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.

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Highlights

  • Report / Paper / Summary
    19
    December
    2023

    EU funds: Ensuring compliance with fundamental rights

    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

    NHRI accreditation status and mandates - update 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

    Protecting civil society – Update 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.
    Read news item
  • Urban girl striding through city area
    Report / Paper / Summary
    11
    October
    2021

    Human rights cities in the EU: a framework for reinforcing rights locally

    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.
    Watch video on Human rights cities
    Read news item
Táirgí
Infographic
Inter-governmental human rights systems
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Sustainable Development Goals and human rights in the EU

Fundamental Rights Report 2019: Implementing fundamental and human rights helps create a sustainable future.
Here the EU plays a key role.
Report / Paper / Summary
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Civil society
19
June
2019

2019 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and criminal investigations

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.
Report / Paper / Summary
Data protection
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Civil society
12
June
2019

The General Data Protection Regulation – one year on

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).
Fundamental Rights Report
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Inter-governmental human rights systems
6
June
2019

Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU: a matter of human and fundamental rights

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).
Fundamental Rights Report
Children, youth and older people
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders
6
June
2019

Tuarascáil um Chearta Bunúsacha, 2019 - Tuairimí ó FRA

Sa bhliain 2018, tógadh céimeanna chun tosaigh agus céimeanna siar araon i ndáil le cearta bunúsacha a chosaint. Déantar athbhreithniú sa Tuarascáil um Chearta Bunúsacha, 2019 ó  FRA (Gníomhaireacht um Chearta Bunúsacha) ar na mórfhorbairtí san earnáil, agus sainaithnítear inti freisin na héachtaí a baineadh amach agus na rudaí ar ábhair imní iad go fóill. San fhoilseachán seo, cuirtear i láthair tuairimí ó FRA faoi na príomhfhorbairtí sna réimsí téamacha a chumhdaítear agus déantar achoimre ar an bhfianaise a thacaíonn leis na tuairimí sin.
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Video Blog by Michael O'Flaherty: Press freedom

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.
Country sheets
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Support for human rights systems and defenders
22
March
2019

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights - Use and added value in EU Member States

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.
Report / Paper / Summary
Civil society
Support for human rights systems and defenders
26
November
2018

Civil society space: views of organisations

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.
Report / Paper / Summary
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders
26
October
2018

Fundamental Rights Forum 2018 - Chair's Statement

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.
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Support for human rights systems and defenders
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
23
October
2018
ES, HU, LT, LV, SK, SL and PT versions now available
18 November 2020

Applying the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in law and policymaking at national level - Guidance

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?
Report / Paper / Summary
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Civil society
1
October
2018

Fundamental rights considerations: NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and criminal investigations - 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.
Opinion
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Support for human rights systems and defenders
1
October
2018

Challenges and opportunities for the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights

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.
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Support for human rights systems and defenders
26
September
2018

10 n‑eochair chun cearta an duine a chur in iúl go héifeachtach

Is achoimre iad na 10 n‑eochair seo ar na príomhphointí a phléigh cumarsáidithe agus cleachtóirí i réimsí éagsúla sna cruinnithe saineolaithe, sna seimineáir le haghaidh cleachtóirí agus sna grúpa fócais a reáchtáil FRA in 2017 agus in 2018.
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Video Blog by Michael O'Flaherty: Fundamental Rights Forum

This video blog by FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty is released periodically and will address burning fundamental rights themes.
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders
National human rights systems and bodies

Director’s latest vlog: standing up for human rights

FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty focuses on ways to push back against challenges to our human rights system.
Fundamental Rights Report
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders
6
June
2018

Tuarascáil um Chearta Bunúsacha 2018 Tuairimí ó FRA

Tógadh céimeanna chun tosaigh agus céimeanna siar araon i ndáil le cosaint ceart bunúsach sa bhliain 2017. Déantar athbhreithniú sa Tuarascáil um Chearta Bunúsacha 2018 ó FRA ar na mórfhorbairtí san earnáil, agus sainaithnítear inti freisin na héachtaí a baineadh amach agus na rudaí ar ábhair imní iad go fóill.
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Video blog by Michael O'Flaherty: Communicating rights

In this third edition of his video blog FRA Director, Michael O'Flaherty, focuses on bolstering our human rights communications to underline why human rights matter to us all.
Report / Paper / Summary
Civil society
Support for human rights systems and defenders
18
January
2018

Challenges facing civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU

Civil society organisations in the European Union play a crucial role in promoting fundamental rights, but it has become harder for them to do so – due to both legal and practical restrictions. This report looks at the different types and patterns of challenges faced by civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU.
Report / Paper / Summary
Podpora pro systémy a ochránce lidských práv
Občanská společnost
18
January
2018

Výzvy, jimž čelí organizace občanské společnosti působící v oblasti lidských práv v EU

Organizace občanské společnosti v Evropské unii hrají klíčovou úlohu při prosazování základních práv, avšak tato činnost je pro ně stále obtížnější z důvodu právních i praktických
omezení. Problémy existují ve všech členských státech EU, jejich přesná povaha a rozsah se však liší. Údaje a výzkum týkající se této problematiky, včetně srovnávacího výzkumu,
obecně chybějí.
Zpráva FRA se proto zabývá různými typy a podobami výzev, jimž organizace občanské společnosti působící v oblasti lidských práv v EU čelí.
Report / Paper / Summary
Støtte til menneskerettighedssystemer og -forkæmpere
Civilsamfundet
18
January
2018

Udfordringer for civilsamfundsorganisationer, der arbejder med menneskerettigheder i EU

Civilsamfundsorganisationerne i EU spiller en afgørende rolle med hensyn til at fremme de grundlæggende rettigheder, men det er blevet sværere for dem at gøre det — på grund af
både lovgivningsmæssige og praktiske begrænsninger. Der er udfordringer i alle EU-medlemsstaterne, men den nøjagtige art og omfanget af dem varierer. Data og forskning om
denne problemstilling — herunder sammenlignende forskning — savnes generelt.
FRA’s rapport ser derfor på de forskellige typer og mønstre af udfordringer, som civilsamfundsorganisationer, der arbejder for menneskerettigheder i EU, står over for.