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
    28
    July
    2020
    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.
    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.
    24
    June
    2020
    Summary version now available
    07 December 2020
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Survey collected data from 35,000 people about their experiences, perceptions and opinions on a range of issues that are variously encompassed by human rights. This report presents a small selection of the survey results. It focuses on findings with respect to respondents’ opinions about human – or fundamental rights; their views and perceptions on the functioning of democratic societies – as a pillar on which human rights can flourish; and on their thoughts on and engagement with public services that have a duty to enforce human rights law and to protect people’s rights.
    19
    June
    2020
    In 2019, the International Organization for Migration estimated that 1,866 people have died or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life. This is an average of five people per day. In recent years, a significant proportion 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. Since 2018, however, authorities in some EU Member States started viewing civil society-deployed rescue vessels with hostility. As a reaction, national authorities initiated about 40 administrative and criminal proceedings against crew members or vessels, including seizing the latter. In some cases, rescue vessels were blocked in harbours due to flag issues or the inability to meet technical requirements.
    In his latest vlog Michael O'Flaherty introduces FRA's survey of 35,000 people on attitudes to human and fundamental rights.
    11
    June
    2020
    This focus takes a closer look at the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which has been legally binding for 10 years. At EU level, it has gained visibility and sparked a new fundamental rights culture. At national level, awareness and use of the Charter are limited. Courts increasingly use the Charter, showing the impact of this modern instrument. But its use by governments and parliaments remains low. For instance, there is little indication of anyone regularly scrutinising national legislation that transposes EU law for compatibility with the Charter.
    11
    June
    2020
    Now available in Macedonian and Serbian
    13 November 2020
    The year 2019 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2020 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. In so doing, it provides a compact but informative overview of the main fundamental rights challenges confronting the EU and its Member States.
    11
    June
    2020
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2020 reviews major developments in the field in 2019, 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. This year’s focus chapter explores how to unlock the full potential of the EU Charter of 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.
    February
    2020
    In today’s media landscape the way in which journalists and editors receive, process and publish news is constantly changing. Journalists face immense time pressure, as news frequently breaks online To facilitate training on the coverage of migration news, this Trainer’s Manual is a tool to be used together with the e-Media Toolkit.
    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.
    The European Union Fundamental Rights Information System EFRIS is a Human Rights Gateway, bringing together data and information from existing human rights databases, and enables viewing and analysis of relevant assessments of fundamental rights in the EU.
    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!
    12
    November
    2019
    The Charter is most effective, and has a real impact on people’s lives, when parliaments, governments and courts at local, regional and national levels all actively apply it. The national sphere is particularly relevant. A strong fundamental rights architecture and committed national governments and parliaments are key to letting the Charter unfold its potential at this level. Civil society organisations (CSOs) and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) are also crucial given their contributions to the protection and promotion of Charter rights.
    FRA and the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) held advanced training on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights for the members of the judiciary on 23-24 April at FRA in Vienna.
    On 8 and 9 April Laura Arikka, the Executive Director of the Finnish Timeout Foundation, and her colleagues visited FRA. FRA’s Director, Sirpa Rautio, introduced them to the Agency and its work.
    On 7 April, FRA and the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU held a seminar on the role of civil society in strengthening the rule of law and democratic resilience. The event gathered around 60 justice councillors and national experts from FREMP and General Affairs Council working parties.
    FRA contributed to the spring session of the Council of Europe’s Conference of International NGOs (CINGO) in Strasbourg on 7-8 April. Participants discussed civic space challenges and how to address them.
    The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is piloting a Youth Advisory Panel to amplify young people's voices on fundamental rights issues in the EU. The panel consists of seven diverse young people aged 18-25 with experience in civil society work and youth advocacy.
    FRA hosted a civic space Xchange webinar on 27 March on the various funding pressures that civil society organisations are experiencing. The webinar brought together over 120 participants from civil society, EU institutions and international organisations.
    On 12 and 13 March, FRA hosted its regular meeting with its National Liaison Officers (NLOs). They are the main contact points for the Agency in Member States and in countries that participate as observers in the work of FRA.
    FRA, together with the European Commission and ProtectDefenders.eu delivered online training for EU Delegations and consular staff in Member State embassies on the issue of visa for human rights defenders at risk.
    As human rights and democracy come under increasing pressure worldwide, the discussions at the latest Fundamental Rights Forum remain as relevant as ever. On 11-12 March 2024, the Forum gathered diverse voices to tackle some of the most pressing human rights challenges of our time. The Forum’s videos on FRA’s YouTube channel offer insights into issues, such as democratic resilience, freedom of expression, and challenges to the rule of law - all critical in today's shifting political landscape.
    On 7 March, FRA spoke at a national event on setting up the National Human Rights Institution in Italy. The discussion focused on challenges and perspectives of setting up NHRI in Italy.
    FRA’s Executive Board meeting took place online on 4 March. The Board was updated on most recent FRA’s work.
    FRA invites views from all civic society organisations working in an EU Member State or in Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia or at the EU level for its annual civic space consultation.
    On 5 February, FRA took part in a seminar in Helsinki organised by the Council of Europe and the Finnish Non-discrimination Ombudsman. The event was part of a EU-Council of Europe funded technical support project on upholding equality and non-discrimination by equality bodies regarding the use of artificial intelligence in public administrations.
    The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is honoured to chair the EU Justice & Home Affairs Agencies Network (JHAAN) this year. Together, the JHAAN Agencies work tirelessly on promoting rights, freedom, security and justice across the EU.
    FRA held an information session for National Liaison Officers on the Agency’s draft Single Programming Document. The presentation included information on the Agency’s programming and planning process.
    Challenges, promising practices and lessons learnt in mainstreaming human rights into programmes and project lifecycles was the focus of an expert meeting on 30 January. They also discussed future directions in mainstreaming human rights and the human rights-based approach locally, while addressing global challenges and the need for innovation.
    FRA has launched its annual Stakeholder Feedback Survey for 2024, and we want to hear from you!
    FRA Director Sirpa Rautio took part in an international human rights conference in Kyiv on 5 December. The Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights organised the ‘The Law of Force or the Force of Law? The Crisis of the Global Human Rights System and Ways to Overcome It’ conference.
    FRA took part in the 3rd EU human rights dialogue with Mexico. The EU External Action Service (EEAS) hosted the meeting.
    On 13 December, FRA’s Management Board re-elected Jim Clarken as the new Chairperson for a second term starting on 19 March 2025.
    On 5 February, FRA experts will exchange views with Human Dimension experts from the EU Delegation to International Organisations in Vienna and EU Member States Permanent Representations to the OSCE.
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    On 30 January, FRA will host an expert meeting on mainstreaming human rights into programme and project lifecycles, from initiation and planning to executing and closing as well as monitoring and control.
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    During the week of 27 January, FRA’s Director will have various speaking engagements and participate in several events during her visit to Poland.
    On 31 January, there will be a study visit to FRA from the Council of Europe’s new Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström.
    FRA Director Sirpa Rautio will be the keynote speaker at a public event to mark Vienna’s 10th anniversary as human rights city. Vienna became a human rights city in 2014, with a declaration, an action plan and subsequent opening of a human rights office.
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    The Agency’s Executive Board and Management Board will meet from 12 to 13 December.
    On 4 December, students from the Central European University Vienna will visit FRA as part of their Political Economy class.
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    A high-level conference in Bled from 5 to 6 December aims to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia.
    On 3 December, a group of students from Vienna’s Webster University will visit FRA.
    On 2 December in Rome, FRA will present the key findings and challenges identified in its Fundamental Rights Report 2024. The aim of the event is to raise awareness of fundamental rights issues in Italy.
    FRA will take part in the next Infra4NextGen Stakeholders Board online meeting on 18 November. The project is funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.
    FRA will present its report on EU Funds: Ensuring compliance with fundamental rights at a meeting of the Member States' expert group on the Common Provisions Regulation for EU Funds.
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    FRA will take part in the 1st Eastern Partnership Civil Society Summit. It will take place from 19 to 21 November in Vienna.
    FRA’s Director will take part in the 25th anniversary of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. She will join a high-level panel debate discussing how to stand up for human rights in challenging times.
    On 13 November, FRA will speak at a seminar on human rights and local democracy in Europe in Strasbourg. FRA will contribute to a table discussion on actions from the Council of Europe and the European Union in human rights at the local level.
    On 15 November, a group of Slovenian and Erasmus students from the University of Ljubljana law faculty will visit FRA.
    FRA's Director will take part in the EU – UN Human Rights Office strategic dialogue on 21 October in Geneva. The UN Human Rights Office and the EU’s External Action Service organised the meeting.
    FRA will deliver a keynote speech at a symposium organised by the Austrian Parliament to mark the adoption of the new EU Directives on standards for equality bodies. FRA will speak about the role of equality bodies in providing access to justice for victims of discrimination.
    FRA’s Executive Board and Management Board will convene on 27 September.