Maatschappelijk middenveld

October

2023

Protecting civil society – Update 2023

Civil society organisations struggle to maintain an environment safe from threats and attacks. FRA’s sixth annual update on civic space explores the challenges for organisations across the EU. While there has been significant development since FRA began monitoring the situation in 2018, civil society organisations remain under immense pressure. Abusive lawsuits and attacks against those involved in migrant search and rescue at sea are just some of the challenges identified. This report presents ways forward to protect civil society and human rights.

Report / Paper / Summary

July

2023

Protecting human rights defenders at risk: EU entry, stay and support

Across the world, human rights defenders protect and uphold human rights in some of the most challenging situations. In some countries they face worrying levels of threats and attacks, intimidation and harassment. This report outlines how human rights defenders can enter and stay in the EU when they need protection. It suggests how EU institutions and Member States could use the flexibility in existing legal provisions and provide shelter for defenders who seek protection.

Maatschappelijk middenveld

Report / Paper / Summary

Steun voor mensenrechtensystemen en mensenrechtenverdedigers

August

2022

Bescherming van de burgerlijke ruimte in de EU - Belangrijkste bevindingen en FRA-adviezen

Maatschappelijke organisaties hebben te maken met diverse uitdagingen in de Europese Unie. In het verslag van het FRA over de bescherming van de burgerlijke ruimte in de EU worden de bevindingen van het Bureau over deze uitdagingen uiteengezet. Het verslag werd in september 2021 uitgegeven. Deze samenvatting bevat de belangrijkste bevindingen en FRA-adviezen die in het verslag worden beschreven.

Report / Paper / Summary

July

2022

Europe's civil society: still under pressure - 2022 update

Civil society is a key component of Europe’s fundamental rights architecture. From supporting people affected by the pandemic to helping those fleeing the war in Ukraine, civil society plays a crucial role in upholding people’s rights. In so doing, it contributes to a healthy rule of law culture. FRA’s civic space report provides an overview of the many ways in which civil society contributes to the checks and balances that underpin the rule of law.

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Video

10 December 2021

FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty - Human Rights: what are we required to do for each other?

The Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, welcomes the launch of the Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea), the merger of the European Foundation Centre (EFC) and the Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (Dafne), on 7 December 2021.

Video

22 September 2021

Protecting civic space in the European Union

On the occasion of the launch of FRA’s report ‘Protecting civic space in the EU’ this clip sheds light on the challenges civil society faces across the European Union.

Report / Paper / Summary

Equality, non-discrimination and racism

September

2021

Protecting civic space in the EU

Civil society organisations play a vital role in promoting fundamental rights, but they face diverse challenges across the European Union. This report presents FRA’s findings on a range of such challenges. The findings are based on research, and on two online consultations with civil society organisations, carried out in 2020.

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Two Traveller children carrying a container

Periodic updates / Series

Roma

September

2020

Coronavirus pandemic in the EU – impact on Roma and Travellers - Bulletin 5

Often living in substandard and overcrowded housing conditions, Roma and Travellers face an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. They are also disproportionately affected by measures taken to contain the virus. This FRA Bulletin takes a closer look at this reality in 15 EU Member States, focusing on education; employment; poverty; healthcare; housing; and anti-Gypsyism. It also outlines civil society efforts to tackle the diverse challenges triggered by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Watch video blog by Michael O'Flaherty

Report / Paper / Summary

July

2020

Civic space – experiences of organisations in 2019

This paper presents key findings from FRA’s second consultation of its Fundamental Rights Platform, focusing on the experiences of civil society organisations (CSOs) working on human rights. FRA started an annual consultation with organisations participating in its platform in 2018.

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Video blog Michael O'Flaherty: July bulletin on COVID-19

Michael O'Flaherty introduces the July edition of FRA's bulletin on the impact for fundamental rights of Covid-19. In this vlog he talks about the important role that people play who are engaged with the promotion and the protection of human rights in these times.
The July edition of the COVID-19 bulletin will be available from 30 July.

Access all FRA work on COVID-19

Report / Paper / Summary

June

2020

June 2020 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and legal proceedings against them

In 2019, the International Organization for Migration estimated that 1,866 people have died or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life. This is an average of five people per day. In recent years, a significant proportion of migrants in distress at sea have been rescued by civil society vessels deployed with a humanitarian mandate to reduce fatalities and bring rescued migrants to safety. Since 2018, however, authorities in some EU Member States started viewing civil society-deployed rescue vessels with hostility. As a reaction, national authorities initiated about 40 administrative and criminal proceedings against crew members or vessels, including seizing the latter. In some cases, rescue vessels were blocked in harbours due to flag issues or the inability to meet technical requirements.

Video

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

03 January 2020

Fundamental Rights Charter: Citizens' Rights

Check out the EU's modern human rights catalogue and its chapter about Citizens' Rights.

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National human rights systems and bodies

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

November

2019

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on its 10th anniversary: views of civil society and national human rights institutions

The Charter is most effective, and has a real impact on people’s lives, when parliaments, governments and courts at local, regional and national levels all actively apply it. The national sphere is particularly relevant. A strong fundamental rights architecture and committed national governments and parliaments are key to letting the Charter unfold its potential at this level. Civil society organisations (CSOs) and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) are also crucial given their contributions to the protection and promotion of Charter rights.

Video

12 July 2019

Video blog by Michael O'Flaherty: rescue in the Mediterranean

In the latest edition of his video blog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty focuses on the migration situation in the Mediterranean Sea and makes three proposals.

Report / Paper / Summary

Data protection, privacy and new technologies

June

2019

2019 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and criminal investigations

In 2018, some 2,299 people are estimated to have died or gone missing at sea while crossing the sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life. This is on average more than six people per day. Before mid-2017, a significant share of migrants in distress at sea have been rescued by civil society vessels deployed with a humanitarian mandate to reduce fatalities and bring rescued migrants to safety. In 2018, however, authorities in some Member States viewed civil society-deployed rescue vessels with hostility. As a reaction, they seized rescue vessels, arrested crew members, and initiated legal procedures against them (more than a dozen altogether). In some cases, rescue vessels were blocked in harbours due to flag issues.

Report / Paper / Summary

Data protection

June

2019

The General Data Protection Regulation – one year on

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has applied across the European Union (EU) since 25 May 2018. One year on, this paper looks at how the new regulation has affected the daily work of civil society organisations (CSOs).

Report / Paper / Summary

November

2018

Civil society space: views of organisations

Civil society organisations play a critical role in democracies, and the importance of their work is widely recognised in international legal and policy documents. However, they face many obstacles when it comes to their day-to-day work. Based on the results of an online consultation with FRA's civil society network, the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP), in September 2018, this paper complements the January 2018 report.

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Equality, non-discrimination and racism

October

2018

Fundamental rights considerations: NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and criminal investigations - 2018

This note draws attention to the recent trend of criminalising search and rescue operations (SAR) in the Mediterranean Sea carried out by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or other private entities. This includes seizing rescue vessels, as well as arrests for crew members, in some EU Member States. Most of such incidents concerned NGOs operating in the Central Mediterranean Sea.

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Hate crime

Access compendium of practices

June

2018

Hate crime recording and data collection practice across the EU

Across the European Union, people face hatred because of their skin colour, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexuality. In response, the EU and its Member States have introduced laws against hate crime and support services for victims. But these will only fulfil their potential if victims report hate-motivated harassment and violence to the police, and if police officers record such incidents as hate crimes. This report provides rich and detailed information on hate crime recording and data collection systems across the EU, including any systemic cooperation with civil society.

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