The EU and human rights

Latest News

17/05/2013 -
1 53418 1 _blank International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia /statements/docs/2013/170513_5_en.pdf 05/17/2013 10:45:00 05/17/2013 10:45:00 05/17/2013 10:45:00 nulldate 2013051710 European External Action Service 0901262489c33cbf N 0901262489c33cbf /statements/docs/2013/170513_5_en.pdf 143944 pdf Y /statements/docs/2013/170513_5_en.pdf 1 /statements/docs/2013/170513_5_en.pdf /statements/docs/2013/170513_5_zz.pdf N ID_INTERNAL N N
International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia [141 KB]
16/05/2013 -
4 53418 1 _blank Saudi Arabia launches public awareness campaign on domestic violence Saudi Arabia launches public awareness campaign on domestic violence /statements/docs/2013/160513_1_en.pdf 05/16/2013 13:14:00 05/16/2013 13:14:00 05/16/2013 13:14:00 nulldate 2013051613 European External Action Service 0901262489c26121 N 0901262489c2ae82 /statements/docs/2013/160513_1_en.pdf 142648 pdf Y /statements/docs/2013/160513_1_en.pdf 1 /statements/docs/2013/160513_1_en.pdf /statements/docs/2013/160513_1_zz.pdf N ID_INTERNAL N N
Saudi Arabia launches public awareness campaign on domestic violence [140 KB]
08/05/2013 - The European Commission to provide an exceptional contribution for Human Rights

The EU and human rights © EU

The European Union sees human rights as universal and indivisible. It actively promotes and defends them both within its borders and when engaging in relations with non-EU countries.

Human rights, democracy and the rule of law are core values of the European Union. Embedded in its founding treaty, they were reinforced when the EU adopted the Charter of Fundamental Rights in 2000, and strengthened still further when the Charter became legally binding with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009.

Countries seeking to join the EU must respect human rights. And all trade and cooperation agreements with third countries contain a clause stipulating that human rights are an essential element in relations between the parties.

The Union’s human rights policy encompasses civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. It also seeks to promote the rights of women, of children, of those persons belonging to minorities, and of displaced persons.

With a budget of €1.1 billion between 2007 and 2013, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights supports non-governmental organisations. In particular it supports those promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law; abolishing the death penalty; combating torture; and fighting racism and other forms of discrimination.

EU adopts Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy 25 June 2012

EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights: Mr Stavros Lambrinidis

Mr Stavros Lambrinidis Born in Athens, Mr Lambrinidis is an attorney, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece and a former Vice-President of the European Parliament. Between 2004 and 2009 he served as Vice-President of the Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee. Earlier in his career he was Chairman of the Committee for Human Rights in the Bar Association of Washington, D.C.

He took office as EUSR on 1 September 2012, with an initial mandate running until 30 June, 2014. His role is to enhance the effectiveness and visibility of EU human rights policy.

Twitter account: @SJLambrinidis

Programme of EUSR - February 2013

Events

25/02/2013 -
15 12015 1 EU Special Representative for Human Rights at 22nd session of the Human Rights Council EU Special Representative for Human Rights at 22nd session of the Human Rights Council 02/25/2013 00:00:00 02/25/2013 00:00:00 02/25/2013 00:00:00 nulldate 2013022500 0901262489706508 N 0901262489706c41 /delegations/un_geneva/press_corner/all_news/news/2013/20130228_eusrhrc22.htm 10675 xml Y /delegations/un_geneva/press_corner/all_news/news/2013/20130228_eusrhrc22.htm /delegations/un_geneva/press_corner/all_news/news/2013/20130228_eusrhrc22_zz.htm N ID_INTERNAL N N
EU Special Representative for Human Rights at 22nd session of the Human Rights Council
21/06/2011 -
123 12015 1 Civil Society Dialogue Network: Women, Peace and Security in EU Common Security and Defence Policy Missions Civil Society Dialogue Network: Women, Peace and Security in EU Common Security and Defence Policy Missions /human_rights/women/docs/2011_0621_csdn_wps_en.pdf 06/21/2011 00:00:00 10/06/2011 09:31:00 06/21/2011 00:00:00 nulldate 2011062100 0901262486f38bf5 N 0901262486f38bf5 /human_rights/women/docs/2011_0621_csdn_wps_en.pdf 307647 pdf Y /human_rights/women/docs/2011_0621_csdn_wps_en.pdf 1 /human_rights/women/docs/2011_0621_csdn_wps_en.pdf /human_rights/women/docs/2011_0621_csdn_wps_zz.pdf N ID_INTERNAL N N
Civil Society Dialogue Network: Women, Peace and Security in EU Common Security and Defence Policy Missions [301 KB]
25/05/2011 -
139 12015 1 Strengthening women’s peace movement and networking to advocate for enforcement of UN Security Council’s Resolutions Strengthening women’s peace movement and networking to advocate for enforcement of UN Security Council’s Resolutions 05/25/2011 00:00:00 07/13/2011 11:50:00 05/25/2011 00:00:00 nulldate 2011052500 European External Action Service 09012624868f6080 N 09012624868f6080 /human_rights/women/docs/2011_may_25-26_meeting_report.pdf 483795 pdf Y /human_rights/women/docs/2011_may_25-26_meeting_report.pdf /human_rights/women/docs/2011_may_25-26_meeting_report_zz.pdf N ID_INTERNAL N N
Strengthening women’s peace movement and networking to advocate for enforcement of UN Security Council’s Resolutions [473 KB]