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

  • 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.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    11
    October
    2021
    This report proposes a framework for becoming, and functioning as, a ‘human rights city’ in the EU. It includes ‘foundations’, ‘structures’ and ‘tools’ for mayors, local administrations and grassroots organisations to reinforce fundamental rights locally. It is based on existing good practice and expert input by representatives of human rights cities in the EU, academic experts, international organisations and city networks.
  • Page
    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.
  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    23
    October
    2018
    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?
Products
18
January
2018
Οι οργανώσεις της κοινωνίας των πολιτών στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση διαδραματίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στην προαγωγή των θεμελιωδών δικαιωμάτων, όμως νομικοί και πρακτικοί
περιορισμοί δυσχεραίνουν την επίτευξη του στόχου αυτού. Μολονότι σε όλα τα κράτη μέλη της ΕΕ υφίστανται προκλήσεις, η ακριβής φύση και η έκτασή τους ποικίλλουν. Σε
γενικές γραμμές, για το θέμα αυτό δεν υφίστανται επαρκή στοιχεία ούτε επαρκής έρευνα –περιλαμβανομένης της συγκριτικής έρευνας.
Ως εκ τούτου, η έκθεση του FRA εξετάζει την τυπολογία και τα ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά των προκλήσεων που αντιμετωπίζουν οι οργανώσεις της κοινωνίας των πολιτών που δραστηριοποιούνται στον τομέα των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων στην ΕΕ.
18
January
2018
Las organizaciones de la sociedad civil de la Unión Europea desempeñan un papel crucial en la promoción de los derechos fundamentales, pero les resulta más difícil hacerlo, debido
a restricciones tanto jurídicas como prácticas. Si bien existen dificultades en todos los Estados miembros de la UE, difieren en su naturaleza exacta y su magnitud. Por lo general, se
carece de datos e investigaciones sobre esta cuestión, incluida una investigación comparativa. El informe de la FRA analiza los distintos tipos y patrones que presentan las dificultades
a las que se enfrentan las organizaciones de la sociedad civil que trabajan en el ámbito de los derechos humanos en la UE.
18
January
2018
Au sein de l’Union européenne, les OSC jouent un rôle crucial dans la promotion des droits fondamentaux, mais il leur est désormais plus difficile d’assumer ce rôle en raison de restrictions d’ordre à la fois juridique et pratique. Si des difficultés sont observées dans tous les États membres, leur nature et leur étendue exactes varient d’un pays à l’autre. Les données et les études sur cette question – y compris les recherches comparatives – font généralement défaut.
Le rapport de la l’Agence des droits fondamentaux de l’Union européenne (FRA) se penche par conséquent sur les différents types de difficultés rencontrées par les OSC actives dans
le domaine des droits de l’homme au sein de l’Union européenne.
18
January
2018
Organizacije civilnog društva u Europskoj uniji igraju važnu ulogu u promicanju temeljnih prava, no to im je sve teže činiti iz zakonskih i praktičnih razloga. Iako postoje izazovi u svim
državama članicama EU-a, točna priroda i opseg tih izazova razlikuju se. Općenito govoreći, nedostaju podatci i istraživanja o tom problemu, uključujući komparativna istraživanja.
Izvještaj FRA-e stoga se osvrće na različite vrste i obrasce izazova s kojima se suočavaju organizacije civilnog društva koje se bave ljudskim pravima u EU-u.
18
January
2018
Nell’Unione europea le organizzazioni della società civile svolgono un ruolo cruciale nella promozione dei diritti fondamentali, ma incontrano ora maggiori difficoltà a causa di restrizioni giuridiche e pratiche. Sebbene presenti in tutti gli Stati membri dell’Unione, le difficoltà variano da un paese a un altro in relazione all’esatta natura ed entità. In generale, mancano dati e ricerche in materia, compresa la ricerca comparata.
La relazione della FRA esamina quindi i diversi tipi ed esempi di difficoltà incontrate dalle organizzazioni della società civile attive nel settore dei diritti umani nell’Unione.
18
January
2018
Pilsoniskās sabiedrības organizācijām Eiropas Savienībā ir būtiska nozīme pamattiesību veicināšanā, taču tām ir arvien grūtāk to darīt dažādu juridisku un praktisku ierobežojumu dēļ.
Lai arī problēmas ir visās ES dalībvalstīs, to būtība un apjoms atšķiras. Kopumā trūkst datu un pētījumu par šo tēmu, tostarp salīdzinošu pētījumu.
Tāpēc FRA ziņojumā tiek aprakstītas dažādu veidu problēmas, ar ko saskaras pilsoniskās sabiedrības organizācijas, kuru darbs ir saistīts ar cilvēktiesību aizsardzību ES.
18
January
2018
Pilietinės visuomenės organizacijos Europos Sąjungoje atlieka esminį vaidmenį skatindamos pagrindines teises, bet dėl teisinių ir praktinių suvaržymų joms tai daryti tapo sunkiau.
Nors sunkumų patiriama visose ES valstybėse narėse, jų pobūdis ir mastas labai nevienodi. Iš esmės šiuo klausimu nėra duomenų ir neatlikta tyrimų (nei lyginamųjų tyrimų).
Todėl FRA ataskaitoje nagrinėjamos įvairios sunkumų, su kuriais susiduria pilietinės visuomenės organizacijos, veikiančios žmogaus teisių srityje ES, rūšys ir pobūdis.
15
December
2017
This meeting report distils the discussions held during a high-level expert meeting organised by FRA, which explored the shared space between religion and human rights.
11
October
2017
The agency organised a high-level expert meeting in Vienna on 29-30 May 2017, bringing together participants from different EU Member States and horizons, including: human rights and fine arts academics; museum staff; curators; representatives of civil society organisations focusing on artistic freedom; and artists from the fields of photography, visual arts, comics, choreography, literature and music.
FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty speaks about the role of civil society and the FRA’s mechanism for cooperation with civil society, the Fundamental Rights Platform. “A healthy civil society is vital for the protection and promotion of fundamental rights. (…) Without civil society, we are not able to achieve our goals, we are not able to deliver our results. (…) We can cooperate to ensure that our Europe of values remains and gets ever stronger.”
This video message by Ulrike Lunacek, Vice-President of the European Parliament, was recorded on the occasion of FRA's 10th anniversary.
In 2017 and beyond, the Fundamental Rights Agency will focus on today’s most urgent human rights quandaries, from migration and asylum, through xenophobia and discrimination, to the very contemporary challenges of privacy, surveillance and hate speech in the digital age.
20
May
2016
This opinion addresses the designation and operation of a framework established under Article 33 (2) of the CRPD at EU level (EU Framework). It aims to clarify the requirements of an EU Framework in light of the monitoring practice and jurisprudence of the CRPD Committee and – with regard to the concept of independence –the Committee interpreting the Paris Principles on the establishment of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs).
19
February
2016
This leaflet explains how national parliaments, governments and courts can use the Charter and shows how the Charter was used at the national level in 2015.
11
May
2015
A new Focus paper by the EU Agency of Fundamental Rights (FRA) outlines how Member States across the EU have reformed their laws and policies to meet their obligations under the CRPD. By bringing together examples of such reforms, it also highlights how the adoption of international commitments can drive wide-ranging processes of change at the national level.
11
February
2015
The events that took place in France and Belgium in January 2015 had tremendous impact across the European Union (EU) and beyond. In the immediate aftermath of the events in Paris, FRA collected responses across Europe, focusing on Jewish and Muslim community organisations, political leaders, civil society and the media. The current paper provides an overview of this material and should be regarded as a snapshot of a rapidly changing situation.
5
March
2014
This factsheet presents some examples of survey findings, which are placed alongside general considerations as possible ‘ways forward’ for responding to violence against women.
26
January
2010
In 2009, the FRA conducted the first EU-wide study of the role that European memorial sites, museums and exhibitions play with respect to educating young Europeans about the Holocaust and human rights. The findings of the study were presented at a Conference in Auschwitz on the 27 January bringing together Education Ministers from across Europe.
15
October
2012
National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) protect and promote human rights at the national level, tackling systemic problems and raising fundamental rights awareness. To equip NHRIs to perform their role well, they should have, among other qualities, independence, powers and a broad mandate, in accordance with the so-called ‘Paris Principles’ which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 and set forth the primary minimum standards for an effective NHRI.
A group of around 30 administrators from the French National Institute for local Studies (INET) met FRA on 12 April.
The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) welcomes the amendment of its founding Regulation, adopted by the Council of the EU today following a proposal by the European Commission and the consent by the European Parliament. The revised Regulation strengthens the Agency's mandate and introduces a number of technical amendments. These will allow FRA to even better promote and help protect the fundamental rights of all people across the EU.
FRA hosted a visit from the Turkish Bar Association on 24 March.
FRA was part of the European Economic and Social Committee’s annual civil society days.
FRA seeks contractors to provide fundamental rights research and analysis in all EU Member States, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia. The deadline for call for tenders has been extended to 19 April.
On 24 February, FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty spoke at the UN-EU high-level policy dialogue on protecting the safety of journalists, media freedom and pluralism in the European Union.
FRA Director was on mission in Brussels from 9 to 11 February 2022 to speak at the conference “Safeguarding fundamental rights in the digital age” organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Commission, DG Justice and Consumer Protection.
On 8 December, FRA presented Charterpedia, the agency’s database on information related to the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter to the staff at the European Union’s Court of Justice (CJEU).
FRA held an online information session together with the European Commission for its Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP) about funding for projects related to the EU Fundamental Rights Charter and strategic litigation.
On 7 December, the FRA Director addressed the EU NGO Forum. This year it focused on a human rights-based recovery from the pandemic.
FRA attended the annual meeting of cooperation focal points of regional human rights mechanisms on 2 December. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights organised the event. The meeting focused on how to coordinate the work of regional offices responsible for promoting and protecting human rights as well as cooperation with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
It is with great sadness that FRA notes the passing of the noted Czech human rights champion and former FRA Management Board member, Petr Uhl.
FRA presented findings from its report on the fundamental rights impact of the EU’s counter-terrorism Directive to EU and national experts during the Council Terrorism Working Party on 10 November and at the European Commission on 22 November.
FRA’s Director visited the United Nations in Geneva on 18 November.
Today, the nine European Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies came together to wrap up the activities of the network in 2021 and present its key achievements. The event also gathered high-level representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament, European External Action Service, the General Secretariat of the Council, as well as the current Slovenian Presidency of the Council and the upcoming French one.
A group of human rights defenders from across the EU visited FRA on 11 November.
Between 8 and 9 November, the FRA Director visited Malta.
FRA spoke at two online conferences on civil society last week, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).
On 20 October, FRA met French civil society organisations who are part of its civil society network, the Fundamental Rights Platform.
FRA spoke during a panel on civil society and philanthropy for the next decade on 19 October, highlighting challenges to civil society space in Europe.
FRA will present its Fundamental Rights Forum to the Council of the EU on 27 September.
FRA will hold a webinar with its civil society network, the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP), to present and discuss the findings and related opinions from its new report on ‘Protecting civic space in the EU’.
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FRA Director will visit the Council of Europe on 21-22 September in Strasbourg.
FRA’s Scientific Committee will discuss the Agency’s reports on 17 September.
FRA will hold a webinar with civil society organisations from its Fundamental Rights Platform on 16 September.
On 2 September, FRA’s Director will present key findings from its Fundamental Rights Report 2021 at the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of the EU Parliament.
The Young Bled Strategic Forum will host the third Fundamental Rights Dialogue. It takes place in Bled, Slovenia, on 31 August.
FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty and the Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić agreed and exchanged letters on further developing cooperation for the European Union Fundamental Rights Information System (EFRIS). EFRIS brings together data about the acceptance of human rights treaties as well as assessment by monitoring mechanisms.
FRA’s Director Michael O’Flaherty will meet Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, in Vienna on 5 July. They will discuss how to further strengthen cooperation between FRA and ODIHR and exchange views on respective current and future priorities.
On 30 June, FRA will present key findings from its Fundamental Rights Report 2021 during a workshop organized by the European Policy Institute in North Macedonia, the agency’s research contractor in the country. North Macedonia’s Minister of Justice, its observers to FRA’s Management Board and National Liaison Officer will join the event.
FRA will speak on 22 June during an online workshop on human rights-based public services.
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The FRA Director will visit the Netherlands from 23 to 25 June. He will meet the head of the European Commission Representation in The Hague, Didier Herbert, representatives of civil society organisations and FRA’s Dutch Management Board member, Rick Lawson on 23 June.
FRA invites Slovenian civil society organisations active in its civil society network, the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP), for an online exchange on 18 June.
On 10 June, FRA will launch its Fundamental Rights Report 2021. The report reviews the main developments of human rights protection in the EU in 2020. This year’s focus section outlines the importance of a rights-based approach in dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic and its consequences.
On 4 June, the EU Delegation to Albania brings together key stakeholders from Albania for a webinar.
FRA’s Director will speak during the opening session of the World Conference of the International Ombudsman Institute.
FRA will host a national round-table discussion on 25 May on the role of the EU Fundamental Rights Charter in the EU. The European Commission Representation in Poland is FRA’s partner for the event.
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Over two days, human rights communicators will gather for their annual network meeting to share know-how and expertise. This year, the focus will be on tackling disinformation.
FRA will speak at the German Child and Youth Welfare Congress (Deutscher Jugendhilfetag), Europe’s biggest child and youth welfare summit, on 18 May.
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FRA will take part in the Council of Europe’s discussions on the central role National Human Rights Institutions play in promoting and protecting human rights in Europe.