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
    31
    March
    2026
    Civic space is a crucial component of democracy and of societies founded on respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law. Civil society organisations across the EU face increasing pressure that limits their ability to operate. This report presents FRA opinions on how EU Member States can better protect civic space and support civil society organisations in safeguarding fundamental rights. The findings are based on data and information collected by FRANET, FRA’s multidisciplinary research network, and FRA’s consultation with CSOs participating in its Fundamental Rights Platform. It is complemented by desk research, interviews, stakeholder meetings and exchanges with intergovernmental organisations. It covers all EU Member States, as well as Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia.
  • 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
    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.
    Publications and data
    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.
    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.
    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 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.
    On 4 December, students from the Central European University Vienna will visit FRA as part of their Political Economy class.
    -
    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.
    -
    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.
    -
    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.