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
    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.
    11
    November
    2022
    Europe stands at a delicate moment in its history. It is a moment of existential significance for the wellbeing and sustainability of our societies. It is emerging from the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease, only to face a set of major overlapping challenges. These pose profound questions about the political, economic and societal future of the continent. To discuss elements of a human rights vision for the future and to identify opportunities for action, FRA brought together a group of sixty human rights leaders and experts with diverse backgrounds
    from across the continent. This report distils the meeting discussions, including analysis and ideas, and concludes with proposals for action. It does not represent the views either of individual participants or of FRA.
    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.
    16
    September
    2022
    Europe stands at a delicate moment in its history, facing a convergence of major tests. Each of them taken on their own is significant. Together, they pose profound questions about the political, economic, and societal future of the continent. This is a moment for strong commitment to put human rights at the heart of our vision for Europe’s future. It is also time to demonstrate our determination to work together to this end. Against this backdrop, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) brought together around sixty human rights leaders and experts from across the continent to discuss elements of a human rights vision for the future and to identify opportunities for action. A full conference report will be available soon, including the specific ideas and proposals which arose from the meeting. Meanwhile, this is a summary of the conclusions.
    19
    August
    2022
    DA, ET, FI, LT, PT, SV versions now available
    30 July 2024
    The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFREU) is the EU’s bill of rights. It always binds the EU institutions and the Member States when they act within the scope of EU law. However, it is far from easy to assess whether a concrete case falls within the scope of EU law. This is why it is necessary to provide training and training material to legal professionals so that they can understand the field of application of the Charter as laid out in its Article 51. This trainer’s manual aims at providing guidance on both the organisation and the implementation of such trainings based on a series of case studies,
    which will be extended in the future.
    19
    August
    2022
    Civil society organisations face diverse challenges across the European Union. FRA’s report on Protecting civic space in the EU presents the agency’s findings on these challenges. It was issued in September of 2021. This summary presents the Key findings and FRA opinions outlined in the report.
    19
    July
    2022
    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.
    29
    June
    2022
    Since September 2021, two National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) had a change in their accreditation status, one applied for accreditation and five have had a change in tasks covered by their mandates. This new 2022 update provides an overview of developments in the accreditation status and mandates of NHRIs from September 2021 to May 2022. It is a follow up of FRA’s 2020 report on ‘Strong and effective national human rights institutions – challenges, promising practices and opportunities’ and the September 2021 update. It covers the 27 EU Member States and three candidate countries (Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia).
    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.
    8
    June
    2022
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2022 reviews major developments in the field in 2021, 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
    2022
    This focus looks at the impact of the pandemic on social rights. It examines the measures in national recovery and resilience plans that address the social vulnerabilities among a variety of population groups in the EU, including women, children and young people in situations of vulnerability, people with disabilities, older people, Roma and people in precarious working conditions.
    8
    June
    2022
    All language versions now available
    14 September 2022
    The year 2021 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2022 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.
    27
    April
    2022
    This guide can help cities wishing to improve their efforts to respect human rights. It aims to encourage local authorities to adopt higher human rights standards. The idea is to encourage and foster mutual learning on human and fundamental rights. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), a group of human rights cities and various practitioners in the EU worked together to produce this guide. The guide draws on the promising practices and experiences of cities, regions, experts, international organisations and networks that can be found in the FRA report Human rights cities in the EU: A framework for reinforcing rights locally.
    14
    April
    2022
    Speaking up for human rights has never been more important! But how can we best do it? How do we bring people together and cut through the noise?
    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.
    This year, the COVID-19 pandemic leaves a lasting mark on society worldwide. It affected everyone but some people more than others. As we look ahead, on Human Rights Day, on 10 December, we need to make the new normal a better normal. In his video message, FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty underlines the need to stand up for human rights to make 2021 a better year. This means ensuring we respect and take into account everybody's human rights.
    This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the 2020 General conference of the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities (ICCAR): “CommunicAction – A common front to protect human rights at the local level”.
    This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform: ''Connectivity between regional and global human rights mechanisms".
    This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the e-conference "70 years of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: challenges and prospects".
    This video was produced for the launch of the Fundamental Rights Survey in June 2020 and gives an overview of the main results.
    Michael O'Flaherty introduces the July edition of FRA's bulletin on the impact for fundamental rights of Covid-19. In this vlog he talks about the important role that people play who are engaged with the promotion and the protection of human rights in these times.
    The July edition of the COVID-19 bulletin will be available from 30 July.
    In his latest vlog Michael O'Flaherty introduces FRA's survey of 35,000 people on attitudes to human and fundamental rights.
    Greece needs solid, sustained support and solidarity as it faces great migration challenges, says FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty after 2 days of meetings in Athens with authorities.
    In the latest edition of his video blog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty speaks about the importance and power of hope accompanying the work of FRA in 2020. Particularly after a troubled start of the year.
    Check out the EU's modern human rights catalogue and its chapter about Freedoms.
    Check out the EU's modern human rights catalogue and its chapter about Equality.
    Check out the EU's modern human rights catalogue and its chapter about Solidarity.
    Improve law and policies by always checking the applicability of the Charter!
    Check out the EU's modern human rights catalogue and its chapters starting with Dignity.
    Check out the EU's modern human rights catalogue! The Charter celebrates this year its 10th anniversary since it became legally binding!
    This video, shot at the recent Human Rights Communicators' Network Workshop, highlights many comments from the inspirational discussions on how elements of FRA's 10 keys to effectively communicate human rights can influence our day-to-day work.
    Talk by Sarah Wishart of Rights Info at the Human Rights Communicators' Workshop held at FRA on 3-4 October 2019.
    Talk by Szczepan Orlowski of Animorph at the Human Rights Communicators' Workshop held at FRA on 3-4 October 2019.
    Talk by Flavia Kleiner of Operation Libero to the Human Rights Communicators' Workshop held at FRA on 3-4 October 2019.
    FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty gave the opening talk at the Human Rights Communicators' Workshop held at the Agency on 3-4 October 2019.
    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 has launched the Human Rights Structures Navigator – a new comprehensive tool providing a centralised overview of major human rights institutions and structures across the EU and candidate countries. This new resource aims to support practitioners, EU institutions, Member States and stakeholders in navigating human rights protection mechanisms effectively.
    FRA presented its ongoing work under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum at the annual conference that the Czech Ombudsperson organises on refugee and immigration law.
    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 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.
    On 30 July, FRA will give an online presentation on the role of the judiciary and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights during the annual Summer School of the National School of Judges of Ukraine. The school includes a number of presentations from international experts, including FRA.
    FRA’s Director will present key findings of its annual Fundamental Rights Report 2025 on 14 July in Brussels to the European Parliament’s Committee of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).
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    The ‘Annual EU CharterXchange’ is an initiative of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Commission to enhance the application of the rights enshrined in the EU Charter for Fundamental Rights (EU Charter), in line with the objectives of the European Commission’s 'Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU’ (2020), and the subsequent Council conclusions on strengthening the application of the EU Charter in the EU (2021). The CharterXchange aims at increasing the exchange of knowledge and experience and fostering collaboration among experts, policymakers, and stakeholders through a regular forum, which started in 2023, dedicated to the EU Charter. The agenda and take-aways of the first and second EU CharterXchanges are available online. This special edition of the 3rd CharterXchange supports the 25th anniversary conference organised by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission together with the FRA. The results of the Charter Exchange will feed into a high-level 25th anniversary conference convening 200 government officials, legal practitioners and experts in Brussel on 10 and 11 December.
    FRA will present and discuss the key findings of its annual Fundamental Rights Report 2025 during an online event on 1 July that addresses the organisations participating in its Fundamental Rights Platform as well as the Ombuds institutions, Equality Bodies and National Human Rights Institutions.
    At the invitation of the Polish Presidency of the Council, FRA will present the key findings of its annual Fundamental Rights Report 2025 on 24 June in Brussels. FRA’s presentation will contribute to the work of the Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP).
    FRA will speak at a high-level event in Warsaw on 17 June on Strengthening Democracy and the Rule of Law in Europe in the Face of PolyCrises. The conference brings together civil society leaders from across Europe, including the Western Balkans, alongside EU and Polish policymakers and key donors.