The EU and human rights

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The EU and human rights – Candle in front of EU flag © EUThe EU and human rights – Candle in front of EU flag © 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.

Events

  • 15/09/2011  -  International day of democracy
  • 21/06/2011  - 
    48 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 pdf - 301 KB [301 KB]
  • 25/05/2011  - 
    68 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 pdf - 473 KB [473 KB]
  • 22/05/2011  - 
    84 12015 1 Study Tour of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights Study Tour of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights /asean/docs/201105_aichr_studytour_en.pdf 05/22/2011 00:00:00 05/24/2011 16:14:00 05/22/2011 00:00:00 nulldate 2011052200 European External Action Service 090126248648365d N 0901262486a5b44d /asean/docs/201105_aichr_studytour_en.pdf 143932 pdf Y /asean/docs/201105_aichr_studytour_en.pdf 1 /asean/docs/201105_aichr_studytour_en.pdf /asean/docs/201105_aichr_studytour_zz.pdf N ID_INTERNAL N N
    Study Tour of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights pdf - 141 KB [141 KB]
  • 13/05/2011  - 
    85 12015 1 Igor Kalyapin, lauréat 2011 du prix 'Front Line' pour les défenseurs des droits human en danger rencontre le group de travail du Conseil dédié aux droits de l'homme Igor Kalyapin, lauréat 2011 du prix 'Front Line' pour les défenseurs des droits human en danger rencontre le group de travail du Conseil dédié aux droits de l'homme /human_rights/workgroup/docs/frontline_052011_en.pdf 05/13/2011 00:00:00 05/23/2011 10:08:00 05/13/2011 00:00:00 nulldate 2011051300 090126248641e07c N 090126248641e07c /human_rights/workgroup/docs/frontline_052011_en.pdf 44617 pdf Y /human_rights/workgroup/docs/frontline_052011_en.pdf 1 /human_rights/workgroup/docs/frontline_052011_en.pdf /human_rights/workgroup/docs/frontline_052011_zz.pdf N ID_INTERNAL N N
    Igor Kalyapin, lauréat 2011 du prix 'Front Line' pour les défenseurs des droits human en danger rencontre le group de travail du Conseil dédié aux droits de l'homme pdf - 44 KB [44 KB]