EU support for human rights defenders around the world

Briefing 13-06-2022

More than two decades after the United Nations General Assembly adopted its Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) to enhance recognition of their role and encourage states to create a more protective environment, many human rights defenders face an increasingly hostile environment, with both repressive governments and some non-state actors, such as economic interest or criminal groups, opposing their work and posing a serious threat. Support for human rights defenders is a long established component of the European Union's external human rights policy and one of its major priorities. The EU guidelines on HRDs, adopted in 2004, outline concrete measures for protecting HRDs at risk, including the provision of emergency aid. They also encourage EU diplomats to take a more proactive approach towards HRDs. The European Commission manages a financial instrument in support of HRDs working in the world's most dangerous situations. The EU has continually adapted and extended its actions to take the new challenges into account. The European Parliament is a long-standing advocate of a comprehensive EU policy on HRDs, and has actively contributed to its shaping. Its urgent resolutions on human rights breaches around the world, some of which have focused on individual HRDs and the particular threats they face, have drawn attention to the difficulties facing HRDs in many countries. Parliament has also organised hearings with HRDs, issued statements about cases of HRDs at risk, and highlighted the plight of HRDs during its delegations' visits to the countries concerned. The Parliament's Sakharov Prize is the EU's most visible action in favour of HRDs. It has a significant impact on laureates, providing them with recognition and, in many cases, indirect protection. This a further updated version of a briefing from December 2018.