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
    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.
    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.
    At its 66th meeting, held on 13 September at the agency’s headquarters in Vienna, the Scientific Committee elected Kirsten Roberts Lyer as its new Chair and Gentian Zyberi as Vice-Chair. Both will serve a one-year term, with the next election scheduled for the Committee’s 70th meeting on 5 September 2025.
    FRA’s Director met Vienna Vice-Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr, responsible for Education, Youth, Integration and Transparency on 6 September. The meeting was at the invitation of the Vienna Human Rights Commissioner, Shams Asadi.
    FRA released Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Lithuanian, Portuguese and Swedish versions of its Fundamental Rights Charter trainers’ manual. This completes the set of 22 EU languages.
    FRA took part in a workshop on 5 August in Dornbirn on the newly-established and first human rights square in Vorarlberg. The square will be officially opened on 10 December.
    FRA took part in the 10th EU human rights dialogue with Indonesia hosted by the EU External Action Service (EEAS). FRA’s joined the EU delegation at the request of new EU Special Representative on Human Rights, Olof Skoog.
    On 4 July, FRA presented its report ‘EU funds-ensuring compliance with fundamental rights’ to the European Commission.
    FRA delivered online training to staff of the Romanian People’s Advocate on 11 and 12 June. The aim was to promote and strengthen the use of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter at the national level.
    FRA held an information session for national authorities on the FRA’s report on EU funds: Ensuring compliance with fundamental rights.
    FRA contributed to the annual meeting of the EU Temporary Relocation Platform. The Platform, an initiative of the European Commission, is a network of entities engaged in temporary relocation of at-risk human rights defenders.
    People’s fundamental rights are at risk across Europe. This is due to rising levels of poverty, persistent threats against democracy, widespread racism and challenges occurring in the context of migration, finds FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2024. These threats underline the need to ensure a strong and sustainable fundamental rights protection across the EU, particularly for people in vulnerable situations. The report suggests how policymakers and civil society can work in tandem to counter the threat of social exclusion and enable a more equal and fairer society for all.
    On 16 May, FRA Director Sirpa Rautio held a roundtable discussion with 36 civil society organisations in Brussels.
    FRA addressed the OSCE’s Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on 23-23 April in Vienna. FRA focused on how to support and protect human rights defenders, and on the specific support needs that human rights defenders in exile have.
    FRA presented findings from its report on ‘EU funds: Ensuring compliance with fundamental rights’ to a committee of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). It brings together a government representative from all Member States, and representatives of workers' organisations and employers' organisations.
    The Concluding Conference Statement on the role of National Human Rights Institutions in implementing the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter is now available. The conference took place in Brussels from 21-22 March.
    FRA released its practical guidance for Human Rights Cities in 14 additional EU languages. The guidance provides hands-on support and advice to cities and other forms of local authorities wishing to improve their efforts to respect, protect and promote human rights.
    Immediately after the Fundamental Rights Forum, on 12 and 13 March the Scientific Committee met in Vienna. The Scientific Committee meeting provided the first opportunity for the Committee to meet the new FRA Director Sirpa Rautio.
    On 5 March, FRA took part in a webinar, organised by the Prime Minister’s Office, launching the Finnish website on fundamental and human rights indicators. The website will monitor the implementation of fundamental rights in Finland.
    FRA recently added nine new language versions to its Charter e-learning platform. This development marks a significant step in FRA's commitment to providing comprehensive resources to a wider audience.
    FRA held the closing conference of its EEA & Norway Grants-funded regional cooperation project ‘Supporting National Human Rights Institutions in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law’. The event raised awareness and improved understanding of NHRIs’ role in enhancing the application of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter at the national level and in the EU framework.
    FRA spoke during the online launch of the Global Nonprofits Guide 2.0 on 1 March. The guide brings together information on laws relating to the setting up and operations of civil society organisations in 70 countries.
    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.
    -
    Over 60 key actors working on civic space monitoring, promotion and protection in Europe will come together at FRA to discuss civic space monitoring. From 16 to 18 September, they will discuss the overall landscape and who is doing what with respect to monitoring.
    FRA will present its work relevant to the judiciary during the regular annual meeting of the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) working group on Human Rights.
    On 15 September, FRA will give a presentation to a group of young Austrian volunteers from the Austrian Service Abroad. The focus of their preparation before leaving the country is based on Holocaust remembrance, supporting people in need and safeguarding peace.
    On 20 September, there will be an awareness training session on the implementation of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter. FRA will introduce the EU Charter and its implications for EU legislators.
    FRA will present key findings from its Fundamental Rights Report 2024 on 12 September. During the online meeting, FRA will present the key issues and challenges of fundamental rights with regards to migration, cost of living crisis, threats to democracy and civil space, and the use of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter at the national level.
    On 11 September, FRA experts will exchange views with Human Dimension experts from the EU Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna and EU Member States Permanent Representations to the OSCE.
    -
    In preparation for the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2025, FRA’s Director will go to Warsaw from 9 to 10 September. She will meet Polish Ministers of Justice and EU Affairs. She will meet representatives of the Polish government to discuss FRA’s possible cooperation with the upcoming Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2025.
    -
    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). The European Commission’s 'Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU’, adopted in 2020, and the subsequent Council conclusions on strengthening the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in the European Union call for further efforts in the Member States to promote the application of the EU Charter. The CharterXchange contributes to this objective by 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.
    On 9 July, FRA will virtually present in a webinar session the key findings of the FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2024 to its Fundamental Rights Platform parties.
    FRA will speak at the OECD’s new Civic Space Protection Network which first meets online on 27 June. This new initiative aims to bring together public officials, to serve as a platform to share experiences, learnings, and good practices.
    FRA will speak at a conference of the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) on 25 June in Helsinki. The conference will be streamed live.
    On 28 June, FRA will welcome the participants of the Public Leadership Programme for Women from the Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest.
    FRA will hold a meeting of foresight practitioners and human rights experts to raise awareness on the importance of considering fundamental rights in foresight activities.