Systems

Steun voor mensenrechtensystemen en mensenrechtenverdedigers

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.
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  • 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
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FRA Director, Michael O'Flaherty surrounded by young people online
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Event recording - Second Fundamental Rights Dialogue

On 23 February 2021, FRA’s Director, Michael O’Flaherty, listened to fundamental rights concerns and discussed ways to solve them. The second Fundamental Rights Dialogue invited young people to participate in shaping our societies, placing human rights centre stage.
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Equality, non-discrimination and racism

Highlights video - First Fundamental Rights Dialogue

On 13 November, the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) hosted its first Fundamental Rights Dialogue - a virtual event that gave young people an opportunity to voice their fundamental rights concerns and discussed ways to solve them with FRA's Director Michael O'Flaherty.
More information on the event
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Reinforcing the EU Charter - key statements of panellists

Key statements from the FRA/Euractiv online event Reinforcing the EU Charter: rights of people in the EU in the next decade, 7 December 2020.
Watch event full recording
Event information
Report / Paper / Summary
Steun voor mensenrechtensystemen en mensenrechtenverdedigers
16
December
2020

Wat betekenen grondrechten voor mensen in de EU? samenvatting - Enquête Over De Grondrechten

In deze samenvatting worden de belangrijkste
inzichten uit het eerste verslag van het FRA op
basis van zijn enquête over de grondrechten
gepresenteerd. Met deze enquête zijn van
ongeveer 35 000 mensen gegevens verzameld
over hun ervaringen, belevingen en opvattingen
met betrekking tot allerlei kwesties die op
verschillende manieren te maken hebben met
mensenrechten.
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Stand up for everyone's human rights

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic leaves a lasting mark on society worldwide. It affected everyone but some people more than others. As we look ahead, on Human Rights Day, on 10 December, we need to make the new normal a better normal. In his video message, FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty underlines the need to stand up for human rights to make 2021 a better year. This means ensuring we respect and take into account everybody's human rights.
Old woman being treated, home schooling, woman with mask serving in a shop, homeless man
Satjawat/ Cedric Blondeel/ ivan / korakoch© adobestock.com, 2020
Periodic updates / Series
Support for human rights systems and defenders
30
November
2020

Coronavirus pandemic in the EU - Fundamental Rights Implications - Bulletin 6

This report outlines some of the measures EU Member States have put in place to protect public health as Europe faces the ‘second wave’ of the Coronavirus pandemic. It highlights how these may affect fundamental rights, especially social rights.
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Download country research
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Video statement by Michael O’Flaherty for the 2020 General conference of the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities (ICCAR)

This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the 2020 General conference of the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities (ICCAR): “CommunicAction – A common front to protect human rights at the local level”.
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders
National human rights systems and bodies
Inter-governmental human rights systems

Virtual key note address by FRA Director to the 2020 Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform: ''Connectivity between regional and global human rights mechanisms".
Find out more about the event
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Inter-governmental human rights systems

FRA Director on the 70th anniversary of the ECHR

This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the e-conference "70 years of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: challenges and prospects".
Law scales being held by many hands
freshidea © adobestock.com, 2020
Report / Paper / Summary
National human rights systems and bodies
Support for human rights systems and defenders
3
September
2020
Summary version now available
21 January 2021

Strong and effective national human rights institutions – challenges, promising practices and opportunities

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are a vital part of the country-level human rights protection system. This report, published 10 years after FRA’s first in-depth study on NHRIs, looks at such bodies in the EU, as well as the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Serbia, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It explores relevant developments, challenges to their effectiveness and ways to maximise their impact.
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Page
Support for human rights systems and defenders

EEA and Norway Grants

The Agency cooperates with the EEA and Norway Grants as a strategic partner in the protection, promotion and fulfillment of fundamental rights.
The cooperation aims to support the design and implementation of EEA and Norway Grants funded programmes and projects in selected EU Member States. It also aims to raise awareness on fundamental rights, combating social exclusion and discrimination, and supporting related civil society initiatives.
mature woman with grey hair in hospital patient gown and mask infected by COVID-19
TheVisualsYouNeed © adobestock.com, 2020
Periodic updates / Series
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
29
July
2020

Coronavirus pandemic in the EU - Fundamental Rights Implications - Bulletin 4

As we enter the second half of 2020, the constraints on our daily lives brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic have become a firm reality. New local lockdowns and the reintroduction of restrictive measures prompted by fresh outbreaks of the virus are a stark reminder that COVID-19 continues to shape our lives – and our enjoyment of fundamental rights – in profound ways. There is compelling evidence of how the pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges in our societies. This FRA Bulletin outlines some of the measures EU Member States adopted to safely reopen their societies and economies while continuing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It highlights the impact these measures may have on civil, political and socioeconomic rights.
Read news item
Download country research
Download all bulletins
Hand gestures no to megaphone
Report / Paper / Summary
Civil society
Support for human rights systems and defenders
28
July
2020

Civic space – experiences of organisations in 2019

This paper presents key findings from FRA’s second consultation of its Fundamental Rights Platform, focusing on the experiences of civil society organisations (CSOs) working on human rights. FRA started an annual consultation with organisations participating in its platform in 2018.
Read news item
More on the Fundamental Rights Platform
Video
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders

The Fundamental Rights Survey

This video was produced for the launch of the Fundamental Rights Survey in June 2020 and gives an overview of the main results.
Download report
Watch the event recording
Video
Judicial cooperation and rule of law
National human rights systems and bodies
Civil society
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Video blog Michael O'Flaherty: July bulletin on COVID-19

Michael O'Flaherty introduces the July edition of FRA's bulletin on the impact for fundamental rights of Covid-19. In this vlog he talks about the important role that people play who are engaged with the promotion and the protection of human rights in these times.
The July edition of the COVID-19 bulletin will be available from 30 July.
Download COVID-19 bulletins
Access all FRA work on COVID-19
Report / Paper / Summary
Support for human rights systems and defenders
24
June
2020
Summary version now available
07 December 2020

What do fundamental rights mean for people in the EU? - Fundamental Rights Survey

FRA’s Fundamental Rights Survey collected data from 35,000 people about their experiences, perceptions and opinions on a range of issues that are variously encompassed by human rights. This report presents a small selection of the survey results. It focuses on findings with respect to respondents’ opinions about human – or fundamental rights; their views and perceptions on the functioning of democratic societies – as a pillar on which human rights can flourish; and on their thoughts on and engagement with public services that have a duty to enforce human rights law and to protect people’s rights.
Watch videos
Access data explorer
Access all survey reports
Report / Paper / Summary
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Civil society
19
June
2020

June 2020 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and legal proceedings against them

In 2019, the International Organization for Migration estimated that 1,866 people have died or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life. This is an average of five people per day. In recent years, a significant proportion 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. Since 2018, however, authorities in some EU Member States started viewing civil society-deployed rescue vessels with hostility. As a reaction, national authorities initiated about 40 administrative and criminal proceedings against crew members or vessels, including seizing the latter. In some cases, rescue vessels were blocked in harbours due to flag issues or the inability to meet technical requirements.
Video
Support for human rights systems and defenders

Video blog Michael O'Flaherty: Fundamental Rights Survey

In his latest vlog Michael O'Flaherty introduces FRA's survey of 35,000 people on attitudes to human and fundamental rights.
Fundamental Rights Report
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Support for human rights systems and defenders
11
June
2020

Ten years on: unlocking the Charter’s full potential

This focus takes a closer look at the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which has been legally binding for 10 years. At EU level, it has gained visibility and sparked a new fundamental rights culture. At national level, awareness and use of the Charter are limited. Courts increasingly use the Charter, showing the impact of this modern instrument. But its use by governments and parliaments remains low. For instance, there is little indication of anyone regularly scrutinising national legislation that transposes EU law for compatibility with the Charter.
Fundamental Rights Report
Gelijkheid, non-discriminatie en racisme
Asiel, migratie en grenzen
Gegevensbescherming, privacy en nieuwe technologieën
Rechtspraak, rechten van slachtoffers en justitiële samenwerking
Steun voor mensenrechtensystemen en mensenrechtenverdedigers
11
June
2020
Now available in all 24 official EU languages
12 August 2020

Verslag over de grondrechten 2020 — FRA-adviezen

Het jaar 2019 kende zowel vooruitgang als
teleurstellingen bij de bescherming van grondrechten.
In het Verslag over de grondrechten 2020 van het FRA
worden de belangrijkste ontwikkelingen op het gebied
van de grondrechten geëvalueerd en wordt niet alleen
ingegaan op de behaalde successen, maar ook
gewezen op blijvende punten van zorg. Deze publicatie
laat de FRA-adviezen over de belangrijkste
ontwikkelingen op de besproken thematische
gebieden de revue passeren en geeft een
samenvatting van de feitelijke gegevens waarop deze
adviezen berusten. Het resultaat is een beknopt, maar
informatief overzicht van de belangrijkste uitdagingen
op grondrechtengebied waarvoor de EU en haar
lidstaten zich nog gesteld zien.