20th EU – AU Human Rights Dialogue: Advancing closer cooperation in the field of human rights protection
On the road to the AU-EU Summit, scheduled for November 24-25 in Luanda, this Dialogue, held in Brussels and co-chaired by Kajsa Ollongren, EU Special Representative for Human Rights, and Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, promotes closer cooperation and policy exchange between the European Union and the African Union on human-rights protection.
This high-level meeting will gather representatives from the main entities in EU and AU covering these matters and engage representatives of civil society organisations from both continents. The participants from the AU represent the Department for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union Commission, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The EU is represented by the Special Representative for Human Rights, supported by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European External Action Service and the European Commission.
These annual Dialogues reaffirm the commitment of both Unions to their strategic partnership and cooperation in the promotion of democracy and human rights, and to effective multilateralism with the UN Charter at its core. Human Rights are crucial for stability and prosperity - both in Africa and in Europe.
The last AU-EU Human Rights Dialogue took place in Addis Ababa, on 25 January 2024. The Dialogue is also a key opportunity for Civil-Society Organisations to engage with decision-makers on both sides to raise the most pressing human-rights concerns of the moment and make recommendations.
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The EU and Africa maintain long-standing cooperation on peace, security and governance. For example, the EU Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan, adopted in November 2020 and extended until 2027, outlines key areas of action to advance human rights, including protecting and empowering individuals; building resilient, inclusive and democratic societies; and promoting a global system for human rights and democracy. The 2021-27 Global Europe thematic programme on human rights and democracy provides EUR 1,5 billion (over the 7-year period) which includes programming in Africa, regionally as well as at country levels. Cooperation between the EU and AU is taking place in areas as diverse as the right to education, transitional justice, human rights in conflict and election observation.
As part of its diplomatic toolbox for promoting and protecting human rights, the EU holds some 60 regular Human-Rights Dialogues with countries and multilateral organisations around the world.
The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) launched a joint year-long campaign celebrating the 25th anniversary of their enduring and unique partnership (#AUEU25). Together, the EU and the AU represent more than 1.9 billion people and are driving sustainable and people-centred progress, with multilateralism at its core. The partnership’s key pillars are Prosperity, Peace, People and Planet from the Joint Vision for 2030 adopted at the Summit in 2022, aligned with the Africa Agenda 2063 and the EU’s political priorities.
On the way to the 7th AU-EU Summit (November 24-25 in Luanda), around 80 EU and African governments and the leadership of both AU and EU met at the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial (May 21 in Brussels).
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