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
    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.
    In the latest edition of his video blog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty focuses on the migration situation in the Mediterranean Sea and makes three proposals.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: Ten years after the UN’s Disability Convention entered into force, 2018 saw it continue
    to drive advances in disability rights across the EU.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: The Charter of Fundamental Rights is the EU’s bill of human rights. These rights and principles have to be respected and promoted by EU institutions and Member States whenever they act within EU law. Approaching the Charter’s 10th anniversary, Member States do not yet make full use of the potential it offers.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: Implementing fundamental and human rights helps create a sustainable future.
    Here the EU plays a key role.
    19
    June
    2019
    In 2018, some 2,299 people are estimated to have died or gone missing at sea while crossing the sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life. This is on average more than six people per day. Before mid-2017, a significant share 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. In 2018, however, authorities in some Member States viewed civil society-deployed rescue vessels with hostility. As a reaction, they seized rescue vessels, arrested crew members, and initiated legal procedures against them (more than a dozen altogether). In some cases, rescue vessels were blocked in harbours due to flag issues.
    12
    June
    2019
    The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has applied across the European Union (EU) since 25 May 2018. One year on, this paper looks at how the new regulation has affected the daily work of civil society organisations (CSOs).
    6
    June
    2019
    This year’s focus explores the interrelationship between the human and fundamental rights framework and the Sustainable
    Development Goals (SDGs) of the global Agenda 2030 in the context of Member States’ and the EU’s internal policies.
    It takes a closer look at the SDGs related to reducing inequality (SDG 10) and promoting peace, justice and strong
    institutions (SDG 16).
    6
    June
    2019
    The year 2018 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2019 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 the latest edition of his video blog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty focuses on press freedom and the importance of an independent media for the society.
    22
    March
    2019
    Member States have an explicit duty to promote the Charter’s application. These country-sheets support that effort by giving examples of the Charter’s use and highlighting how it adds value.
    26
    November
    2018
    Civil society organisations play a critical role in democracies, and the importance of their work is widely recognised in international legal and policy documents. However, they face many obstacles when it comes to their day-to-day work. Based on the results of an online consultation with FRA's civil society network, the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP), in September 2018, this paper complements the January 2018 report.
    26
    October
    2018
    The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights’ 2018 Fundamental Rights Forum
    brought together more than 700 human rights champions at a time of
    widening social divisions and increasingly polarised politics across
    Europe.
    23
    October
    2018
    ES, HU, LT, LV, SK, SL and PT versions now available
    18 November 2020
    As a very modern human rights catalogue containing many rights not found in established bills of rights, the Charter indeed looks good on paper. Those familiar with the main principles of EU law can usually quickly recite that the Charter is always binding on the EU, and binding on Member States only when they are "implementing EU law". But what does this often-quoted language from Article 51 of the Charter actually mean?
    1
    October
    2018
    This note draws attention to the recent trend of criminalising search and rescue operations (SAR) in the Mediterranean Sea carried out by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or other private entities. This includes seizing rescue vessels, as well as arrests for crew members, in some EU Member States. Most of such incidents concerned NGOs operating in the Central Mediterranean Sea.
    1
    October
    2018
    With this Opinion, FRA aims to contribute to the European Parliament's own-initiative report on the “Implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in the EU institutional framework”, being prepared in the Parliament’s Committee for Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). The request aims at understanding the interaction between the Charter’s implementation at national and EU level, and whether there are “instruments, mechanisms and practices” available at EU level to assist Member States to better implement the Charter.
    On 21 November, FRA’s Director took part in a high-level conference in Strasbourg marking the 25th Anniversary of the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner.
    On 20 and 21 November in Poznan, FRA spoke at the Human Rights Cities Conference on cities inclusiveness. The event brought together more than 90 representatives of local authorities, civil society, academia, business, networks, international and European experts.
    FRA spoke about the economic, social and cultural rights situation in Europe and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on fundamental rights. It drew from the focus chapter of the Agency’s fundamental rights report 2024.
    FRA took part in the Annual Meeting of Focal Points of Regional Human Regional Human Rights Mechanisms. The UN Human Rights Office organised the meeting. It took place on 13 November.
    FRA contributed to an event organised by the Brussels office of the UN’s human rights office on better protecting environmental human rights defenders. The meeting looked into the situation of defenders in the wider Europe region.
    On 20 September, the Presidency of the Council convened a training session on the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Around 80 Councillors had registered for the training event.
    On 17 September, FRA took part in a virtual meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies on methodologies for drafting annual reports. The EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) organised the meeting.
    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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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). 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.
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    FRA will speak at the European Commission’s meeting on stronger Equality Bodies to combat discrimination. FRA will present its work on equality data, fundamental rights indicators and on strengthening statutory bodies.
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    FRA will contribute to the annual meeting of the EU Temporary Relocation Platform. The meeting takes place from 5 to 6 June in Berlin.
    On 8 May, FRA will welcome a group of Master’s students from the Central European University specialising in EU human rights law and public policy studies.
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    FRA will hold its regular meeting with its National Liaison Officers (NLOs) from 23 to 24 April online. The NLOs are FRA’s main contact points in Member States and in observer States to the work of FRA.
    FRA Director Sirpa Rautio and the Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić will meet on 25 April in Vienna. They will exchange views on current challenges to human rights in Europe and the importance of respecting fundamental rights standards.
    On 19 April, a workshop on fundamental rights data collection will take place at FRA. The objective is to provide expertise to Albanian authorities in developing fundamental rights data collection methodologies.