Subcommittee on Human Rights
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The next ordinary meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights is scheduled to take place on 18-19 March 2026 in Brussels.
Highlights
The Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) will have an exchange of views with Afghan women MPs in exile on human rights situation in Afghanistan, on 18 March at 09.00-10.30. Former Afghan Parliamentarians Ms Fawzia Koofi, Ms Mariam Solaimankhil and Ms Shinkai Karokhail will present the increasing challenges for the Afghan people, especially for women and girls. Mr Gilles Bertrand, EU Special Envoy for Afghanistan will present the EU latest initiatives to support human rights in the country.
On 18 March (15.00-16.15) DROI in association with the Delegation for Relations with South Africa (D-ZA) will discuss the impact of exporting pesticides banned in the EU on the right to health and a healthy environment in South Africa.
On 18 March (16.30-18.00) DROI, in association with the Conference of the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG), and as a part of the Conference on "The Future of Democracy Support" will hold a session entitled "A battle of narratives".
The Committee on Legal Affairs and the Subcommittee on Human Rights held a public hearing on “The Immunity of United Nations and International Criminal Court Officials” on 24 February 2026. Bringing together academic, judicial and institutional expertise, the hearing featured Mr Cedric Ryngaert (Utrecht University), Ms Beti Hohler (Judge at the International Criminal Court), and the European Commission (DG FISMA, Sanctions Unit).
On 24 February 2026, the DROI Subcommittee held an exchange of views on the human rights dimension of the externalisation of migration and asylum policies worldwide. The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Michael O’Flaherty, presented his report on the topic. Speakers also included Frontex Fundamental Rights Officer Jonas Grimheden, and Samira Bouslama, Senior Human Rights Officer at the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.
As the EU prepares to redefine its external financing instrument for the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the Commission’s proposal for a new Global Europe Instrument marks a key political moment. This workshop assessed how this instrument reflects, and potentially reshapes, the EU’s commitment to promoting democracy, accountability, and human rights, and how the European Parliament can ensure these principles remain central pillars of the EU’s global engagement.
On 23 February DROI organised an exchange of views on the EU response to Children in Armed Conflict on the occasion of the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers. Main speakers were Ms Vanessa Frazier, USG-UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Mr Ellis Mathews, Head of the Human Rights Division, EEAS, and Mr Ramin Shahzamani, Director of WarChild Netherlands.
