The EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-24 - Online Discussion

21.11.2020

"Across the world, human rights and democracy are facing challenges not seen in decades. Even before the pandemic, we were witnessing a gradual and persistent backsliding in democracy and human rights. (…) This is a proactive Plan for the next 5 years. We are stepping up action on long-standing priorities on human rights and democracy, such as gender equality, the protection of human right defenders, freedom of expression online and offline, the eradication of torture, the abolition of the death penalty, the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and many more. (…) This Action Plan is not a one-size-fits-all. It is a roadmap, with a broad range of policies, tools and political and financial instruments at our disposal to implement it."

EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore

 

With these words, EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore opened the online launch event of the EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 that took place Monday, 23rd of November. With his key note speech, he placed the new Action Plan in its geopolitical context and highlight key priorities. This was followed by a forward-looking discussion with excellent panellists, moderated by Ms Shada Islam:

  • Ms Heather GRABBE – Director Open Society European Policy Institute
  • Ms Patricia LLOMBART CUSSAC - EU Head of Delegation, Colombia
  • Mr Olivier de SCHUTTER – UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
  • Mr Kevin CASAS ZAMORA, Secretary General of International IDEA

Over 660 participants from all over the world joined the event on Zoom, and several hundred followed it on Facebook.You can see the event in three languages on the EEAS FaceBook page in English, Spanish and French!

Our distinguished panel received questions from civil society representatives and citizens in Africa, Americas, Asia, and the Neighbourhood East and South. Many EU Member states representatives joined us from their capitals. The online format has also allowed our colleagues from EU Delegations and Offices around the world to participate.

The discussion offered an opportunity to emphasize the EU’s roadmap on human rights and democracy for the next five years, to exchange on the effective implementation of the Action Plan as well as on challenges and opportunities to implement the priorities defined in a coordinated and effective manner, and to discuss how the EU can address effectively current and future challenges using its instruments and tools.

We would like to thank you for your participation - your engagement and expertise contributed to a dynamic, positive and forward-looking discussion!

https://twitter.com/EamonGilmore/status/1330890557611241472


See also

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EEAS Facebook Live, https://www.facebook.com/events/834594767084395/