About Me

EU Special Representative for Human Rights

Introducing the EUSR for Human Rights

Ilze Brands Kehris

European Union 2026

Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris was appointed EU Special Representative (EUSR) for human rights on 19 October 2026. A Latvian and Swedish national, she served as Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights and Director of the New York Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights from January 2020 until May 2026.

She has extensive experience across a wide range of leadership positions in the Unted Nations and in national and regional human rights organisations, including as member and Chairperson of the Management Board of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. Please see here Ms. Brands Kehris' extended biography.

EU Special Representatives promote the EU's policies and interests in certain regions and countries as well as issues of particular concern or interest for the EU. They play an active role in efforts to consolidate reforms, stability and the rule of law. The first EU Special Representatives were appointed in 1996. Currently, eleven EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.

Mandate

The Council appointed Ms. Brands Kehris as the EUSR for Human Rights for a period lasting until 29 February 2028.

The EU Special Representative will continue the work of her predecessors to contribute to the implementation of the EU’s policy on human rights as well as EU’s positions on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law and support for international criminal justice. Furthermore, she will help establish a stronger European voice through engagement on human rights with governments in third countries and international and regional organisations, as well as with civil society and other relevant actors. The Special Representative will work closely with the European External Action Service, EU delegations and EU institutions to ensure the effectiveness and visibility of EU human rights policy in external actions.

Article 2 – Policy objectives

The EUSR’s mandate shall be based on the policy objectives of the Union regarding human rights as set out in the Treaty on European Union and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as well as on the EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy and on the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, including

(a) enhancing the Union’s effectiveness, presence and visibility in protecting and promoting human rights in the world and bringing forward a positive narrative on human rights, in particular by deepening Union cooperation and political dialogue with third countries, relevant partners, business, civil society and international and regional organisations, and through action in relevant international fora;

(b) enhancing the Union’s contribution to strengthening democracy and institution-building, the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide;

(c) improving the coherence of Union action on human rights and the integration of human rights into all areas of the Union’s external action.

Article 3 – Mandate

In order to achieve the policy objectives, the EUSR’s mandate shall be to:

(a) contribute to the implementation of the Union’s policy on human rights, in particular of the EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy and of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, as well as to the implementation of Union Guidelines, toolkits and action plans on human rights, including by formulating recommendations in this regard;

(b) contribute to the implementation of the Union’s positions, as defined by the Council, on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law;

(c) contribute to the implementation of the Union’s positions, as defined by the Council, on promoting support for international criminal justice, in particular those under Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP (2) on the International Criminal Court;

(d) help establish a stronger European voice through dialogues on human rights with governments in third countries and international and regional organisations, as well as with civil society organisations and other relevant actors in order to ensure the effectiveness and the visibility of the Union’s human rights policy; lead important human rights dialogues with third countries;

(e) contribute to better coherence and consistency of the Union’s policies and actions in the areas of the protection and promotion of human rights, in particular by providing input to the formulation of relevant policies of the Union;

(f) contribute, in consultation with Member States, to the better coherence and consistency of the Union’s positions referred to in points (b) and (c).