Newsroom

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The 23rd informal Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) seminar on human rights will bring together key stakeholders from Asia and Europe to discuss the intersection of AI and human rights.
This FRF theme examines key challenges such as tackling disinformation, widening participation, protecting protests, sustaining civil society, ensuring political transparency, safeguarding institutions, and resisting the erosion of fundamental rights. Notable speakers include Emily O'Reilly, former European Ombudsman, Didier Reynders, former EU Commissioner for Justice, Alma Zadić, Austria's former Federal Minister of Justice, and Lilian Thuram, President of the Lilian Thuram Foundation - Education against racism, among others.
In an increasingly digital world, tech advances affect almost all aspects of our lives and our rights. This FRF theme tackles topics such as regulating digitalisation without stifling innovation or surveillance-based advertising. Notable speakers include Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director at EUROPOL, Daniel Howden, Founder and Director of Lighthouse Reports, Nanna-Louise Linde, Vice-President for European Government Affairs at Microsoft, Alexandria Walden, Global Head of Human Rights at Google, among others.
The Fundamental Rights Forum (FRF) is a unique space for dialogue, bringing together diverse voices to tackle Europe’s most pressing human rights challenges. By uniting thinkers, creators and decision makers, the Forum sparks fresh ideas and solutions for a more just future.
Highlights from the Fundamental Rights Forum 2024 that took place in Vienna on 11-12 March.
Challenging prejudice and stereotypes is not easy. But everything changes when we choose to truly see people for who they are. We can look beyond someone’s disability or skin colour – and see a person with their own dreams and aspirations. We can choose to understand, not assume. To connect, not exclude. So, pause. Look again. What do you choose to see?
On 14-15 October, FRA took part in the Forum 2000 conference in Prague.
FRA provided fundamental rights input to the EU Asylum Agency’s (EUAA) conference on key elements of legal assistance and information sharing in the context of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The event focused on the pivotal role of accessible legal aid and transparent information-sharing arrangements in the asylum context to ensure the fair and effective implementation of the Pact.
FRA attended a meeting in Brussels from 6 to 7 October of the subgroup on the national implementation of the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025. It was the last meeting under the current anti-Racism action plan.
FRA will contribute to the 4th Child-Friendly Justic European Network annual seminar on 23 October on bridging child protection and child justice. It will join an interactive session on strengthening the capacities and the roles of child protection systems in Europe.
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On 20 and 21 October, in the context of its 2025 Presidency of the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies Network, FRA hosts a thematic workshop on internal security and fundamental rights.
FRA’s Director Sirpa Rautio visited Cyprus and had insightful meetings with the government ahead of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union that begins in January 2026.
FRA took part in a meeting of the Council of Europe, FRA, ENNHRI and Equinet Collaborative Platform on Social and Economic Rights. The event also marked the 10th anniversary of the Platform.
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FRA will host a consultation meeting on violence against people with disabilities in institutions from 21 to 22 October. It will build on key findings of FRA’s forthcoming comparative report on laws and practices to prevent and protect against violence towards people with disabilities in institutions in the EU.
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FRA will contribute to a panel discussing judicial training, democracy and the rule of law at a conference celebrating 25 years of the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN).
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FRA will speak during the online launch of the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) course on the interplay between the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter, in the Western Balkans on 15 and 16 October.
On 13 October, the Agency will take participate in the 7th Advisory Board meeting of the EU Children’s Participation Platform. FRA is a Board member.
The Danish Embassy in Vienna has partnered with the Network of Danish Youth Councils. As part of this, the network will visit Vienna on 14 October.
FRA will join an Irish Presidency webinar on understanding and upholding EU values, and the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter. It will present the Agency, cooperation with EU Presidencies as well as the EU Charter and FRA’s Charter tools.