Human rights

The European Union (EU) is built on fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Indeed, according to Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union: ‘The Union 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.’

These values are closely linked and guide the EU’s internal and external action.

EU action in this area is based on the EU treaties and on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which has the same value as the treaties. The Charter enshrines the fundamental rights people enjoy in the EU. It is a modern and comprehensive instrument protecting and promoting people’s rights and freedoms in the light of changes in society, social progress and scientific and technological developments.

The Charter applies in conjunction with national and international fundamental rights protection systems, including the European Convention on Human Rights.

• • Human rights in the EU: fundamental rights
    • Citizens, equality, rights and values programme (2021–2027)
    • Protection of journalists and human rights defenders from unfounded or abusive court proceedings
    • Institutions, agencies & bodies
      • Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women
      • European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
      • European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
    • The Charter of Fundamental Rights
      • Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
      • Promoting and safeguarding the EU’s values
      • Putting the Charter of Fundamental Rights into practice
      • Dignity
        • Protocol against the trafficking of people
        • ILO Forced Labour Protocol: ratification by EU countries
        • Report on impact of EU funding to stop torture and the death penalty
        • EU guidelines on torture and other cruel treatment
        • EU guidelines on death penalty
        • EU ban on trade in instruments of torture
      • Freedoms
        • Data protection in the electronic communications sector
        • General data protection regulation (GDPR)
        • Right to be forgotten on the Internet
        • Protection at international level of the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities
        • Media freedom and pluralism in the digital environment
        • Protecting personal data that is used by police and criminal justice authorities (from 2018)
        • Procedural safeguards for vulnerable persons in criminal proceedings
        • Non-EU workers - easier residence and work formalities
      • Equality
        • Non-discrimination and equal opportunities in the European Union
        • Racism and xenophobia
          • Citizens, equality, rights and values programme (2021–2027)
          • Equal treatment irrespective of racial or ethnic origin
          • Framework Decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law
          • Roma equality, inclusion and participation
          • Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
        • Equality between women and men
          • Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women
          • Principle of equal treatment of men and women outside the employment market
          • Protecting pregnant workers and new mothers
          • European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
          • European Union gender equality strategy
          • Gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges
          • Gender equality in the labour market
          • Equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women – Rules on pay transparency
          • Equal treatment in employment and occupation
          • EU accession to the Istanbul Convention
          • Social security — equal treatment for men and women
          • Self-employment — equal treatment between men and women
          • Work-life balance for parents and carers
        • Minorities
          • National Roma integration strategies: common European framework
          • Roma equality, inclusion and participation
        • Children's rights
          • EU strategy on the rights of the child
          • EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European child guarantee
        • Rights of the elderly
          • Using IT to improve the quality of life of the elderly
        • Integration of persons with disabilities
          • Directive implementing the Marrakesh Treaty in the EU
          • The Marrakesh Treaty
          • Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities
          • Regulation implementing the Marrakesh Treaty in the EU
          • Protection at international level of the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities
      • Solidarity
        • Collective redundancies: staff information and consultation
        • Ensuring that EU workers’ rights are respected when working abroad
        • Informing and consulting employees — European Works Councils
        • Reintegrating the long-term unemployed into the labour market
        • EURES: Job search services across the EU
        • EU general rules on employee information and consultation
        • European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (2021-2027)
        • Protection of young people at work
        • Consumer protection
          • Roaming charges within the European Union
      • Citizens' rights
        • The European Citizens’ Initiative
        • The right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections
        • EU freedom of movement and residence
        • EU emergency travel document
        • EU consular protection: better protection for EU citizens abroad
        • Accelerating the digital transformation of governments in the EU — 2016-2020 action plan
        • Citizens, equality, rights and values programme (2021–2027)
      • Justice
        • Legal aid in criminal proceedings
        • Legal aid in civil and commercial matters
        • Right to access a lawyer in criminal and European warrant arrest proceedings
        • Protecting personal data that is used by police and criminal justice authorities (from 2018)
        • Promoting videoconferencing between EU countries in the area of justice
        • Compensation for victims of crime in other EU countries
        • Better protection for victims in criminal proceedings
        • Protection of journalists and human rights defenders from unfounded or abusive court proceedings
        • Justice programme (2021-2027)
        • Fair trial: suspects’ right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings
        • Criminal proceedings — Presumption of innocence and the right to be present at the trial
        • Right to information in criminal proceedings
        • Recommendation on procedural rights of suspects and accused people subject to pre-trial detention and on material detention conditions
        • European judicial training strategy (2021–2024)
        • Protection of persons who report breaches of EU law
  • Human rights in non-EU countries
    • Guidelines on Human rights
      • EU guidelines on human rights dialogues with non-EU countries
      • EU guidelines on the promotion of compliance with international humanitarian law
      • Violence against women and girls: EU guidelines
      • EU guidelines on torture and other cruel treatment
      • Human Rights Defenders — EU support
      • Human Rights Defenders — EU support
      • EU guidelines on death penalty
      • Agreement between the EU and the International Criminal Court (ICC)
    • Promoting Human rights in non-EU countries
      • European Genocide Network
      • EU global election assistance and observation strategy
      • EU ban on trade in instruments of torture
      • EU restrictive measures against North Korea
      • Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities
      • Global Europe — the EU Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument
      • General framework for EU sanctions
      • Imposition of EU sanctions to address the situation in Venezuela
      • Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Sudan
      • Restrictive measures against Zimbabwe
      • Restrictive measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo
      • Restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
      • Restrictive measures against Iran
      • EU restrictive measures in view of Türkiye’s unauthorised drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean
      • EU restrictive measures in view of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
      • EU Restrictive measures against Syria
    • Children's rights in non-EU countries
      • Protecting children’s rights — 2017 guidelines
      • Children as a focus of EU external action
      • Children’s rights and armed conflict
  • European statistics
    • European statistics on persons and households
  • Archived summaries
    • The EU's Social Investment package
    • The principle of equal treatment between persons
    • The Hague Programme: 10 priorities for the next five years
    • Trust in Europe’s transparent and democratic legal systems
    • Towards a Strategy on the Rights of the Child
    • The Stockholm Programme
    • Social and economic integration of Roma
    • The citizens’ initiative
    • Ensuring the consistent implementation of rights
    • Erasmus+ — EU transnational partnerships in education, training, youth and sport
    • Justice Programme (2014-2020)
    • Green Paper on mutual recognition of non-custodial pre-trial supervision measures
    • Green Paper on criminal proceedings
    • Human rights and relations in the Mediterranean
    • Human rights and democracy - the EU's new action plan
    • Integration of Roma in the area of housing
    • Integration of Roma in the area of healthcare
    • Integration of Roma in the area of employment
    • Integration of Roma in the area of education
    • Fundamental rights and citizenship (2007-13)
    • Cooperation with indigenous peoples
    • Roma integration in the context of equal treatment
    • EU guidelines on the rights of the child
    • EU guidelines on the death penalty
    • EU report on human rights in 2003
    • EU justice policy: the way forward
    • European Disability Strategy (2010-2020)
    • Europe for Citizens: Bringing the EU closer to citizens
    • European Union Annual Report on Human Rights - 2002
    • European Union Annual Report on Human Rights 2001
    • European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020)
    • European initiative for democracy and human rights (EIDHR) (2000-2006)
    • Promoting human rights and democratisation in third countries
    • Promoting democracy and human rights in non-EU countries (2014-20)
    • Recognition of decisions in criminal matters: strengthening mutual trust
    • Objective data for more effective justice: EU justice scoreboard
    • Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights of Workers
    • A framework strategy for non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all
    • Ban on trade in torture instruments
    • A financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights in the world (2007 – 2013)
    • Combating violence towards children, adolescents and women: Daphne III programme (2007-2013)
    • Code of practice to clamp down on sexual harassment at work
    • Annual Report on Human Rights 2008
    • Annual Report on Human Rights 2007
    • Annual Report on Human Rights 2006
    • Annual report on human rights 2005
    • Contribution to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
    • Civil Justice specific programme (2007-2013)
    • The European Ombudsman
    • The European Union and Children's Rights
    • The EU’s 2009 Annual Report on Human Rights
    • Action plan on the Stockholm Programme
    • Action plan on unaccompanied minors (2010-14)
    • Action to combat violence against children, young persons and women: the Daphne programme
    • Action to prevent violence against children, young people and women: the DAPHNE II programme (2004-08)