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Protection and promotion of human rights

Human rights are at the core of the EU's external action. The European Union is committed to protecting and promoting human rights worldwide.

EU commitment to human rights

EU treaties

Respect for human rights is one of the founding values of the European Union and a fundamental aspect of its external relations.

The EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.

Article 2, Treaty on European Union

The EU treaties stipulate that the EU's action on the international scene is to be guided by the principles that inspired its own creation: democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

Charter of Fundamental Rights

The EU institutions and bodies, as well as EU member states are bound by the Charter of Fundamental Rights when they implement EU law. They must also respect the charter in the EU’s external relations. 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights and European Convention on Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10 December 1948, paved the way for the human rights law that the world knows today. The Declaration was a key reference for the drafters of the European Convention on Human Rights, which was opened for signature on 4 November 1950 and entered into force on 3 September 1953.

All 27 EU countries have signed up the European Convention on Human Rights. The EU is bound by its treaties to accede to the convention.

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Human rights policy

The EU seeks to incorporate human rights into all its external action, including trade, migration and environmental policies. All agreements signed by the EU need to be consistent with human rights.

Action plan on human rights and democracy

The guiding reference for the EU's work on protection and promotion of human rights worldwide is the action plan on human rights and democracy, adopted in November 2020 for the period 2020-2024. On 27 May 2024, the EU decided to extend the action plan until 2027.

The plan is structured around five lines of action:

  • protecting and empowering individuals
  • building resilient, inclusive and democratic societies
  • promoting a global system for human rights and democracy
  • new technologies: harnessing opportunities and addressing challenges
  • delivering by working together

Annual reports on human rights and democracy

The annual report on human rights and democracy serve as a comprehensive overview of the EU’s endeavours and achievements, and the challenges it faces in fostering a world where human rights are respected, democratic principles are upheld, and the dignity and freedom of all individuals are safeguarded.

EU special representative for human rights

The role of the EU special representative for human rights is to enhance the effectiveness, visibility and consistency of the EU’s human rights policy in its external action and to build a positive narrative on human rights. 

In addition to engaging with the United Nations, the representative:

  • chairs human rights dialogues with non-EU countries
  • works to deepen political cooperation with relevant partners
  • draws attention to human rights violations requiring an urgent response
  • promotes compliance with international humanitarian law
  • works to support international criminal justice

The current special representative for human rights is Kajsa Ollongren.

EU human rights guidelines

The EU has adopted a number of guidelines on human rights, translating its priorities into practical instructions for EU policy makers, EU member states and EU delegations throughout the world. 

The guidelines cover, for example, torture and ill treatment, the death penalty, freedom of religion or belief, the rights of children, protecting the enjoyment of all human rights by LGBTI people, violence against women and girls, and freedom of expression online and offline.

More information:

How the EU implements its human rights policy

The EU has a wide variety of instruments for the implementation of its human rights policy. Such tools include human rights dialogues, statements and other forms of engagement in multilateral fora, projects and programmes, and EU election observation missions.

Human rights dialogues

The EU holds regular dialogues with non-EU countries and regional groupings on human rights. Each dialogue is established in accordance with the EU guidelines on human rights dialogues, adopted by the Council in 2001 and last updated in 2021. 

The Council assesses the human rights situation in the country concerned and decides whether it would be appropriate to start a dialogue with that country through the adoption of conclusions.

Over the years, human rights dialogues have been established with around 60 countries and regional groupings throughout the world. These provide a platform for raising human rights concerns, exchanging best practices and strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Participation in multilateral fora

The Council is in charge of setting the strategic priorities for the European Union within United Nations human rights fora. To that end, it adopts conclusions once a year setting out the main lines of action for the EU, including at the Human Rights Council. 

In its conclusions adopted in January 2025, the Council stressed that for laws and norms to be stronger than conflict, everyone must commit to multilateralism and the international order, based on the United Nations. To this end, the EU will continue to cooperate with all regions of the world, and enhance cooperation with like-minded countries.

The EU will also focus on ensuring accountability, and on scaling up efforts towards gender equality. The EU will continue its work to end and prevent further human rights violations around the world, including in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and of the situation in the Middle East, especially Gaza.

Human rights and democracy thematic programme

The human rights and democracy thematic programme is one of the programmes under the neighbourhood, development and international cooperation instrument – the EU programme for external action funds for 2021-2027. It has a budget of €1.5 billion.

The programme offers independence of action, as it foresees direct cooperation with human rights defenders and local civil society organisations without the need for approval of national authorities.

Additionally, it has a global scope and can be used to support human rights anywhere outside the European Union, operating worldwide at national, regional and international levels.

Election observation missions

EU election observation missions are a fundamental part of the European Union’s action to promote democracy, human rights and civil society participation worldwide.

Election observation missions aim to:

  • strengthen public trust in elections
  • encourage civic participation
  • deter fraud
  • provide an informed, impartial and factual assessment of an election process

In the long-term, they also aim to:

  • improve the overall electoral framework and the context in which elections are held
  • strengthen the independence and accountability of state institutions
  • enhance the resilience of partner countries by supporting good governance
  • mitigate the potential election-related conflict

Since 2000, the EU has deployed over 180 election observation missions in more than 65 countries.

The European Union deploys election observation missions to countries all around the world, with the exception of the regions covered by the Organization for Security and co-Operation in Europe (OSCE). In EU member states, election processes are observed by the OSCE.

Sanctions related to human rights

The EU can impose sanctions on individuals and entities in response to human rights abuses and violations worldwide.

See also

Human rights

Human rights

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Fundamental rights in the EU

Fundamental rights in the EU

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Sanctions against human rights violations

Sanctions against human rights violations

Topics

Last review: 28 May 2026