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
    22
    October
    2025
    This publication discusses how businesses can meet their human rights and environmental responsibilities. It focuses on key elements of mandatory human rights due diligence and presents reflections on principles from international law and EU law. The paper explains why risk-based human rights due diligence is needed and how it should be implemented. It also highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement, access to remedies, and oversight. It aims to inform EU policymakers and stakeholders about ways to effectively promote responsible business conduct and to ensure adequate protection of rightsholders.
  • 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.
  • Periodic updates / Series
    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.
    Publications and data
    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.
    In an increasingly digital world, tech advances affect almost all aspects of our lives and our rights. This FRF theme tackles topics such as regulating digitalisation without stifling innovation or surveillance-based advertising. Notable speakers include Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director at EUROPOL, Daniel Howden, Founder and Director of Lighthouse Reports, Nanna-Louise Linde, Vice-President for European Government Affairs at Microsoft, Alexandria Walden, Global Head of Human Rights at Google, among others.
    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.
    babaroga/Adobe Stock
    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.
    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 an increasingly digital world, tech advances affect almost all aspects of our lives and our rights. This FRF theme tackles topics such as regulating digitalisation without stifling innovation or surveillance-based advertising. Notable speakers include Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director at EUROPOL, Daniel Howden, Founder and Director of Lighthouse Reports, Nanna-Louise Linde, Vice-President for European Government Affairs at Microsoft, Alexandria Walden, Global Head of Human Rights at Google, among others.
    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.
    On 4 November, the European Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) held a hearing on the draft report on the implementation of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter in the EU legal framework. This comes as the 25th anniversary of the EU Charter nears.
    On 20 and 21 October, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Kajsa Ollongren met with FRA Director Sirpa Rautio and FRA Management Team to discuss strengthening cooperation.
    FRA hosted a webinar on 21 October to update its civil society stakeholders on its foresight project. Two practitioners -- Maiju Lehto of Deaconess Foundation from Finland and Thays Prado, a filmmaker and founder of Feminist Futures – shared best practices from their work making foresight participatory and accessible.
    On 14 October, the EU Drugs Agency (EUDA) visited FRA to exchange good practices. They spoke about the challenges in building partnerships and institutional relations.
    FRA’s Director Sirpa Rautio visited Cyprus and had insightful meetings with the government ahead of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union that begins in January 2026.
    FRA took part in a meeting of the Council of Europe, FRA, ENNHRI and Equinet Collaborative Platform on Social and Economic Rights. The event also marked the 10th anniversary of the Platform.
    FRA contributed to two sessions at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit 2025, held in Spain from 7 to 9 October 2025. At a high-level panel on participation and inclusion, FRA discussed how meaningful participation enhances government effectiveness by leading to better-quality outcomes, increased legitimacy and trust, and greater empowerment.
    FRA took part in the EU RIGHTS CITIES project partner workshop organised in Zagreb from 28 September to 1 October. The meeting focused on civic engagement and participation in human rights cities.
    FRA contributed to a meeting on mobility and protection for human rights defenders (HRDs) in the EU, organised by the UN’s Human Rights Office and ProtectDefenders.eu. The meeting took place in Brussels on 29 September and 1 October.
    FRA spoke about the upcoming EU Civil Society Strategy at a hearing of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on 23 September 2025.
    Current and newly-appointed Members of FRA’s Management Board gathered for the first time in Vienna from 18 to 19 September. It marked an important step in the forward-looking interim assessment of the Agency’s Strategic Plan 2023–2028.
    On 15-16 September, FRA’s Director was in Dublin to take part in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s inaugural annual conference, ‘Leadership on Human Rights and Equality: A Time for Courage and Vision’.
    On 12 September, FRA Director Sirpa Rautio met Ukraine’s Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, to explore ways to strengthen cooperation.
    FRA spoke during the concluding panel of the European Rule of Law Conference 2025 in Berlin that ran from 15 to 16 September. It was part of the Re:constitution project and brought together legal practitioners, policy consulters and experts across disciplines discussed for two days to discuss how to best address the ongoing democracy and rule of law crisis in the EU.
    FRA’s Director Sirpa Rautio gave the keynote speech on the increasing role of National Human Rights Institutions in protecting human rights at an academic conference at Bocconi University.
    The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ new Brussels Liaison Office has officially opened. It marks an important step in enhancing FRA’s cooperation with EU institutions, Member States’ Permanent Representations in Brussels, European umbrella civil society organisations and other Brussels-based stakeholders.
    FRA discussed how to enhance human rights education for legal professionals and how to improve cooperation among all national and international institutions during the Council of Europe HELP Annual Networking Conference.
    FRA contributed to the European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law report, following a request from the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection.
    FRA has published its contribution to the European Commission as part of the consultation for the next EU budget.
    FRA recently published its contribution to a European Commission consultation on EU funding in the future EU budget.
    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.
    FRA is reviewing its approach to large-scale surveys. It will look at content, survey design, resources to address emerging fundamental rights concerns, and potential shifts in policy priorities, as well as the changing realities of survey research.
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    FRA is among the partners of the Democracy & Rights: Working together to turn hope into action conference. It will take place from 6 to 7 November in Copenhagen, during the Danish EU Presidency.
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    FRA will speak during the online launch of the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) course on the interplay between the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter, in the Western Balkans on 15 and 16 October.
    The Danish Embassy in Vienna has partnered with the Network of Danish Youth Councils. As part of this, the network will visit Vienna on 14 October.
    FRA will join an Irish Presidency webinar on understanding and upholding EU values, and the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter. It will present the Agency, cooperation with EU Presidencies as well as the EU Charter and FRA’s Charter tools.
    FRA will speak in the plenary session of the 30th Anniversary Conference of the Office of the Ombudsman in Malta. The event looks at the role of the Ombudsman in upholding human rights and protecting the vulnerable.
    On 10 October, FRA will take part in the Justice Home Affairs Agencies online workshop on drafting annual reports. The European Union Asylum Agency is organising the event.
    Under its ongoing project on fundamental rights in foresight, FRA will host its 5th and final 2025 foresight workshop.
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    From 8 to 9 October, FRA will host the 2025 Working Group on External Relations of the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies Network. It is part of its Presidency of the Network.
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    The FRA Director will meet Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Cyprus to discuss FRA's cooperation with the incoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
    FRA will join discussions at an expert hearing of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on 23 September about the upcoming EU Civil Society Strategy.
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    FRA will join an EU RIGHTS CITIES project workshop in Zagreb from 29 to 30 September. The EU RIGHTS CITIES project aims to raise awareness and support the effective implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights at the city level in the EU.
    On 17 September, FRA will contribute online to an EU-funded project workshop on the use of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter in the Spanish legal system.
    FRA’s Director Sirpa Rautio will give the keynote speech on the increasing role of National Human Rights Institutions in protecting human rights at an academic conference at Bocconi University.