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
    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
    6
    February
    2024
    The 2024 update on NHRIs accreditation status and mandates also covers their engagement in the monitoring of fundamental rights compliance in the use of EU funds at national level. Moreover, the update also shows how NHRIs make use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in their work when advising government or in education, training and awareness raising activities. Since its 2020 report 'Strong and effective national human rights institutions – challenges, promising practices and opportunities', the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has been regularly tracking the accreditation status and mandates of NHRIs.
  • 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.
Products
On 23 June, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty presented the key findings of the Fundamental Rights Report 2020 to the Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP) of the Council of the EU.
On 26 June, FRA joined the first exchange of views of the Council of Europe’s Child Rights Steering Committee.
Most people trust in human rights to create fairer societies according to survey findings from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). However, if you struggle to make ends meet, are young or vulnerable you often believe human rights are not for you FRA’s Fundamental Rights Survey reveals stark divides across society in Europe. It highlights the need for governments to reconnect Europeans with their human rights to ensure that everyone benefits equally from them.
On 16 June, FRA contributed to an ARIADNE network webinar on the role of cities in promoting and protecting human rights and how philanthropy can help.
FRA moderated a webinar on 19 June on universities and human rights cities. The Global Campus of Human Rights invited representatives from over 20 universities to take part.
FRA is introducing a series of changes to deepen its cooperation with civil society organisations through its Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP).
On 9 June, FRA’s Management Board elected a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson as the mandates of existing members draw to a close.
Growing intolerance and attacks on people’s fundamental rights continue to erode the considerable progress achieved over the years, finds FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2020. As Europe begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic we see a worsening of existing inequalities and threats to societal cohesion.
The Advisory Board for FRA’s Fundamental Rights Forum held their first meeting on 2 June online.
On 28 May, the FRA Director took part in a virtual meeting of the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
On 27 May, FRA participated in the annual EEA and Norway Grants International Partner Organisations meeting.
The UN’s Human Rights Regional Office for Europe launched its report 'The case for a human rights approach to the rule of law in the European Union' at a webinar on 14 May.
Intergovernmental organisations, and EU institutions and agencies, met online on 17 April to discuss the impact of COVID measures for human rights defenders in Europe, and what the implications are for their work.
Many people in Europe have been strongly affected by COVID-19 and the measures in place to stop its spread.
Five EU Member States volunteered to review implementation of the sustainable development goals in their countries in 2020.
The large earthquake that hit Croatia on 22 March adds further strain to stretched emergency services already fighting the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the world. FRA offers its solidarity to Croatia and particularly to Ombudswoman Lora Vidović whose offices were badly damaged in the earthquake.
While recognising the very real threat to health and life that the COVID-19 virus poses, and the duty of the State to ensure the public’s health, FRA is undertaking a rapid research exercise on the impact of responses to the virus with respect to people’s fundamental rights - such as freedom of movement and assembly.
FRA joined discussions at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee on how commitments in OGP national action plans could better support an enabling environment for civil society.
The Netherlands Helsinki Committee hosted a workshop on communicating rights in a post-truth area.
On 28 September, FRA’s Director will give a keynote speech on the impact of COVID-19 on the realisation of human rights now and in the long run. He will speak during a meeting of the Human Rights Delegation of Finland, a body of the Finnish NHRI.
The European Commission invited FRA to join two advisory bodies to support the implementation of the ‘European Green Deal’.
The regular study visit of judges and prosecutors to FRA, organised by the European Judicial Training Network, takes place this time as a virtual meeting.
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FRA’s Executive Board and Management Board will convene virtually on 25 September.
On 28 September, FRA’s Director Michael O’Flaherty takes part in a seminar on how to best communicate equality and diversity messages.
On 14 September, FRA invites civil society organisations to a webinar about its recent report on civic space experiences in the EU.
FRA will hold an online meeting with Human Rights Cities on 16 September to share information on current priorities and challenges.
FRA’s Director kicks off a series of targeted presentations in Member States of its report on Strong and effective NHRIs: challenges, promising practices and opportunities.
On 4 September, the Scientific Committee members will discuss FRA reports and have an exchange on current FRA research activities.
On the 9th of July, the CoE-FRA-ENNHRI-EQUINET collaborative platform on social and economic rights meets virtually.
On 29 June, FRA will take part in EuroPCom, the European Public Communication Conference.
On 23 June, in the run-up to the German Presidency of the EU Council, FRA will host a webinar for legal staff of the German Federal Foreign Office and the Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany.
On 18 June, the agency’s National Liaison Officers (NLOs) will meet via video conference for the first time.
On 23 June, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty will present the key findings of the Fundamental Rights Report 2020 to the Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP) of the Council of the EU.
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FRA’s Executive Board and Management Board will convene on 8 and 9 June via video conference.
The FRA Director will join a Facebook live meeting on 26 May to discuss the situation of fundamental rights in Europe.
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On 24 and 25 June, FRA will host interactive online sessions to mark the launch of the report ‘What do fundamental rights mean for people in the EU?’
The FRA Director will address the Bureau of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) on 19 May.