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From 2 to 4 June, policymakers, practitioners, academics and civil society meet at the World Congress on Justice with Children 2025 in Madrid. The focus will be on advancing child-centred justice, preventing and responding to violence affecting children in child justice systems.
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) expresses deep concern about recent legislative developments in Hungary which can restrict the operating environment for civil society organisations (CSOs). The measures risk undermining the essential role that civil society plays in any rule of law-based democracy and may violate rights protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights – including the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, media freedom and pluralism, and privacy.
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The report on the overview of the cooperation between FRA and the Council of Europe in 2024 is available on FRA’s website. It provides an overview of activities between the two organisations, as well as how FRA and the Council of Europe support each other’s work in strengthening fundamental rights and the rule of law across the EU.
On 27 May, FRA provided online training on fundamental rights when using biometrics at an event organised by Frontex. The event focused on vulnerabilities in automated border crossings at Lisbon airport.
FRA spoke during the EU Asylum Agency’s (EUAA) fourth High-Level Roundtable on developments in judicial dialogue in the field of international protection. It looked at case law from the Court of Justice of the EU, the European Court of Human Rights and national courts.
On 19 May, attended a conference on new challenges associated with the development of AI and e-communication in the field of justice. FRA will publish a report providing guidance on digitalisation of justice in the autumn.
FRA spoke about remembrance and democracy in a changing Europe during the first international event of the FREI – From Resistance to European Integration project.
FRA and the European Institute for Gender Equality discussed the prevalence of workplace sexual harassment during an online Eurochambres workshop on 23 May. It was an opportunity to present the Eurostat, FRA, EIGE survey on gender-based violence to the business community.
On 21 May, FRA hosted a strategic meeting with key partners from institutions and civil society engaged in civic space work. The aim was to connect recent developments with FRA’s ongoing efforts in this area.
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The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has submitted two contributions to the European Commission as part of the consultation for the next long-term EU budget. In the submissions, FRA calls for stronger safeguards to ensure all EU funding upholds fundamental rights and the EU’s founding values. It also urges action to address the shrinking space and funding for civil society organisations (CSOs) that work on fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law.
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On the first day of Victim Support Europe's annual conference, FRA will speak during a panel session exploring the effectiveness of international legal instruments in shaping victim support systems across Europe.
On 15 May, FRA took part in a conference in Helsinki that focused on the return of deported Ukrainian children. FRA contributed to the panel looking at the illegality of deporting Ukrainian children, accountability and restoration of justice.
FRA held an online roundtable discussion on effective guardianship for unaccompanied refugee children in Bulgaria on 21 May. As part of the event, FRA presented its analysis of guardianship within the context of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
On 15 May, FRA’s Director Sirpa Rautio gave a keynote speech at the University of Florence during a conference on the future of democracy in the digital era. The Director called for the development of a trustworthy, human-rights compliant technology.
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This year’s Computers, Privacy and Data Protection conference takes place from 21 to 23 May in Brussels. FRA will host a high-level panel on assessing the fundamental rights risks of AI.
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FRA will host a foresight workshop in Vienna from 21 to 22 May to develop fundamental rights scenarios for Europe in 2040.
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FRA will speak during a panel discussion on the Ombudsman as a bridge between states, institutions and people. The discussion forms part of a ceremonial meeting and follow-up conference marking 25 years since the establishment of the Czech Ombuds institution and the creation of Czech National Human Rights Institution and the Ombudsman for Children in Czechia this year.
FRA will take part in the European IDAHOT+ Forum. The Forum’s theme will be advancing Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIGESC) Equality and Inclusion in a Transforming Europe.
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FRA will take part virtually in a meeting of the Working Group on Equality and Values in Education and Training from 20 to 21 May.
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The European Commission and the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU will host the second plenary of the High-Level Forum on the Future of EU Criminal Justice.