights. The group is chaired by the European External Action Service (EEAS) Human Rights Unit and brings together all Directorates-General (DGs) which have an international human rights dimension.
    FRA participated in the workshop organised by the Joint Research Centre’s EU Policy Lab to inform the European Commission’s 2026 Strategic Foresight Report.
    The roundtable discussion convened the International Partner Organisations (IPOs) of the Grants (FRA, CoE Secretariat and Venice Commission, OECD), the European Commission (DG JUST and CAB McGrath), the Donors (Norwegian MFA), as well as selected Civil Society Fund Operators (Bulgaria, Poland).
    In the context of the Council preparing its conclusions on the review of the 2020-2030 Charter Strategy, FRA was requested to present its contributions on the Charter.
    On 19-20 January, FRA visited international IDEA to scope out possibilities of closer cooperation in the area of democracy and fundamental rights.
    On 12 January, FRA intervened at a meeting of the Council Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP) in Brussels, which focused on the national implementation of the EU Strategy for Civil Society.
    FRA participated in a meeting organised by Civil Liberties Union for Europe on ‘Realising the Potential of the Charter through Strategic Litigation’ on 11 December in Brussels. Participants in the meeting drew lessons learnt and experiences of engaging in strategic litigation.
    To mark the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, FRA jointly organised with the European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the Council a conference entitled ‘25 Years of Rights: Reflecting on the Impact of the Charter’.
    The European Union (EU) is legally required to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The EU’s accession aims to further strengthen the protection of human rights in Europe. In a Q&A note, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) outlines some of the key legal and operational implications of the accession. It highlights how EU law interacts with the ECHR and examines the links between the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
    FRA participated in the dissemination event of the EU-funded project ‘ECHOFunds’ which took place in Brussels on 3 December. The project looked into ways of preventing the funding of projects which are not in line with the Charter by the EU as required by the EU Common Provisions Regulation.
    On 1-2 December, the Agency contributed to the conference on Human rights in local government practice in Gdansk. The event brought together more than 100 representatives from local councils, regions, and civil society organisations in Poland.
    Human rights considerations are still too often overlooked in lawmaking across the EU, finds a new report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Despite the binding force of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, only a few EU Member States have guidelines to assess human rights impacts when implementing EU law. Even fewer explicitly reference the Charter in such guidelines. The report comes as the EU intensifies efforts to streamline its regulatory framework through “Omnibus” reforms to boost competitiveness. In this context, the report stresses that fundamental rights impact assessments are essential to protect people and ensure compliance with the law – without compromising the goals of simplification and efficiency.
    Heads of EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Agencies met in Vienna from 4 to 5 December to reflect on their joint achievements and align future cooperation.
    FRA’s Director took part in the EU – Colombia Human Rights Dialogue on 1 December organised by the EU’s External Action Service in Brussels.
    The civil society umbrella network Civil Society Europe awarded its Civil Dialogue Award for the first time. The award recognises good practices and initiatives of meaningful involvement of civil society organisations in EU policy making, by EU Institutions and bodies.
    FRA spoke at the launch event of the EU Charter for the defenders of civic spaces. The Charter is an outcome of research and discussions in the REVES network (European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy) and its B.Right Spaces project.
    On 24 November, FRA Director Sirpa Rautio met with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media Jan Braathu in Vienna. During their discussion, they exchanged views on the main challenges to media freedom and its broader peace and security relevance, and the fundamental rights aspects of the Democracy Shield.
    On 21 November, FRA participated in the Digital Services Act Civil Society Coordination Group Roundtable event ‘Strengthening Cooperation with Public Interest Stakeholders in Enforcement.’
    FRA will host an online expert peer review of its draft foresight briefs on the future of fundamental rights in Europe towards 2040. The briefs were developed within a structured analytical process.
    FRA will give a presentation on the importance of communicating and disseminating the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter in the general population and among specific groups of key stakeholders.
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    FRA Director will travel to Dublin on 4-5 February to carry out a preparatory mission to learn about Ireland’s priorities for its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union (July-December 2026) and to offer FRA’s expertise, evidence, and support.
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    FRA will take part in the opening panel of the Council of Europe conference, Shaping democratic renewal: Civic space and the path to a New Democratic Pact for Europe, held on 2–3 February in Strasbourg.
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    FRA and the EEA and Norway Grants have stepped up their cooperation, including on civic space and Roma inclusion. For civic space, the Grants are funding a 5-year programme implemented by FRA, which comprises three pillars: an online civic space information hub, providing advice to Member States on civic space protection which includes national civic space dialogues, a community of practice and capacity building.
    FRA’s Director will exchange views on the OSCE’s human dimension with Heads of the EU Member States Permanent Representations to the OSCE, and the Head of the EU Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna.
    On 29 January, FRA Director Sirpa Rautio will meet with the Head of the Council of Europe’s Liaison Office in Vienna, Ambassador Gerhard Doujak at FRA premises.
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    Next week in Brussels from 28 to 29 January, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) will take part in the European Commission’s foresight process, led by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Secretariat-General.
    FRA will speak at a Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) webinar on 21 January on the consequences and impact of EU’s democracy instruments and policies on the Western Balkans civic space.
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    This December marks 25 years since the Presidents of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission solemnly proclaimed the EU’s bill of rights, the Charter of Fundamental Rights. To honour this important occasion, a special edition of the 3rd Annual Online CharterXchange, will take place online from 8 to 9 December.
    On 11 December, FRA will take part in the Regional Human Rights Mechanisms Focal Points online meeting organised by the Global Operation Division of the UN Human Rights Office. FRA will join the meeting organised for regional human rights mechanisms from the European, Asian and Arab regions.
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    The Agency’s Executive Board and Management Board will meet from 11 to 12 December.
    FRA will speak at a panel on strengthening civil society during an event by Civil Society Europe on ‘The Role of Civil Society in Protecting Democratic Values’ in Brussels on 3 December. The event will close with the EU Civil Dialogue Award ceremony, which will be awarded for the first time this year.
    FRA will join a panel discussion on moving towards a civil society-driven enlargement agenda.
    On 19 November, FRA will hold the official opening event of its Brussels Liaison Office with a high-level debate and a reception.
    FRA and the European Economic and Social Committee will sign an Exchange of Letters on 20 November.
    FRA will speak at a workshop on the challenges and opportunities of monitoring EU law compliance.
    FRA and the European Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX) will hold its Annual Dialogue. The meeting will be dedicated to the role of local and regional authorities in democracy and fundamental rights in the EU, in light of the European Democracy Shield.
    FRA will speak at a conference on ‘Democracy Under Threat’ that will take place on 14 November in Vienna. The Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to Central Europe, the International Institute for Peace in Vienna (IIP), in partnership with the City of Vienna’s Office for Human Rights organised the conference.
    The FRA Director, Sirpa Rautio, will speak during the high-level ‘Fortifying Freedom: Defence and Democracy Dialogue’ conference. Hosted by the Centre for the Study of Democracy, this one-day event will bring together representatives of government, academia and civil society to examine the new and challenging geopolitical reality and the different threats to democratic freedoms.