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Fundamental rights: challenges and achievements in 2010, the flagship Annual Report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), charts the progress made in 2010 by the European Union (EU) and its Member States towards securing the rights guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights through developments in legislation, policies and practices. The FRA Annual Report, presented at the European Parliament today, points to promising practices and obstacles to rights protection across a range of policy areas. Some of the major challenges in 2010 related to asylum, the Roma and data protection.
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This video introduces the new FRA report on irregular migrants employed in domestic work.
Press Release
The event is set in the context of the FRA's mandate to develop methods and standards that will improve the comparability, objectivity and reliability of data collected at the European level. The Symposium will be comprised of presentations of case studies, panel discussions and working groups focusing on specific themes. It will take place on 12-13 May at the FRA's premises in Vienna.
Today, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is launching its report Access to justice in Europe: an overview of challenges and opportunities. The report will be launched in Budapest at the conference ‘Protecting victims in the EU: the road ahead', hosted by the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, with the support of the FRA. The report provides a comparative analysis of access to justice across the EU Member States and finds that there are many obstacles that make it difficult for victims to enforce their rights. This report relates mainly to civil and administrative procedures available to victims of discrimination. Although its focus is the area of non-discrimination law, its findings are generally applicable to civil and administrative procedures as a whole.
Press Release
The first comprehensive guide to European non-discrimination law is being launched at the European Court of Human Rights today, 21 March, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
STRASBOURG, VIENNA, WARSAW 21 March 2011 - In a joint statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Nils Muiznieks, Chair of the Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), Morten Kjaerum, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and Janez Lenarčič, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), strongly condemned manifestations of racism and related intolerance.
Today the Fundamental Rights Agency is publishing a report about the fundamental rights situation of persons entering Greece irregularly at its land border with Turkey. This report is based on field research in the Evros region in January 2011.
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This video gives a brief overview of the FRA and its work.
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Vice President of the European Commission Viviane Reding visited the FRA on 18 February 2011.
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International Mother Language Day takes place on 21 February each year.
Today the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is publishing its findings on multiple discrimination at the European Union agencies exhibition "The way ahead", held at the European Parliament. The findings show that people belonging to 'visible' minorities, such as Roma and people of African origin, are more likely to suffer multiple discrimination – that is, being discriminated on more than one ground - than other minorities. Another relevant ground for discrimination that could increase the experience of multiple discrimination are socio-economic factors such as living with a low income.
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A selection of speeches and keynote addresses from the Fundamental Rights Conference 2010.
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Children present the results of a workshop organised by the FRA in cooperation with Eurochild at the Fundamental Rights Conference 2010 in Brussels.
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Around 2,500 youngsters took part in the 2010 Diversity Day in Vienna.
The practice of 'phallometric testing' consists in verifying the physical reaction to heterosexual pornographic material of gay men who have filed a claim for asylum on the basis of homosexual orientation. The test is performed by a professional sexologist and, in principle, only with the person's written consent, and once that person has been informed about the technique of the examination. This raises serious questions regarding the compliance of this practice with existing human rights standards.
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The FRA has published two new reports to coincide with the first day of its annual Fundamental Rights Conference which this year looks into ensuring justice and protection for children.
Press Release
On World AIDS Day 2010, FRA Director Morten Kjaerum emphasises the importance of taking a rights-based approach to responding to HIV and AIDS. 
Today the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) presents its report on Homophobia, transphobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity to Members of the European Parliament. The FRA report reveals that in some EU Member States, legislation and practice is increasing the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons, while in others the rights of LGBT persons are being restricted or neglected. This creates an uneven landscape in the protection of LGBT rights throughout Europe.
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Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, delivered this video address to the conference on "Implementing fundamental rights at the local and regional level following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty".
Press Release
On 24 November, the topics of diversity and equal opportunities will take centre stage at the Vienna Town Hall. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is organising Diversity Day for the fourth time in cooperation with the City of Vienna (Youth Department) and the Vienna School Board.