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Council of the 
 
 

 European Union 
   
 
Luxembourg, 21 June 2021 
(OR. en) 
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COHOM 98 

COPS 233 
CFSP/PESC 598 
DEVGEN 124 
 
 
FREMP 187 
INF 190 
JAI 731 
RELEX 565 
CSDP/PSDC 320 
COJUR 16 
 
OUTCOME OF PROCEEDINGS 
From: 
General Secretariat of the Council 
To: 
Delegations 
Subject: 
2020 EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 
 
 
Delegations will find attached the 2020 EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the 
World, approved by the Council at its 3804th meeting held on 21 June 2021. 
 
 
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2020 EU ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD 
Contents 
 
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 2 
EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ........................................................................................ 4 
1.  PROTECTING AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS...................................................................................... 9 
1.1 
PROTECTING PEOPLE, ELIMINATING INEQUALITIES, DISCRIMINATION AND EXCLUSION ............... 9 
1.2 
EMPOWERING PEOPLE .................................................................................................................. 51 
1.3 
PROMOTING FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AND STRENGTHENING CIVIC AND POLITICAL SPACE ... 60 
1.4 
REINFORCING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND LABOUR RIGHTS ....................................... 65 
1.5 
SUPPORTING THE RULE OF LAW AND THE FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ............................ 78 
1.6 
CLOSING THE ACCOUNTABILITY GAP, FIGHTING IMPUNITY AND SUPPORTING TRANSITIONAL 
JUSTICE .................................................................................................................................................... 84 
2.  BUILDING RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES ......................................................... 88 
2.1 
ENHANCING DEMOCRATIC, ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT INSTITUTIONS .......................... 88 
2.2 
PROMOTING RESPONSIVE, INCLUSIVE, PARTICIPATORY AND REPRESENTATIVE DECISION-MAKING
 
92 
2.3 
SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT AND PLURALISTIC MEDIA, ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND THE FIGHT 
AGAINST DISINFORMATION ...................................................................................................................... 93 
2.4 
REINFORCING A HUMAN RIGHTS AND PARTICIPATIVE APPROACH TO CONFLICT PREVENTION AND 
CRISIS RESOLUTION ................................................................................................................................ 100 
3.  PROMOTING A GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY .......................................... 111 
3.1 
MULTILATERAL COOPERATION ................................................................................................. 111 
3.2 
REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS ......................................................................................................... 117 
3.3 
BILATERAL COOPERATION ......................................................................................................... 122 
3.4 
CIVIL SOCIETY AND NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS ................................................. 125 
3.5 
BUSINESS SECTOR ...................................................................................................................... 132 
3.6 
COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
 
136 
4.  NEW TECHNOLOGIES: HARNESSING OPPORTUNITIES AND ADDRESSING CHALLENGES ..................... 139 
4.1 
CAPACITY BUILDING AND EFFECTIVE MONITORING .................................................................. 139 
4.2 
PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, 
INCLUDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE .................................................................................................. 142 
5.   DELIVERING BY WORKING TOGETHER ............................................................................................... 148 
5.1  
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION ........................................................... 148 
 
 
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INTRODUCTION 
The profound human rights and democracy dimensions to the ongoing global health crisis have 
become increasingly evident. The COVID-19 pandemic has perpetuated and exacerbated existing 
inequalities and vulnerabilities worldwide. The humanitarian, health and socioeconomic 
consequences have had a disproportionate impact on the rights of persons in vulnerable situations. 
In 2020, in line with its commitment to contribute to the global response to the pandemic, the EU 
has promoted a human rights-based approach, stressing that human rights are universal, 
interdependent and indivisible and must be fully respected in the response to the pandemic. 
In a geopolitical and COVID-19 context in which challenges to human rights, democracy and the 
rule of law have become more widespread, the EU has increased its efforts to consolidate its role as 
a principled and reliable global actor for human rights. In November 2020, the Foreign Affairs 
Council adopted the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020-2024),1 which sets 
out the EU’s ambitions and priorities for action in external relations for the next five years.  
The Action Plan demonstrates the EU’s renewed commitment to protecting and promoting human 
rights, empowering people, and building more resilient democracies across the world. The EU 
annual report on human rights and democracy monitors the implementation of the new EU Action 
Plan by presenting the progress achieved to date.  
Throughout the year, the EU continued to raise its profile and demonstrate global leadership on the 
human rights and democracy agenda. The new EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s 
Empowerment in EU External Action 2021-2025 (GAP III)2, adopted by the Commission in 
November and welcomed through presidency conclusions by 24 Member States, outlines specific 
priorities and actions. It sends a clear message on the importance of mainstreaming gender equality 
and women’s empowerment into all areas of EU external action. 
                                                 
1 
Council conclusions on the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, 
12848/20, 18 November 2020 

2 
EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in EU External Action 
2021-2025 (GAP III): https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-
homepage/89112/gender-action-plan-iii-towards-gender-equal-world_en 
 
 
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In December, the Council adopted a landmark decision3 and a regulation4 establishing the first-ever 
EU global human rights sanctions regime. This is a milestone achievement. It allows targeting 
individuals, entities and bodies – including state and non-state actors – responsible for, involved in 
or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. The restrictive measures 
provide for travel bans for individuals and the freezing of the assets of individuals and entities.  
The 22nd EU-NGO Human Rights Forum, held in Brussels on 9-10 December 2020, focused on the 
impact of new technologies on human rights. This is one of the new Action Plan’s key strands of 
action and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the relevance of digital technologies in 
managing the opportunities and risks for human rights both online and offline. 
Implementing the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy is more important than ever. 
The urgency to address the COVID-19 crisis opens up new opportunities to strengthen EU 
leadership and global collective action. Human rights and democracy are, and should continue to 
be, at the centre of EU external relations, from Russia and Turkey to Colombia and Hong Kong. EU 
delegations on the ground are on the frontline of this work and the EU Special Representative for 
Human Rights will guide the implementation of the new EU Action Plan. 
                                                 
3 
Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures 
against serious human rights violations and abuses: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.LI.2020.410.01.0013.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A20
20%3A410I%3ATOC 
 
4 
Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human 
rights violations and abuses: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32020R1998&qid=1615449257978 
 
 
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EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS  
The EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, continued to work 
under the authority of the High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) Josep Borrell, and placed 
increased emphasis on promoting the coherence, visibility and effectiveness of the EU’s human 
rights engagement as a core element of the EUSR’s mandate. Both internally, through institutional 
coordination and discussions, and externally, in collaboration with non-EU countries, the EUSR 
explored the best ways to strengthen and preserve the EU’s leading role in supporting human rights 
in the world.  
The EUSR has been closely involved in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 
(2020-2024). The EUSR has a central role in guiding the implementation of the Action Plan, which 
will be the basis of the efforts to address long-standing EU priorities and new human rights 
challenges in non-EU countries.  
The EUSR continued to strengthen the EU’s high-level bilateral engagement with countries facing 
critical human rights challenges, through bilateral visits, virtual meetings and human rights 
dialogues. Constructive and regular consultations were held, including with Colombia, Egypt, India, 
Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar, countries in the Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, the United States (US) and 
Uzbekistan, on a broad range of issues of mutual concern linked to human rights. 
The EUSR further strengthened constructive relations with the US through bilateral visits in 
February 2020. Prominent issues on the agenda included developments following the death of 
George Floyd, the EU Action Plan, the US Commission on Unalienable Rights, as well as 
developments in China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the US withdrawal from the 
World Health Organization (WHO). Following the US announcement of restrictive measures on 
staff of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the EUSR reiterated the EU’s firm support for the 
judicial independence and impartiality of the Court.  
 
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On his first visit to the Middle East, the EUSR held a series of meetings in Qatar with senior 
officials, representatives of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Office of the High 
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Discussions focused on labour rights, women’s rights 
and freedom of expression. This visit, combined with EUSR’s work with Saudi Arabia to advance 
the proposal for the first-ever EU-Saudi Arabia human rights dialogue, were significant steps 
paving the way for new avenues of EU engagement with the Gulf countries.  
The EUSR followed up on the 15th EU-India Summit held in July 2020, where it was agreed to 
relaunch the local EU-India human rights dialogue which had been suspended since 2013. Regular 
dialogue will enable the parties to explore ways to enhance collaboration in bilateral and 
multilateral fora and pave the way for the first EUSR visit to the country. The EUSR’s continued 
high-level political engagement with Pakistan resulted in regular discussions on a broader human 
rights agenda.  
Another priority for the EUSR was the situation in Belarus, where the political and human rights 
situation deteriorated in the context of the presidential election of 9 August 2020. The EUSR 
engaged actively with Belarusian civil society and in regional and multilateral fora to address the 
issue.  
In Africa, the EUSR for Human Rights worked closely with the EUSR for the Sahel on the 
promotion of human rights and international humanitarian law in the region. In a similar vein, the 
EUSR collaborated closely with the EUSR for the Horn of Africa to address human rights and IHL 
concerns about the human rights and international humanitarian law situation in Ethiopia and 
Eritrea in the context of the crisis in Tigray.  
In order to adapt to the new COVID-19 reality, the EUSR substituted bilateral country visits and 
dialogues with virtual meetings with key international partners and interlocutors in non-EU 
countries, which broadened the reach of the EUSR’s geographic and thematic consultations. The 
EUSR called on governments in partner countries to put human rights at the heart of their crisis 
responses and uphold the dignity and human rights of all without discrimination of any kind. His 
engagement seeks to ensure that no one is left behind and no human right is ignored.  
 
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In line with the call from UN High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, to draw attention to the 
situation of prisoners, particular emphasis was placed on encouraging several partner countries in 
Africa, the Americas, Asia, including Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East to ensure 
that the human rights of people deprived of their liberty were protected. The EUSR called for the 
humanitarian release of prisoners and detainees, including human rights defenders, journalists, and 
political and vulnerable prisoners. 
The EUSR continued to highlight EU priorities by chairing several human rights dialogues, 
including with Myanmar, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and the African Union, as well as by opening 
dialogues with Azerbaijan and Ukraine. To encourage more sustained engagement between the 
dialogues, the EUSR initiated further technical follow-up discussions to identify specific areas for 
cooperation.  
The EUSR continued to step up work at regional and multilateral levels, especially with the UN 
system, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Special Procedures. He 
represented the EU at the high-level segment of the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council 
(HRC) in Geneva in February and held consultations with relevant UN bodies. He participated in 
the event held by the Good Human Rights Stories Initiative,5 which focused on women’s 
empowerment and gender equality. At the 75th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session in 
September, the EUSR represented the EU at several virtual high level events on the death penalty, 
the rights of LGBTI persons and the ICC. The EUSR also worked closely with regional 
organisations, including the Council of Europe (CoE), the Organization for Security and Co-
operation in Europe (OSCE)/Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the 
African Union (AU), the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights and the Inter-
American Commission on Human Rights. The EUSR collaborated with relevant civil society 
organisations. Public diplomacy and media outreach have been central to addressing all major 
human rights challenges, as well as the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for human rights, 
democracy and the rule of law. 
                                                 
5 
Good Human Rights Stories Initiative: https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-
homepage/51241/good-human-rights-stories-coalition-launched_en 

 
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Major efforts were dedicated to further promoting compliance with international humanitarian law 
in armed conflicts, addressing the lack of accountability, and enhancing the coherence and visibility 
of the EU’s engagement in this area. Through joint efforts with the EUSR for the Sahel, substantial 
discussions were held with the UN and the G5 Sahel Executive Secretariat on protecting human 
rights and promoting compliance with international humanitarian law in the Sahel. 
In order to address the continued attacks on the ICC, the EU indicated its strong support for the 
Court through the active participation of the EUSR at the 75th UN General Assembly and in bilateral 
meetings with the US administration. Regular consultations were held with the ICC Principals and 
key actors, reaffirming the EU’s steadfast support for the Court’s independence and impartiality. 
Significant work was conducted to ensure that international humanitarian law and international 
criminal justice/the ICC remain high on the EU’s policy agenda and are reflected in relevant human 
rights consultations and dialogues with partner countries, e.g. Colombia, Myanmar and Ukraine. 
This included advocating the ratification of the Rome Statute by the remaining 46 countries. 
The EUSR has underlined that human rights can only be respected, protected and fulfilled in 
settings where there is strong local ownership. A recurring theme of the EUSR’s bilateral 
engagement has therefore been the empowerment of independent human rights voices and 
institutions and the protection of the space in which they operate. The EUSR has met and engaged 
with local civil society, parliamentarians, members of the judiciary, ombudspersons, and 
representatives of national human rights institutions and pursued coordinated follow-up actions to 
support their work. He increased the participation of local and international civil society in the 
human rights dialogues which he conducted with key partner countries and regional organisations. 
Despite the global pandemic, the EUSR continued to regularly engage with local and international 
civil society organisations and human rights defenders in 2020. The virtual meetings held by the 
EUSR enabled him to widen the geographic range of his work and engage with a broader scope of 
civil society and human rights actors, including religious leaders and the private sector. 
 
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In order to increase the visibility and reach of the EU human rights policy, the EUSR conducted 
regular bilateral meetings, speaking engagements and academic interactions and attended 
international conferences. In particular, the EUSR focused on several key EU thematic priorities, 
which are reflected in the relevant EU human rights guidelines. These include political prisoners 
and human rights defenders, racial discrimination, the death penalty, torture and ill-treatment, the 
full enjoyment of all human rights by women, children and LGBTI persons, freedom of religion or 
belief, economic, social and cultural rights, business and human rights, as well as the human rights 
implications of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).  
Throughout the year, the EUSR continued to raise the EU’s profile and demonstrate global 
leadership in human rights by representing the EU and the HR/VP at high level events and 
international conferences. He participated for example in ‘Social Media: Challenges and Ways to 
Promote Freedoms and Protect Activists’ in Qatar, the Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion 
or Belief, the webinar ‘Ten years of protecting freedom of assembly and association’, ‘Political 
prisoners in Belarus: the perspective of civil society’ in New York, and in several high-level events 
at the 75th UNGA session.  
The EUSR continued to actively engage in public diplomacy and media outreach through public 
lectures, interviews with leading European and international media organisations, e.g. ‘Le Monde’, 
‘Deutsche Welle’, the Republic of Korea’s daily newspaper ‘Kyunghyang Shinmun’, and video 
messages in support of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Major efforts centred on 
promoting the visibility of the new EU Action Plan. The EUSR hosted the formal launch of the 
Action Plan in November and participated in several high-level events, including with the CoE.  
 
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1. 
PROTECTING AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS 
1.1  PROTECTING PEOPLE, ELIMINATING INEQUALITIES, DISCRIMINATION AND EXCLUSION 
The death penalty 
In 2020, working towards the global abolition of the death penalty remained at the heart of the EU’s 
human rights priorities. Throughout the year, the EU continued to voice its strong opposition to 
the use, in any circumstances, of the death penalty, which is a cruel, inhuman and degrading 
punishment, violating the right to life. The death penalty has no established deterrent effect and it 
makes judicial errors irreversible. 
In 2020, the US provided a good example of the continuous progress towards abolition: Colorado 
became the 22nd abolitionist state in law in the US and the 10th over the last 13 years. Louisiana and 
Utah reached 10 years without executions, bringing the number of US states without executions for 
ten or more years to 34 out of 50 states. Moreover, in 2020, Chad extended the abolition of the 
death penalty in law from ordinary crimes to all crimes with no exception.  
The year was also marked by an unsuccessful call to reintroduce the death penalty in the Philippines 
and the resumption of executions in the US at federal level, where a de facto moratorium on 
executions had prevailed since 2003.  
 
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The EU consistently raised the issue of capital punishment with countries that still use it, and this 
topic featured on the agendas of EU political dialogues and human rights dialogues. Based on the 
minimum standards defined by international law and the EU guidelines on the death penalty, the EU 
issued a number of public statements deploring the use of the death penalty, and called on those 
countries that still apply it to consider introducing a moratorium as a first step towards abolition. 
This was done for instance in the case of Belarus, the only country in Europe and Central Asia that 
still applies the death penalty. The EU continued to raise its opposition to the death penalty in all 
relevant multilateral fora, in particular at the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe. To mark the 
European Day against the Death Penalty and the World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 
October 2020, the EU and the Council of Europe issued a joint statement reaffirming their 
opposition to the use of capital punishment in all circumstances, and their commitment to the 
abolition of the death penalty worldwide. Numerous EU delegations marked this significant date by 
organising debates, publishing op-eds, and conducting other public awareness activities. 
The EU participated actively in the work of the interregional task force that presented in the UN 
General Assembly the 8th resolution for a global moratorium of the death penalty, which was 
adopted on 16 December 2020 with a record tally of 123 votes in favour. 
The abolition of the death penalty is a thematic priority under the European Instrument for 
Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). Funds channelled through civil society organisations 
(CSOs) worldwide contribute to training within the judiciary, public awareness raising, the creation 
of national networks, the monitoring of the use of the death penalty, advocacy for legal reform and 
dialogue on specific issues such as counter-terrorism and the fight against drugs. In 2020, projects 
of this kind continued to be implemented in the following partners: Niger, the Philippines, Taiwan, 
Uganda, the US, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bahrain, Egypt, 
Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, China and India. Funds from 
the 2018 global call for proposals amounted to EUR 8.1 million. 
 
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Advocacy against the death penalty in Sierra Leone 
Sierra Leone retains the death penalty for aggravated robbery, murder, treason and mutiny. 
Although a de facto moratorium is in place with the last executions taking place in October 1998, 
death sentences are still routinely pronounced. At the end of 2020, there were 78 persons on death 
row, an increase of over 50% from August 2019. Recent sentences from the Kabala High Court 
Criminal session in September 2020 saw one woman sentenced to death. The EU, together with 
AdvocAid and like-minded partners, is committed to the abolition of the death penalty by 
advocating improved access to legal representation and effective right to appeal for prisoners on 
death row, as well as by promoting legal reforms in view of the in law abolition of the mandatory 
death penalty sentence. 
Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment  
In line with the revised guidelines on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or 
punishment adopted in September 2019, the EU stepped up its efforts to achieve a torture-free 
world. Although the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment is absolute under international 
law, it continued to be practiced in many parts of the world in 2020. 
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated some of the world’s major challenges, including 
violence. It has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable, including people deprived of their 
liberty. The EU closely monitored the situation of prisoners and other people in places of detention.  
On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June 2020, the HR/VP issued a 
statement reaffirming the EU’s strong commitment to combating torture worldwide through a 
comprehensive approach encompassing prohibition, prevention, accountability and redress for the 
victims. 
 
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The HR/VP recalled that eradicating torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or 
punishment is a global challenge and should be our global ambition. He stressed the importance of 
continuously engaging with our partners at international, regional and bilateral level, along with 
civil society, in order to make a real difference. The HR/VP also called for the universal ratification 
and effective implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol.  
The EU continued to make use of all political and financial tools at its disposal. This ranged from 
the protection of victims and speaking out against abuses through statements and démarches, to 
urging States to comply with their obligations under international law to investigate allegations of 
torture and bring perpetrators to justice.  
In most human rights dialogues, the EU raised torture and/or other ill-treatment, in particular urging 
countries to ratify and fully implement the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol, to 
comply with recommendations from monitoring mechanisms, and to ensure that all reports of 
torture and other ill-treatment are properly and impartially investigated, perpetrators are brought to 
justice, and victims are afforded redress. 
The EU continued to promote judicial reform in several countries, seeking to secure an independent 
justice sector, access to justice and improved prison conditions both through political dialogue and 
financial support, as well as through the training of law enforcement officials in relevant 
international standards (such as the Nelson Mandela Rules on the treatment of prisoners). 
In November 2020, the EU endorsed the Declaration against the use of arbitrary detention in state-
to-state relations, promoted by Canada. 
At multilateral level, the EU further supported the Global Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, a cross-
regional effort bringing together more than 60 countries committed to ending trade in goods used 
for torture and capital punishment across the globe, inspired by the EU Regulation.6  
                                                 
6 
Regulation (EU) 2019/125 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 January 
2019 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture 
or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (OJ L 30, 31.1.2019) 
 
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The EU supported the OHCHR in following up on the EU-led UN General Assembly resolution 
73/304 on torture-free trade, adopted in June 2019, which paves the way for future work at UN 
level to establish common international standards in this field. On Human Rights Day, an online 
event was co-hosted by the EU and Argentina, entitled ‘Towards torture-free trade: opportunities 
and challenges’ in order to take stock of progress achieved and add further impetus ahead of the UN 
governmental experts’ work. Powerful presentations by civil society representatives as well as by 
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the EUSR for Human Rights demonstrated the 
urgency to move forward. 
In 2020, the EU continued to support projects worldwide aimed at eradicating torture and other ill-
treatment. Through the EIDHR, 13 new torture and detention-related projects were contracted, for a 
total amount of EUR 11.1 million. Six of these derived from a global call for proposals targeting 
single countries or small clusters of countries around the world, while one global project will link 
the COVID-19 crisis to detention conditions in more than 20 countries. Six more projects provide a 
tailored response to countries’ needs related to torture and detention (some of these are also linked 
to the COVID-19 crisis), through the country-based support schemes implemented at local level.  
The EIDHR used a range of approaches to focus on the fight against torture, supporting actions to 
prevent or counter torture in various forms or settings and projects with a focus on torture risks 
exacerbated by discriminatory practices. For example, in Bolivia and Honduras, the EU supported a 
new project focusing on women and young people in detention, while in Malaysia, the Philippines 
and Thailand, a prevention project aimed at reducing practices that lead to torture and ill-treatment 
in police custody. COVID-19-related projects sought to reduce the spread of the virus in places of 
detention, to improve prisoners’ rights (legal counsel, visits and medical care), which were further 
limited by the crisis response, and to capitalise on the crisis context to push for needed reforms.  
 
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Regional cooperation in the fight against torture and the promotion of human rights in 
Latin American prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic 
In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, the project ‘Regional cooperation in the fight against 
torture’ contributed to transforming 57 Associations for Protection and Assistance of Convicts 
(APACs), an alternative prison model in Brazil, into mass producers of face masks. From July to 
December 2020, 500 inmates serving custody sentence in APAC prisons produced 1.7 million 
face masks that have been distributed in APAC units, elderly people’s homes, hospitals and 
regular prisons.  
In addition to learning a new skill, the inmates collaborated to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by 
allowing more people to have access to prevention through the use of face masks. This work has 
improved the socialisation of inmates and will remain a new area of professional formation for 
them in the future. According to inmate Wellington Nunes, of Minas Gerais State: ‘My effort will 
benefit all society. I need this work; it makes me feel valued and motivated to help others’.  
Along with the production of the masks, the campaign ‘Humanise the penalty, promote life’ 
publicised the APAC method, a proven model in the recovery of convicts by the penal system, 
and denounced the mistreatment to which persons deprived of their liberty in the common prison 
system are subjected. 
Human rights defenders 
Throughout 2020, the EU continued to support human rights defenders and to denounce the 
shrinking space for civil society. The EU used its political and financial tools, in line with the EU 
Guidelines on human rights defenders (HRDs), to support those fighting for human rights. 
Activities to protect and support human rights defenders were intensified with particular focus on 
HRDs at risk. 
 
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The situation for human rights defenders across the world remained extremely difficult. The number 
of killings increased. Specific groups such as women human rights defenders, LGBTI human rights 
defenders, labour human rights defenders (in particular trade unionists), environmental, land and 
indigenous human rights defenders were targeted, and new threats proliferated (arbitrary digital 
surveillance, cyber-harassment, reprisals). In order to reverse this critical trend, the EU called upon 
non-EU countries to implement preventive measures, duly investigate killings and bring 
perpetrators to justice.  
During the COVID-19 pandemic, specific risks for human rights defenders increased, such as 
the prolongation of incommunicado detentions, the slow-down in judicial processes or the 
downscaling of state protection measures, as well as a higher degree of digital surveillance. Due to 
the increased danger for human rights defenders in detention during the pandemic, the EU asked 
several governments to release human rights defenders who were arbitrarily detained.  
Issues relating to human rights defenders were raised in all human rights dialogues, subcommittee 
meetings and consultations. Lists of individual cases were given prominence in EU human rights 
dialogues. Human rights defenders issues were also discussed in EU-supported civil society 
seminars in the context of these human rights dialogues. The EU also continued to make its voice 
heard with public statements and declarations. 
EU delegations and Member States’ embassies engaged and met with human rights defenders, 
monitored trials, and visited human rights defenders in detention. Annual meetings between EU 
diplomats and human rights defenders have become an established practice in non-EU countries, 
increasing the visibility of human rights defenders where appropriate and allowing for in-depth 
analysis of the challenges they face. 
To tackle the increasing link between digital issues and human rights defenders, the EU, together 
with a network of civil society organisations, organised the 22nd EU-NGO Human Rights Forum
The Forum was held between 9 and 10 December in a virtual format for the first time, which 
enabled hundreds of human rights defenders from across the world to participate and provided a 
discussion platform for civil society, UN experts and EU civil servants. Specific recommendations 
and training on how to improve digital security measures for human rights defenders were provided.  
 
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The EU also supported protecting human rights defenders in multilateral fora, in particular at 
the Human Rights Council, including by supporting the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special 
Rapporteur (UNSR), and at the UN General Assembly. The EU actively collaborated with Mary 
Lawlor, the new UNSR on the situation of human rights defenders, and regularly exchanged 
information on cases and thematic priorities. In November 2020, the EU, together with the UNSR, 
organised training on human rights defenders protection for 200 diplomats posted in EU 
delegations. The EU encouraged partner countries to cooperate with the UNSR on the situation of 
human rights defenders and to respond to issues raised in her annual report. The EU advocated for 
the recognition of human rights defenders in several UN General Assembly resolutions. 
The EU also supported the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ilze Brands Kehris, in 
addressing reprisals against those who cooperate with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms, 
including by organising several events with her office in New York, and by speaking at the 
Interactive Dialogue at the HRC in September 2020.  
The EU remained a major donor in supporting and protection of human rights defenders
most notably under the EIDHR. The instrument funds the EU Human Rights Defenders mechanism 
ProtectDefenders.eu (EUR 35 million for 2015-2022). The latter has provided support to around 
45 000 human rights defenders at risk and their families since 2015, through multifaceted assistance 
and the combination of short, medium and long-term action. Its activities range from direct support 
for individuals, groups and organisations, temporary relocation programmes, training, capacity 
building and outreach to the most vulnerable and marginalised, to advocacy at global, regional and 
local levels. In the unprecedented situation created by the pandemic, ProtectDefenders.eu continued 
to provide vital, swift, flexible and practical support to thousands of human rights defenders, local 
grassroots organisations and groups working in most-at-risk contexts.  
Strengthening the EU’s position as a key actor in protecting human rights defenders, 
ProtectDefenders.eu launched a new, mainly regional programme aimed at supporting new 
relocation and shelter structures for human rights defenders at risk. In 2020, the EU Human Rights 
Defenders mechanism consolidated its focus on women human rights defenders through a 
comprehensive gender strategy implemented across all its programmes. Women Human Rights 
Defenders or LGBTI Human Rights defenders represent 55% of the beneficiaries.  
 
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The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the extraordinary resilience of human rights defenders. 
Requests for material support from defenders and communities have increased significantly, and 
ProtectDefenders.eu has mobilised flexible, direct assistance for a greater number of human rights 
defenders, while some activities had to be rescheduled.  
The EU emergency fund for human rights defenders at risk, directly managed by the EU since 2010, 
continued to operate in 2020. The fund has supported over 1 200 human rights defenders and their 
family members since 2014. This direct financial support contributes to effectively implementing 
the EU guidelines on human rights defenders and is complementary to political action in protection 
of human rights defenders. Crucial assistance was provided through small grants, which served to 
cover costs related to temporary relocation, subsistence, medical and legal support, prison visits, 
security (increasingly digital), equipment and training. An increasing share of supported human 
rights defenders work on freedom of expression and the media, governance and anti-corruption 
issues, the rights of LGBTI persons, and environmental, land and indigenous peoples’ rights as set 
out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in Human Rights Law.  
One of the most effective grants that the emergency fund provided in 2020 supported family 
members of indigenous land and environmental rights activists who were assassinated because of 
their work to defend land rights. Through this grant, 21 human rights defenders family members 
were urgently relocated to protect their lives. In addition to the legal costs of seeking justice and 
protection, their subsistence, education and medical expenses were covered. In the context of the 
COVID-19 pandemic, human rights defenders and their families remained safe from the virus in an 
area with deficient access to health and sanitation services. 
The EIDHR Human Rights Crises Facility provides flexible grants to civil society and human rights 
defenders working in extremely difficult conditions and/or where the publication of a call for 
proposals would be inappropriate. In 2020, seven facility projects provided support to human rights 
defenders through re-granting, direct support, capacity building and networking. These actions 
enabled the work of various human rights defenders groups, such as investigative journalists, 
indigenous human rights defenders and those defending the rights of persons belonging to 
minorities. 
 
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Tackling multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination 
The principle of equality is integrated into the planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of 
the EU’s external policies and programmes. Equality is a core value of the EU and guided the EU’s 
internal and external policy development in 2020, embracing the notion that preserving and 
protecting diversity in line with the EU Treaties and with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the 
European Union7 is an essential part of protecting people. The European Commission took steps 
to renew its policy framework on equality, through the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, 
LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025, and subsequently the Strategy for the Rights of 
Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 and the Strategy on the Rights of the Child, also covering 
external action. The EU human rights guidelines on non-discrimination in external action also 
continued to guide all external action, with increased focus on multiple and intersecting forms of 
discrimination across all actions.  
In its COVID-19 response, the EU stressed that ensuring the inclusion of people in vulnerable 
situations requires both systematic mainstreaming of inclusion and accessibility, and targeted action 
enabling equality and non-discrimination. For instance, with regard to respecting and protecting the 
rights of persons with disabilities, it was stressed that healthcare needs to be delivered based on 
non-discrimination and free and equal consent in line with the standards of the Convention on the 
Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Furthermore, the systematic use and collection of, for example, 
sex and age-disaggregated data, as well as data disaggregated based on disability, was further 
underlined to ensure that response efforts are inclusive and gender sensitive and encompass 
intersectionality while highlighting the centrality of discriminatory social norms.  
                                                 
7 
In accordance with Article 51(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European 
Union its provisions are addressed to the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the 
Union with due regard for the principle of subsidiarity and to the Member States only when 
they are implementing EU law: https://ec.europa.eu/info/aid-development-cooperation-
fundamental-rights/your-rights-eu/eu-charter-fundamental-rights/when-does-charter-
apply_en 
 
 
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EU funds such as the European Social Fund and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived 
were redirected in 2020 and additional budgets were made available to support persons in 
vulnerable situations. In its ‘Team Europe’ global response to COVID-19, launched in April 
2020, the EU took a human rights-based approach aimed at ‘building back better’ and 
supporting fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable societies, and at implementing the 2030 
Agenda, anchored on the principle of leaving no one behind. The EU prioritised health and 
socioeconomic measures, ensuring that support services and shelters remained available to all, and 
will continue to promote and uphold human rights, equality and non-discrimination and decent 
work conditions in this context. The package was designed to help the most vulnerable countries, 
with a focus on the people who are most at risk, including persons with disabilities. It was a 
meaningful contribution to the international aid system to promote a coordinated multilateral 
response in partnership with the UN and the international financial institutions, advancing the EU’s 
values of equality and non-discrimination. 
The death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement officials in the early summer of 2020 in 
the US brought to light once again the persistence of racism and discrimination in our societies 
and the specific challenges related to the law enforcement agencies’ approach and the relevant 
legislative framework. The EU expressed serious concerns over these events and joined the call for 
a prompt and effective investigation encompassing all forms of discrimination.  
EU action in this area builds on a solid legal framework to address discrimination, racism, 
xenophobia and hate crimes in all EU Member States in line with the International Convention on 
the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). Throughout 2020, the EU 
continued to stress that the ICERD is and should remain the basis of all efforts to prevent, combat 
and eradicate racism. The priority remains the full and effective implementation of the ICERD as it 
stands. 
 
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On 18 September 2020, the EU published its anti-racism action plan 2020-20258 to step up action 
against racism and racial discrimination in the EU. The action plan helped to improve internal-
external coherence and recognised that not only individuals can perpetrate racist acts, but that 
racism can also be structural.  
At the UN, the EU continued to engage constructively in the work of the HRC in combating racism, 
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance worldwide by delivering statements 
during the general debates under item 9 and during the interactive dialogues with the UN Special 
Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism and the UN Working Group of Experts on People of 
African Descent.  
The EU actively participated in discussions on the follow-up to the Durban Declaration and 
Programme of Action, in particular in the context of the upcoming 20th anniversary of its adoption. 
It also actively participated in the negotiations on related resolutions of the HRC and the UNGA, 
and engaged in the meetings of the Durban follow-up mechanisms.9 
In June 2020, the EU also participated in the urgent debate on ‘current racially inspired human 
rights violations, systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests,’ organised 
at the request of the African Group during the 43rd session of the HRC in the aftermath of the death 
of George Floyd. 
                                                 
8 
EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025: https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-
fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/racism-and-xenophobia/eu-anti-racism-
action-plan-2020-2025_en 

9 
In October, Commissioner Helena Dalli participated via video link in the 18th session of the 
Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban 
Declaration and Programme of Action, to present the EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025. 
Also speaking was a representative of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency who presented 
the findings and the recommendations included in the Agency’s 2019 report ‘Being black in 
the EU’. In November the EU intervened during the 27th session of the Working Group of 
Experts on People of African Descent which focused on the group’s report on COVID-19, 
systemic racism and global protests. 
 
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Freedom of religion or belief 
Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) remained a key priority of the EU’s external human rights 
policy in 2020. 
Since the emergence of the pandemic, States have increased restrictions which have had an impact 
on the full enjoyment of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of religion or 
belief. The EU monitored closely such restrictions and expressed concern when not in line with 
international law. The EU condemned in particular the exacerbation of discrimination, hate speech, 
hate crime and the scapegoating of religious minorities during the spread of the pandemic. Public 
manifestations of freedom of religion or belief have become more difficult due to the lockdown 
measures across the world.  
The EU consistently raised concerns about violations of freedom of religion or belief in political 
dialogues with partner countries, including in more than 15 virtual human rights dialogues and 
consultations with countries of the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, Central Asia and 
South-East Asia. In particular, the EU consistently raised concerns about the situation of the 
Uighurs in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities.  
The EU paid specific attention to acts of violence and discrimination against religious individuals as 
well as humanists and atheists. Concerns were raised about the criminalisation of apostasy and 
blasphemy and undue restrictions to freedom of expression based on religious grounds, as well as 
about legislation that hinders official registration for religious groups. Ahead of the human rights 
dialogues, the EU systematically consulted civil society organisations in order to receive 
information on the most severe freedom of religion or belief violations in non-EU countries. 
 
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The EU unequivocally condemned all acts of violence based on religion or belief including acts 
committed in the name of religion. The HR/VP paid tribute to the victims of violence on the 
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. 
The EU promoted and supported the right of all individuals to have a religion, to hold a belief, or 
not to believe, as well as the right to manifest and to change or leave one’s religion or belief without 
fear of violence, persecution, or discrimination. 
To identify violations and abuses of freedom of religion or belief worldwide, the EU continued to 
engage regularly with religious or non-confessional actors, humanists, and human rights NGOs 
working on freedom of religion or belief through meetings in Brussels and through the EU 
delegations.  
The EU’s commitment to protecting and promoting freedom of religion or belief is anchored 
in multilateralism and in particular in its engagement in the UN human rights fora and UN-led 
initiatives and is based on the principles of equality, non-discrimination and universality.  
The EU once again presented a freedom of religion or belief resolution in the HRC and the UNGA 
Third Committee. Both resolutions were adopted by consensus. The FoRB resolutions urge states to 
respect, protect and promote the right to freedom of religion or belief, while expressing concern 
about violations thereof and calling on states to step up their efforts to implement the commitments 
undertaken. The EU continued to work closely with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on its 
resolution on ‘combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and 
discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief’ to 
ensure the complementarity of the EU and OIC resolutions and universal ownership. The EU also 
raised concerns about FoRB violations together with other international partners through statements 
at the HRC, highlighting shortcomings in China, Russia, the illegally annexed Autonomous 
Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Pakistan, 
Myanmar, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Syria, Iran and elsewhere, as well 
as abuses committed by the Da'esh terrorist organisation. 
 
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On 3 March 2020, during the 43rd session of the HRC, the EU and Canada hosted a side event with 
the UN Special Rapporteur at which he presented his latest report on freedom of religion or belief 
and gender equality. During the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, the EU 
emphasised that while remaining fully committed to robustly protecting and promoting freedom of 
religion or belief in all parts of the world, it firmly opposes using FoRB as a pretext to justify 
human rights violations, including violations affecting women and girls, persons belonging to 
religious minorities or non-believers, and persons based on their sexual orientation or gender 
identity. During the interactive dialogue at UNGA on 20 October, the EU welcomed the importance 
of safeguarding the right to freedom of religion or belief for all for the successful implementation of 
the 2030 Agenda. Moreover, the EU welcomed a proposed set of indicators to operationalise 
international standards on freedom of religion or belief as a useful tool to identify protection gaps 
and formulate steps to close such gaps in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
The EU underlined its support for the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion 
or belief, engaged actively with him during interactive dialogues, and called upon non-EU countries 
to issue standing invitations to the mandate holder.  
The EU engaged actively with like-minded states during regular meetings of the International 
Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief (co-chaired by Canada and the US). The EUSR for 
Human Rights participated in the 3rd Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief, held by 
Poland on 16-17 November. 
The EU continued to engage with the UN Alliance of Civilizations within the UN fora, including 
through the UN Alliance of Civilizations Group of Friends Ministerial Meeting on 29 September 
2020. On the 15th anniversary of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the EU reassured the Alliance of 
its staunch support for dialogue aimed at increasing mutual understanding and respect. 
The EEAS conducted two diplomatic training sessions on human rights, including on freedom of 
religion or belief. In June, the focus was on state, citizenship and religious belonging. This session 
explored the links between active, participatory and inclusive citizenship and religion and faith, in 
order to reflect on the norms, principles, strategies and actors that are involved in the EU’s dealings 
with religious and faith-based actors alongside other civil society actors in the pursuit of its foreign 
policy goals.  
 
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In September, the EEAS and the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-facilitated a pilot training on 
the challenges of navigating the field of religion and conflict in mediation. Focusing on specific 
challenges in Southern Thailand, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, it provided a set of 
conceptual tools to analyse dynamics at the local level, as well as methods to deal with different 
aspects of religion in mediation. Understanding the place of religion and different worldviews is 
key to building peaceful and inclusive societies that are resilient to conflict. 
Building inclusive and resilient societies is one of the core challenges reflected in the current 
multilateral agenda (Agenda 2030 and the Istanbul Process) and continues to guide many EU 
initiatives as well. In 2020, the EU started to unroll its ‘Global Exchange on Religion in Society’ 
project. It provides a platform where religious or faith-based actors and other civil society actors 
can connect, enabling them to work together to preserve their own societies as inclusive and 
respectful places for everyone, where shared citizenship underpins a truly inclusive and resilient 
society.  
On the programming side, the EU continues to finance three regional projects in the Middle 
East and Africa with more than EUR 5 million from 2018 to 2022. The projects aim to improve 
cultural pluralism and intercultural understanding related to religion or belief.  
Six civil society projects are being implemented because of the dedicated 2017 global call for 
proposals on freedom of religion or belief under the EIDHR. The final EU contribution is EUR 5.18 
million. The projects address key strategic areas of the 2013 EU guidelines, including the fight 
against different forms of discrimination and violence on grounds of religion or belief. 
Human rights of persons belonging to minorities 
The EU continued to call on all states to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of persons 
belonging to minorities, such as national, ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities, including in 
international fora.  
 
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On 7 October 2020, the Commission adopted a renewed and strengthened EU Roma10 Strategic 
Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation11 until 2030. As part of this new initiative, the 
EU committed to promote Roma equality, inclusion and participation in its external action, in 
particular as part of its enlargement, neighbourhood, development and humanitarian policies. The 
EU continued to support the implementation of the Declaration on Roma integration in the EU 
enlargement process adopted by the leaders of the countries in the region in July 2019. The 
implementation focused on data collection, Roma-responsive budgeting and the mapping of Roma 
housing in Western Balkans countries. It will continue to promote the inclusion of Roma through 
the 2021-2027 Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III) – once adopted – and other 
relevant EU funds, such as those related to COVID-19 recovery or the Neighbourhood, 
Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). The EU continued to raise 
concerns over protecting persons belonging to minorities across the globe, for example through 
statements and political and human rights dialogues. 
The 13th session of the Forum on Minority Issues convened virtually on 18-19 November 2020 on 
‘Hate Speech, Social Media and Minorities’. The Forum discussed challenges, opportunities and 
potential solutions to effectively tackle online hate speech against persons belonging to minorities, 
in line with the principles and rights enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons 
Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other relevant 
international instruments. The EU actively engaged in the discussion and offered substantive 
perspectives focusing on good practice and highlighting different activities, in particular those 
undertaken and financed by the European Commission and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights 
(FRA). 
                                                 
10 
In line with the terminology of European institutions, the umbrella term ‘Roma’ is used here 
to refer to a number of different groups (e.g. Roma, Sinti, Kale, Gypsies, Romanichels, 
Boyash, Ashkali, Egyptians, Yenish, Dom, Lom, Rom, Abdal…) without denying the 
specificities of these groups. 
11 
EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation, 7 October 2020 
https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/new-eu-roma-strategic-framework-equality-inclusion-
and-participation-full-package_en 

 
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Gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, eliminating sexual and gender-based 
violence and continued commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights as per the New 
European Consensus on Development 
The year 2020 was an important yet challenging year globally for gender equality. The EU’s 
commitment to gender equality was demonstrated through a variety of undertakings, in particular by 
assuming a higher profile at the multilateral level and in international decision-making fora, 
developing joint initiatives, and endorsing gender mainstreaming as a key strategy for achieving 
gender equality.  
In 2020, at a critical juncture marked by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender equality 
and the growing opposition to women’s and girls’ enjoyment of human rights globally, the 
European Commission renewed its policy framework on gender equality. In this context, the 
Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 for a gender equal Europe and the Gender Action Plan 
III 2021-2025 for a gender equal world (GAP III) were adopted by the European Commission. 
The new GAP III, adopted by the Commission in November and welcomed through presidency 
conclusions by 24 Member States, outlines specific priorities and actions. It sends a clear message 
on the importance of mainstreaming gender equality and women’s empowerment into all areas of 
EU external action and is based on a gender-responsive, human rights-based and intersectional 
approach.12 
The 2021-2027 framework programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, will 
contribute to joint solutions for global challenges through international cooperation, by supporting 
gender studies and intersectional research, women’s access to research funding and their 
participation in research careers.13 The integration of a gender perspective in research and 
innovation content is especially relevant in the context of COVID-19 preparedness. 
                                                 
12 
Joint communication on EU Gender Action Plan III, JOIN(2020) 17 final, 25 November 
2020: https://ec.europa.eu/international-partnerships/system/files/join-2020-17-final_en.pdf  
13 
A Horizon 2020 - funded project, Gender STI, addresses the challenge of integrating a 
gender perspective in science, technology and innovation (STI) bilateral and multilateral 
dialogues between Europe and third countries.  
 
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This new policy framework is also part of the EU’s contribution to international frameworks such 
as the full implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination 
against Women (CEDAW), alongside the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action, the 
Programme of Action on the International Conference on Population and Development and the 
outcomes of their review conferences. Furthermore, it contributes to implementing the 2030 Agenda 
and achieving all SDGs. The 2017 European Consensus on Development is part of the EU’s overall 
response to the 2030 Agenda, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to promote gender equality and 
women’s and girls’ rights and their empowerment as a priority across all its policies, initiatives and 
areas of action. 
The year 2020 marked the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for 
Action and the 20th anniversary of UNSCR/1325. The EU took every opportunity to ensure that 
the international community remains united and increases efforts to make the promises of Beijing a 
reality, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, given that the pandemic has worsened pre-
existing gender inequalities and challenges that women and girls face, including those related to 
political participation, domestic violence and sexual and reproductive health and rights. 
The 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) took place in March. The CSW 
session, the high-level meeting at the UN General Assembly in October to celebrate the 25th 
anniversary of the Beijing Women’s Conference, and the High-Level Panel at the 43rd session of the 
HRC14, gave the EU the opportunity to reaffirm the validity of the Beijing+25 agenda as the most 
progressive blueprint for advancing women’s rights ever agreed at the global level. These meetings 
took place in virtual or hybrid format due to COVID-19, negatively impacting civil society 
participation and planned side events. The launch events of the Generation Equality Forum in 
Mexico and France were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission, together 
with the other co-leaders of the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence, presented a high-level 
statement in the UN General Assembly on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on gender-based 
violence. 
                                                 
14 
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25611&LangID=E 
 
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The EU’s work on gender equality and women’s protection and empowerment in conflict situations 
also forms part of the EU’s implementation of the WPS Agenda. The EU’s policy is based on 
relevant UN resolutions and is formulated in the 2008 Comprehensive Approach to the EU 
implementation of the UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 on Women, Peace and Security. The WPS Agenda 
has gradually become a prominent area of cooperation with partners. In the EU-UN strategic 
partnership, the WPS Agenda remained a priority for peace operations and crisis management. It is 
also part of the cooperation with NATO and the OSCE and is increasingly included in security 
dialogues with non-EU countries. 
Gender equality, women’s and girl’s full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and their 
empowerment were consistently raised in bilateral political and human rights dialogues and sub-
committees, informal working groups and human rights-related discussions and consultations with 
partner countries, often based on the human rights situation on the ground, and identifying specific 
actions and deliverables. EU delegations carried out ad hoc activities across the world to promote 
the full enjoyment of human rights by women and girls, consistent with the human rights and 
democracy country strategies for 2016-2020, which included gender equality as a main or 
underlying priority. These activities included, inter alia, political démarches, public statements, 
regular consultations with local civil society actors, in particular women’s organisations, private 
foundations, the private sector, awareness-raising campaigns and advocacy events. Furthermore, 
specific initiatives were undertaken to address existing inequalities and multiple and intersecting 
forms of discrimination against women and girls, which are often entrenched and systemic, to 
eliminate all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, and to promote women’s and girls’ full 
and equal enjoyment of all human rights and their empowerment, active, full, effective, free and 
meaningful participation.  
 
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The Colombian government adopts the EU-sponsored school to unlearn … machismo! 
Traditionally, schools are places to learn… but what if we need to be re-educated about 
something we learnt incorrectly? 
The EU in Colombia launched the National School for Unlearning Sexism, a successful digital 
campaign to promote gender equality. This National School for Unlearning Sexism was part of a 
larger campaign called #IgualdadEs (Spanish for #Equality is), that has been running on EU 
social media in Colombia since January 2019. This campaign promotes thoughts and discussions 
about sex stereotypes and gender roles, and at the same time invites people to question 
themselves about how equality is – or should be experienced – in daily life. This was the major 
challenge: make people think about equality in daily life and recognise that in many situations, 
although unconsciously, very many may have sexist attitudes.  
For this campaign, the EU collaborated with Colombian celebrities, as Good Will Ambassadors 
for Gender Equality, who have promoted the campaign by posting their pictures, videos and 
thoughts on their own social media accounts.  
In November 2020, the Colombian Government launched a national strategy against machismo, 
with the intention of transforming it into a real training programme to be delivered on the ground 
in cooperation with local authorities. This offers an example of how inspiring the EU can be 
when it promotes human rights. 
Moreover, in March 2020, on the eve of Women’s Day, the EU delegation to Montenegro, in 
collaboration with the EU Info Centre in Podgorica and the Women’s Rights Centre, organised a 
series of educational workshops on women’s activism in Montenegrin high schools to raise 
awareness of key issues related to women’s rights. 
 
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The Pacific Partnership is a five-year programme (2018-2022) that supports individuals, 
communities, CSOs and governments to address inequality and prevent violence against women 
and girls through a transformational, multi-sectoral approach. It focuses on three key areas of 
work: challenging negative social norms and practices (in formal and informal education); 
enhancing awareness and practice of respectful relationships and gender equality among women, 
men, girls and boys; and increasing access to essential services for survivors of violence.  
The Pacific Partnership aims to transform the social norms that allow violence against women 
and girls to ensure survivors have access to quality response service and to support national and 
regional institutions to meet their commitments to gender equality and prevention of violence 
against women and girls. Working through partners, it seeks to promote equal rights and 
opportunities for all Pacific people through innovative approaches to education, access to 
essential services and policy development. 
Some key achievements in 2020 are the adoption of a set of best practice principles to engage 
men and boys in primary prevention and programming across the region; continued support to 
sports organisations on how to handle and facilitate the reporting of abuse among young players; 
and support to the development of the Fiji National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against 
Women and Girls (2021-2026).  
The Pacific Partnership targets Pacific Island countries and territories, amongst others, Fiji, 
Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu 
and Vanuatu. 
 
 
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Preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls is a prerequisite for the 
promotion of respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights and the achievement of gender 
equality in order to create peaceful, just and more resilient societies. Eliminating sexual and 
gender-based violence (SGBV) remains a key focus of action for the EU. Its importance has 
grown due to the unprecedented increase of sexual and gender-based violence during the COVID-
19 pandemic including domestic violence. It is a global phenomenon which remains widespread, 
under-reported, under-addressed and overlooked, including inside the EU. The EU is committed to 
using all its resources to prevent and combat sexual and gender-based violence, support and protect 
survivors of such crimes, and hold perpetrators accountable for crime and abusive behaviour. The 
EU continues to work with its partners across the globe to strengthen legal frameworks and 
institutions, support development and education, improve services for survivors and access to 
justice for victims, support women’s rights organisations, networks and CSOs, address the root 
causes of violence and promote women’s empowerment. In May 2020, the EU issued a joint 
statement by HR/VP Borrell and Commissioners Urpilainen and Lenarčič on safeguarding women’s 
rights during the pandemic. 
The EU works to strengthen the legal framework, developing comprehensive and integrated 
implementation policies, introducing practical measures, and allocating gender-responsive 
resources. The EU also actively engages in various multilateral fora, such as the Human Rights 
Council and the Commission on the Status of Women, to improve guidance and political 
commitments related to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls and to ensure that 
the human rights mechanisms of the UN mainstream gender equality and eliminating sexual and 
gender-based violence in their mandates.  
As part of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the EU supported participating UfM Members in 
mainstreaming gender in employment and labour policy. In November 2020, the 
Women4Mediterranean Conference took stock of the achievements over the past 25 years, as it 
coincided with the 25th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process. 
 
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Foundation for Human Rights unveils the first billboard sign on Masibambisane Gender-
Based Violence Free Zones at Tsolo, Tambo District in South Africa 
Tsolo village is one of the first sites to unveil a billboard sign on Masibambisane Gender-Based 
Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Free Zones programme of the Foundation for Human Rights. In 
2020, a 15-year-old woman was gang-raped by 11 men in Tsolo. In response, the Foundation for 
Human Rights formed a partnership with a youth-led women organisation ‘Indlezana Yezwe’, to 
create a GBVF Free Zone.  
The Foundation for Human Rights designed a programme in 2019 called Masibambisane to build 
the capacity of local stakeholders to deliver on their mandate around Gender-Based Violence and 
Femicide in South Africa. The programme is currently implemented in 20 sites located in rural 
and peripheral urban areas of South Africa. Some of the sites are reported as hot spots for GBVF. 
The model, supported by the EU, uses a multi-sectoral approach that is gender-sensitive and led 
by those affected by GBVF.  
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November was marked 
in various ways in Brussels, as well as in EU and Member States missions globally. For instance, in 
Pristina, the Head of Office/EU Special Representative launched the campaign for 16 Days of 
Activism against Gender-Based Violence and visited a shelter for victims of domestic and gender-
based violence financed by the EU. The EU and the Council of Europe organised a joint event on 
this occasion.  
The CoE Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence 
– the Istanbul Convention – which has been ratified by 21 EU Member States, defines a set of 
standards for preventing violence, protecting victims and ensuring accountability for perpetrators, 
towards a life free from violence for all women and girls. 
 
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The EU continued to prevent and address all forms of violence and threats facing women human 
rights defenders. In 2020, there was an increased focus on preventing and addressing violence and 
threats to all women both online and offline, including those working for gender equality and peace 
and justice, such as politicians, community leaders and women peacebuilders. 
During 2020, the EU supported more than 1.5 million women and girls by providing services for 
protection and care related to female genital mutilation (FGM). Prevention efforts are showing a 
positive impact; communities in a number of countries have publicly announced that they are 
abandoning this practice. 
EU supporting key legal reforms in Sudan such as the criminalisation of female genital 
mutilation  
In 2020, the Transitional Government of Sudan adopted several important legal reforms such as 
the criminalisation of female genital mutilation. HR/VP Borrell and Commissioner Urpilainen 
praised ‘the Government of Sudan in its entirety for taking this bold and historic step towards the 
full realisation of women's and girls’ rights’ and stated that ‘The European Union stands ready to 
support Sudan to implement this decision’. 
Sudan also approved wide-ranging amendments to its criminal law, including repealing the death 
penalty for apostasy as well as the movement restrictions on women travelling with children that 
required them to obtain consent from a male guardian.  
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sudan became operational in 
2020. It plays a key role in strengthening the capacity of the Transitional Government to advance 
with the political reform agenda, including legal reforms, transitional justice, ratification of core 
human rights treaties, as well as in supporting the work of Sudan’s civil society actors. In 
December 2020, the EU committed core funding to the OHCHR for 2021-2022. 
 
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The strategic EU-UN partnership on the Spotlight Initiative continued in 2020. The initiative 
aims at eliminating all forms of violence against women in partner countries in the broadest sense 
possible. It covers physical, psychological, sexual, economic and other types of violence and 
discrimination, harmful practices and exclusion that women suffer in the different areas of their 
private and public lives: from making decisions freely and independently about their sexual and 
reproductive life, to participating effectively in the economic and political processes in their 
countries. There has been a particular focus on domestic and family violence, sexual and gender-
based violence, harmful practices, femicide, trafficking in human beings and sexual and economic 
(labour) exploitation. The Spotlight Initiative is being implemented in five regions: Asia, Africa, 
Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific (with funding totalling over EUR 400 million)15.  
The EU deploys continuous efforts to eradicate trafficking in human beings, in cooperation with a 
wide range of partners, including the United Nations. The EU continues to uphold the standards and 
principles of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to 
Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children as the 
primary international legal instruments to address the crime and contributes to the process of review 
of the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols. 
                                                 
15 
An allocation of EUR 32 million was managed separately by the EU through a call for 
proposals dedicated to CSOs. The call targeted countries ‘in forgotten crises’. 
 
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In 2019 and 2020, the EU allocated approximately EUR 56 million in humanitarian aid to prevent 
and respond to sexual and gender-based violence. In 2020, the EU continued to implement its 
relevant humanitarian policies and tools related to gender and humanitarian aid, including its 2013 
Gender policy and the 2014 Gender-Age Marker. In June 2020, the EU published its second 
assessment report on its Gender-Age Marker, which revealed that for projects starting in 2016 and 
2017, 89% of all EU humanitarian aid integrated gender and age considerations ‘strongly’ or ‘to a 
certain extent’. Throughout the year, the EU also continued to be an active member of the global 
initiative entitled ‘Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies’ and 
participated in its annual meeting in June 2020. The new Call to Action Roadmap 2021-2025 was 
officially launched at the UNGA in September 2020, at an event hosted by Canada, the global lead 
of the initiative from 2019 to 2020, and attended by Commissioner Lenarčič. The EU subsequently 
sent its commitments to the Call to Action Roadmap 2021-2025 to Denmark, the global lead of the 
initiative from 2021 to 2022.  
Ending discrimination and violence against women is the focus of a regional programme in the 
Western Balkans and Turkey, as well as regional and bilateral programmes in the Eastern and 
Southern Neighbourhood. For example: 
• 
the programme ‘Ending Violence against Women in the Western Balkans and Turkey: 
Implementing Norms, Changing Minds’, implemented by UN Women, aims at reducing 
discrimination and violence against women and girls and supporting alignment with 
international legal frameworks; 
• 
the programme in the Eastern region, ‘EU4Gender Equality: Together against Gender 
Stereotypes and Gender-Based Violence’, implemented jointly by UN Women and the 
UN Population Fund, aims at combating violence against women and domestic violence 
through awareness raising and sharing knowledge and good practices on how to conduct 
evidence-based violence prevention programmes targeting perpetrators of domestic 
violence; and 
 
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• 
the regional campaign on ‘Zero Tolerance to Violence against Women in the Southern 
region’, launched by the Euromed Feminist Initiative in the Middle East and North 
Africa (MENA) region, which has set up a regional observatory on gender-based 
violence.  
The EU remains fully committed to the respect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and to 
the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of 
Action on the International Conference on Population and Development and the outcomes of their 
review conferences, and to sexual and reproductive health and rights in this context. In 2020, the 
EU reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right of every 
individual to have full control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their 
sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, free from discrimination, coercion and violence.  
Universal access to quality and affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health 
information and education and services, including comprehensive sexuality education and 
healthcare services, remained a focus of the EU’s external action and development cooperation. In 
October 2020, the EU launched a call for proposals totalling EUR 30.5 million for countries with 
universal coverage of sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescents in Africa, especially 
adolescent girls and other adolescents in vulnerable situations. The objective is to improve demand 
for and access to comprehensive, integrated, affordable, quality, discrimination-free, age-
appropriate sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services in African countries.  
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected family planning globally. In April 2020, it was 
estimated that 47 million women in low and middle-income countries could lose access to 
contraception if the lockdown lasted 6 months, leading to an additional 7 million unplanned 
pregnancies.16 In the countries participating in the UN Population Fund Supplies programme, 
domestic resources were diverted to the COVID-19 pandemic response, leaving a gap in family 
planning and reproductive health services in 26 countries.  
                                                 
16 
UN Population Fund, Avenir Health, Johns Hopkins University, Victoria University. 
 
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Through the UN Population Fund, the European Commission contributed to further strengthening 
the capacity of national health systems to manage supplies and to provide family planning, maternal 
health and HIV-prevention services in 46 countries with high maternal death rates, low rates of 
contraceptive use and a growing unmet need for family planning. The supply of medicines for 
maternal health and contraceptives had the potential to avert an estimated 8 million unintended 
pregnancies, 152 000 child deaths, 24 000 maternal deaths and 2.3 million unsafe abortions. 
Emergency reproductive health kits were deployed in communities affected by humanitarian crises in 
18 countries, reaching 2.84 million women and adolescent girls already facing perilous conditions.  
On 27 April, the African Regional programme was signed in Addis Ababa with an overall envelope 
of EUR 30 million. It consists of two different streams:  
• 
Stream 1 will support the overall regional response to addressing SGBV, harmful 
traditional practices, and SRHR (focusing on support for the AU Commission towards 
its member states and other stakeholders);  
• 
Stream 2 will support the regional response to prevention of harmful practices focusing 
on female genital mutilation and child marriage; this programme is the continuation of 
the two joint programmes with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN 
Population Fund. 
 
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The EU continues to stand up for the rights of LGBTI persons and LGBTI rights defenders 
around the world and is committed to protecting them and enabling them to enjoy all human rights. 
The EU conducts political dialogues with partner countries to address discrimination against 
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) persons and 
decriminalise same-gender relations and transgender expression. The EU will lead by example, 
showing solidarity and building resilience in protecting and advancing the human rights of lesbian, 
gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, intersex and queer persons around the world. The LGBTIQ 
Equality Strategy17 adopted by the Commission in November 2020 has a prominent chapter on the 
EU’s external action. It refers to EU activities, the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and 
Democracy, and cross-references the EU Gender Action Plan III. The EU has also supported UN 
work in this regard. 
In 2020, EU delegations supported initiatives to promote the rights of LGBTI persons. Delegations 
also marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May by 
raising the rainbow flag and conducting communication campaigns. In March, the EU delegation to 
Montenegro and the Council of Europe, in partnership with the Parliamentary Committee on 
Human Rights and Freedoms, held a consultative session at the Parliament of Montenegro to 
support the discussion and adoption of the Draft Law on Civil Partnerships. The Law was 
eventually adopted in July 2020. The country is the 32nd UN member to recognise civil partnership 
for same-sex couples. 
The EU delegation to Argentina organised a virtual discussion to mark the International Day 
Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia with government officials, health experts, civil 
society leaders and representatives of EU Member States’ embassies and other countries to discuss 
the rights of LGBTI persons in Argentina, with a special focus on the transgender community. The 
EU delegation also used social media to share messages supporting the rights of the LGBTI 
community.  
                                                 
17 
LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-25 https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-
fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/lesbian-gay-bi-trans-and-intersex-
equality/lgbtiq-equality-strategy-2020-2025_en 

 
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In Nigeria, the EU delegation hosted a videoconference discussion with interlocutors from the 
LGBTI community in the country. The representatives presented the impact of COVID-19 on the 
LGBTI community and project activities. As part of the EU-funded regional programme 
‘Out&Proud: LGBTI Equality and Rights in Southern Africa’, implemented in Zimbabwe, Eswatini 
and Malawi, a conference on the rights of LGBTI persons in the Southern Africa Development 
Community was held in December. It focused on decriminalisation, including country meetings 
involving all 11 Southern Africa Development Community countries, as well as a panel discussion 
on donors’ funding priorities. 
Activities on the rights of LGBTI persons were also carried out by some EU delegations on other 
occasions throughout the year. The EU participated in the Taiwan Pride Week in October 2020. The 
EU Office coordinated the participation of EU Member States and like-minded countries in the 
Taiwan Pride parade, which was attended by over 100 000 people. In the same month, the EU 
Office to Taiwan took part in a panel discussion on LGBTI policies and diplomacy organised by 
Workplace Pride, discussing how the EU and Member States’ diplomatic services are promoting 
LGBTI inclusion in the workplace and through public diplomacy. The week of celebration was a 
highlight in the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic: Taiwan was one of the few places 
where the parade did not take place in a virtual format in 2020.  
 
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Advocates in Timor-Leste bring persons in vulnerable situations to the frontlines of the 
COVID-19 response.  
Despite progress made on the rights of LGBTI persons in Timor-Leste, discrimination is still 
extremely high against LGBTI persons in family, societal and institutional settings. To address 
this situation, CSOs and human rights activists persistently advocate to ensure that this 
marginalised group is not left behind.  
Human rights activist Laura Afonso de Jesus is a frontline advocate for the rights of LGBTI 
persons. She is the Executive Director for CODIVA (the LGBTI umbrella network in Timor-
Leste) and an active member of EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Civil Society National Reference 
Group. She has mobilised community activism through her lead role in the Buimau advocacy 
movement in Timor-Leste and serves as aldeia (hamlet) chief, a role that only a few women 
across the country have.  
In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the LGBTI community is much more vulnerable 
psychologically and financially. “The pandemic has brought on financial issues and affected the 
ability of LGBTI persons to afford their basic needs, especially for those who live alone and are 
dependent on others. Those who are isolated and live with their family at home may face 
increased violence if their identity is not fully accepted. They might be forced to behave in a way 
that their family expects them to, and if they are against this, it may cause tension and violence.” 
Responding to the increased risk of domestic violence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 
EU-UN Spotlight Initiative with the Civil Society National Reference Group developed messages 
to acknowledge the violence being faced by the LGBTI community and to promote inclusive 
responses that will not leave behind LGBTI persons who face abuse by their family and 
community members. The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is 
providing additional opportunities to strengthen social norms that promote equality and leaving 
stigma behind. 
  
 
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Rights of the child  
In external action, the EU continued to implement the Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection 
of the Rights of the Child18, which underline, inter alia, the importance of developing quality 
alternative care for children and providing them with appropriate support to participate in 
community life and to access mainstream services. In addition, EU delegations identified ways to 
strengthen child protection systems in countries of operation.  
The EU remains committed to addressing social norms and harmful practices. The Commission’s 
new GAP III adopted in November and welcomed through presidency conclusions by 24 Member 
States addresses girls’ rights, particularly by calling for the elimination of harmful practices such 
as female genital mutilation, child, early and forced marriage, and gender-biased sex 
selection. In April, the Spotlight Africa Regional Programme was signed in Addis Ababa with an 
overall budget of EUR 30 million. One of the two streams consists in supporting the regional 
response to prevent harmful practices, focusing specifically on female genital mutilation and child 
marriage. This component constitutes the continuation of the two joint programmes with UNICEF 
and the UN Population Fund which were implemented to eliminate female genital mutilation and 
child marriages. In August, the Commission adopted a decision to support the continuation of the 
Global Programme to Prevent Son Preference and Gender-biased Sex Selection: Improving the sex 
ratio at birth in the Caucasus (EUR 2 million). The action will strengthen efforts for evidence-based 
national policies and programmes to address son preference and gender inequalities resulting in 
gender-biased sex selection in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Under the operating grant (2017-
2020) of the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme, the EU funded activities to end female 
genital mutilation. These aim to strengthen engagement and capacity of policy and decision-makers, 
professionals and other stakeholders to tackle female genital mutilation, to support the 
implementation of international commitments, and to sustain the EU’s role as a key actor in the 
global movement against female genital mutilation in the context of the 2030 Agenda. The EU 
developed a EUR 13 million programme for ‘Quality alternative care for children and 
‘deinstitutionalisation” which implements five projects in Armenia, Burundi, Cambodia, Georgia 
and Myanmar.  
                                                 
18 
https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/eu_guidelines_rights_of_child_2017.pdf 
 
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In 2020, the EU worked with UNICEF in Egypt to implement the EUR 30 million ‘Expanding 
Access to Education and Protection for Children at Risk’ programme, which aims to improve access 
to community schools for children in vulnerable situations and to primary schools for children with 
disabilities, as well as to strengthen the child protection mechanism in general. 
In the Republic of Albania, the EU funded the project ‘Strengthening civil society to prevent and 
protect children from abuse and violence’. Implemented in 7 municipalities, the project supported 
15 CSOs through a sub-granting scheme to implement projects related to child protection. The close 
collaboration between beneficiary organisations and child protection units at local level 
strengthened local child protection mechanisms, contributing to the monitoring process of the 
recently approved Law on the Rights and Protection of the Child.  
Together with UNICEF, the EU launched a joint programme targeting children on the move entitled 
‘EU global promotion of best practices for children in migration’, which aims at strengthening child 
protection systems in order to provide alternative care options, emphasising community and family-
based alternatives in Mexico, El Salvador, South Africa and Zambia. The action will also document 
and share lessons learned and best practices with a view to using these alternative care options to 
replace immigration detention, based on empirical evidence and data.  
The EU strived to mitigate the harmful impact of COVID-19 on children. In August, the EU signed 
a EUR 10 million project to address the child protection issues arising from and exacerbated by 
COVID-19 in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Senegal and Uganda through a programme of the Joining 
Forces Initiative, a coalition of NGOs. The actions seek to address the immediate protection needs 
of children by strengthening local protection and response systems; improving the protection of 
children living in resilient families, communities and institutions; increasing the capacity of 
children to prevent and respond to violence against them; and increasing the learning and sharing of 
knowledge related to child protection approaches during the COVID-19 crisis and recovery phase.  
 
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In 2020, the Commission allocated approximately EUR 93 million to activities on child protection 
in humanitarian settings. In addition to general protection activities such as advocacy, capacity 
building and information sharing, activities included support for child-friendly spaces, psychosocial 
support, the prevention of and response to violence, support for unaccompanied and separated 
children or to children associated with armed forces and groups.  
The quest of a child left behind in Kyrgyzstan 
Aibek is only 15 but has already overcome many challenges in his life. He is one of the 120 000 
children left behind by migrating parents. A life without parental care had a huge impact on him: he 
distanced himself from other people, felt anxious, frustrated and frightened. The COVID-19 crisis 
put Aibek at further risk. The Centre for the Development and Protection of Vulnerable 
Populations, supported by UNICEF as part of the EU project ‘Protecting children affected by 
migration’ stepped in to help Aibek to secure his rights. His status as a child without parental care 
was identified in communication and cooperation with the Family and Child Support Department 
and adequate remedies were set in place. In the words of a psychologist working for the project: 
“When I started working with Aibek, he felt alone, uncertain and bewildered. It took me several 
calls for him to open up and start talking about his fears and the support he needs. My efforts paid 
off and Aibek started to trust me and we have recently met in person. Through our support, Aibek 
became more confident in himself and learned to start trusting people.”  
The psychologists were trained to listen, offer support and counselling to children and adolescents 
like Aibek, help them overcome COVID-19 related difficulties and better integrate into their 
communities. The guardians and temporary caregivers received guidance on how to engage with 
children without parental care, recognise possible signs of depression or anxiety, properly respond 
to such cases and build the right communication channels. The project referred Aibek’s case to the 
District Department of Social Development to provide him with the help he needed beyond the 
pandemic, including the registration of official guardianship and access to all services. Thanks to 
the support of the EU, UNICEF extended its much-needed support to more than 1 200 children to 
make sure that each of them will have an accountable and responsible adult person ready to stand 
up for them and protect their best interests.  
 
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Migration and mobility – migrants, refugees and asylum seekers 
Protecting and upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms remained at the core of EU 
asylum and migration policies in 2020. The EU continued to advocate for a human rights-based 
approach that focuses on persons in vulnerable situations in line with the Council conclusions 
on Team Europe Global Response to COVID-19.19 The EU promotes compliance with the EU 
Charter of Fundamental Rights, international human rights obligations under international law and 
existing policy and legislative frameworks, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
In close collaboration with its Member States, partner countries, international organisations, civil 
society and local communities, the EU continued its work to protect the rights of refugees and 
internally displaced persons both within and beyond its borders. The EU particularly addressed 
human rights challenges associated with migrant smuggling, human rights violations related to 
trafficking in human beings, and the root causes that force persons to leave their homes in the first 
place. In particular, a regional programme titled ‘Dismantling Human Trafficking and Migrant 
Smuggling Criminal Networks in North Africa’ implemented by the United Nations Office on 
Drugs and Crime (UNODC) includes important components on identifying victims of trafficking 
and on training judges in protecting victims’ rights in adjudicating cases of trafficking in human 
beings. 
A key element of EU migration policy remained the building of strong partnerships with countries 
of origin, transit and destination as well as working towards a comprehensive and balanced 
framework for engagement with partners. Based on this comprehensive approach, on 23 September 
2020 the Commission put forward a proposal for a New Pact on Migration and Asylum, as a 
‘fresh start’ for the EU.  
                                                 
19  
Council conclusions on Team Europe Global Response to COVID-19, 8 June 2020: 
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/44347/team-europe-ccs-200608.pdf  
 
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The proposed pact addresses both the internal and external dimensions of EU migration policy. 
Externally, the pact proposes to consolidate and strengthen cooperation with non-EU countries, 
based on tailor-made partnerships with countries of origin and transit, to engage at regional and 
multilateral levels, as well as to work closely with international organisations and civil society. The 
pact emphasises that safeguarding fundamental rights is an imperative that calls for an effective 
migration policy. This implies the need to combat discrimination and labour exploitation. 
The pact acknowledges that the risks of trafficking along migration routes are high, notably the risk 
for women and girls to become victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation or other forms of 
gender-based violence. Children in migration, in particular unaccompanied migrant children, are 
also at higher risk of trafficking and exploitation along migration routes towards and within the 
EU20. Trafficking networks abuse asylum procedures, and use reception centres to identify potential 
victims. In this respect, the new Pact on Migration and Asylum highlights the need to focus on the 
early identification of potential non-EU victims. 
The EU’s continued commitment to providing international protection is deeply rooted in 
international law and European values. Since 2015, more than 70 000 people in need of 
international protection have been resettled in the EU under EU-sponsored voluntary resettlement 
schemes. In response to the Commission’s call, EU Member States pledged almost 30 000 
resettlement places for 2020. Given the disruptions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 
Commission extended the implementation period of the pledge from 2020 to 2021. 
During 2020, the EU assisted countries hosting large numbers of refugees and displaced persons by 
promoting protection and access to basic services and improving access to the jobs market. The 
2016 EU-Turkey Statement reflected a deeper engagement and dialogue with Turkey, including 
supporting its efforts to host around 4 million refugees. The Facility for Refugees in Turkey (EUR 6 
billion) continued to respond to the essential needs of millions of refugees. In July 2020, the EU 
agreed to extend the Facility, with EUR 485 million dedicated to continuing to provide 
humanitarian support in 2021, helping to meet the basic needs of over 1.7 million refugees and 
enabling over 600 000 children to attend school.  
                                                 
20  
European Commission, Third (2020) Report on the progress made in the fight against 
trafficking in human beings, COM(2020) 661 final, and SWD/2020/226 final.  
 
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Since its establishment in 2014, the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis (the 
‘Madad’ Fund) has reached EUR 2.2 billion. It covers programmes on education, livelihoods, 
health, socioeconomic support, water and waste infrastructure – benefiting both refugees and their 
host communities. More than EUR 2 billion of this fund was allocated to more than 90 projects to 
the Trust Fund’s implementing partners on the ground, now reaching more than 7 million 
beneficiaries. 
The EU has continued to support migrants, forcibly displaced persons and host communities in Asia 
and the Middle East. In August 2020, the EU became a member of the Core Group of the Support 
Platform for the Solution Strategy for Afghan Refugees, launched by Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan 
and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The EU will chair this platform in 
2021. The platform aims to mobilise resources and political support for durable solutions to the 
Afghan displacement crisis. Since 2017, the EU has mobilised over EUR 600 million for 
humanitarian and development aid specifically aimed at addressing fundamental needs and finding 
durable solutions to the 40-year-long Afghan displacement crisis in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. 
EU support includes child protection, the sustainable reintegration of internally displaced persons 
and returnees, equal access to basic services, opportunities for individuals, and community 
empowerment.  
Under the protection component of the Regional Development and Protection programme for North 
Africa and the Horn of Africa, over 50 projects have been approved since 2016 as part of the 
Asylum and Migration Fund (EUR 94.5 million). Main activities include registration, refugee status 
determination, identification of durable solutions and direct assistance to asylum seekers and 
refugees, protection for children on the move, as well as capacity building initiatives in support of 
national governments, NGOs and civil society organisations. It focuses particularly on human rights 
standards, international protection and services for vulnerable migrants and refugees. 
 
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The project ‘Inclusive Cities, Communities of Solidarity’ started on 6 September 2019 in the cities 
of Barranquilla and Cúcuta/ Villa del Rosario in Colombia, Lima in Peru, Quito in Ecuador and 
Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, which served as pilot territories. The project’s 
implementation was entrusted to UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and 
UN Habitat, in alliance with the EU. Among its activities were implementing migrant information 
centres, actions against xenophobia and strengthening social organisations. 
Struggle during COVID-19: Farhad Ahmad’s story 
Farhad Ahmad (28) had been living in Iran as a refugee for 19 years. In February 2020, when Iran 
went into lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Farhad lost his job and was forced to 
return to Afghanistan with his family. After registering at the Islam Qala border, he was referred 
to the IOM’s protection programme, and received financial assistance to buy food and medication 
to satisfy the family’s immediate needs. He was also informed about the International 
Organization for Migration’s EU-funded Reintegration Assistance and Development in 
Afghanistan project. The project’s field staff in Mazar Sharief introduced him to the Bashir 
Ahmad Sidiqi Shoe Production Company. Farhad, who had only worked as a labourer in Iran, 
learned the art of shoemaking here: ‘I am happy with the employment opportunity, especially the 
skills I am learning through the job’. Now Farhad hopes to start his own business.  
The Reintegration Assistance and Development in Afghanistan project is being implemented in 
eight Afghanistan provinces of high return (Baghlan, Balkh, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar, Kunar, 
Laghman and Nangarhar). It takes into account the economic, social and psychosocial aspects of 
reintegration at both individual and community levels.  
The Rohingya crisis is another case where human rights considerations played an important role in 
the decision to prioritise EU intervention for forcibly displaced persons. The EU also provided 
human rights-sensitive technical assistance to governments of partner countries throughout the 
region on topics such as migration policies and the prevention of and fight against trafficking in 
human beings and the smuggling of migrants. The EU also supported regional coordination efforts. 
For example, the EU participated in the interregional dialogue on migration, known as the 
‘Budapest Process’.  
 
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In March 2020, the Commission’s Communication ‘Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with 
Africa’ highlighted the significance of partnering with Africa to ensure a balanced, coherent and 
comprehensive approach to migration and mobility. It recommended that the EU and Africa build 
on the implementation of actions under the five strands of the Joint Valletta Action Plan (2015), 
cooperate within the Khartoum and Rabat processes, and expand cooperation with the AU on 
migration. Africa and the EU need a balanced, coherent and comprehensive approach to migration 
and mobility, guided by the principles of solidarity, partnership and shared responsibility in 
accordance with EU and national competences and based on the respect for human rights and 
international law.  
The EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, amounting to over EUR 5 billion, allowed the EU and 
African partners to work together faster and with more flexibility in the Sahel and Lake Chad, the 
Horn of Africa and in the North African regions, where the human rights of migrants and forcibly 
displaced people are particularly challenged. By the end of 2020, 256 actions consisting of 689 
individual projects had been implemented under the Fund. 
EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration 
Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, the 
EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration is the first comprehensive 
programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa. 
Since taking up its activities in April 2017, the EU-IOM Joint Initiative has assisted more 
than 86 600 migrants, rescued over 26 400 migrants stranded in the Sahara desert and 
provided reintegration assistance to over 100 400 migrants who have decided to return to 
their countries of origin, helping them to reintegrate in a safe and dignified way. Co-funded by 
the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, in its first phase the Better Migration Management 
programme in the Horn of Africa supported over 18 200 trafficked victims and migrants in 
vulnerable situations, providing them with protection services such as accommodation, basic 
services, and counselling. 
 
 
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The EU continued to advocate and work for the support of migrants and refugees stranded in Libya, 
including in the context of the trilateral African Union-European Union-United Nations Task Force. 
Thanks to the work of the Task Force and the support of the EU Trust Fund for Africa, around 53 
000 voluntary humanitarian returns have taken place and over 5 800 people in need of international 
protection have been evacuated since 2017, including through the Emergency Transit Mechanisms 
in Niger and Rwanda. Assistance continued to be provided at disembarkation points and in 
detention centres if access was possible, host communities were supported and alternatives to 
detention were promoted.  
Safe and Fair: Realizing women migrant workers’ rights and opportunities in the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region 
In Asia, the project ‘Safe and Fair: Realizing women migrant workers’ rights and opportunities 
in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region’, part of the EU-UN Spotlight 
Initiative21 to eliminate violence against women and girls, has been advocating strongly since 
2017 for a human rights-based and gender-sensitive approach to labour migration in the 
ASEAN region. This EUR 25 million project is implemented through a partnership between the 
International Labour Organization and UN Women and aims to ensure that labour migration is 
safe and fair for all women in the ASEAN region. Key results for 2020 included capacity 
building for 3 200 stakeholders in women migrant workers’ rights and the provision of 
psychological, legal, health and social services to 30 350 women migrant workers throughout 
the region. 
 
                                                 
21 
Spotlight Initiative: https://spotlightinitiative.org/ 
 
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The EU has been at the forefront of the response to the Venezuelan migration crisis. Since 2018, the 
EU has mobilised over EUR 319 million for humanitarian, peace and development actions 
addressing the regional impacts of the Venezuelan crisis. On 26 May 2020, the virtual International 
Donors Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in the Countries of the 
Region raised more than EUR 2.53 billion, including EUR 144.2 million in grants from EU funds 
and EUR 400 million in loans from the European Investment Bank. The funds are directed towards 
food security, livelihoods, health, water and sanitation, and the socioeconomic integration of 
Venezuelan refugees and migrants (including combating xenophobia). In Venezuela, part of the 
funds will be used to protect human rights and human rights defenders.  
The 2014-2020 EU framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon 2020, has also 
devoted significant resources through a multiannual call which aims to produce evidence-based 
recommendations for the global and European migration policy of non-EU nationals as well as 
innovative (including information and communication technological) solutions for the successful 
integration of migrants into European host societies while fully respecting EU and national 
competences. The ongoing projects will also foster improved responses for the international 
protection of refugees, addressing forced displacement, and the promotion of more fact-based and 
accurate discourses and adapted strategies to address concerns in host communities. More than EUR 
100 million was allocated to 34 projects mobilising over 400 participants22
The EU aims to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migration as part of its internal 
and external responses to the pandemic. In this context, the EU remains committed to international 
cooperation and multilateral solutions, and supports the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to 
coordinate the UN-wide response. As part of the EU’s global response, amounting to EUR 40.5 
billion and implemented through the Team Europe approach, the EU focuses its efforts on already 
vulnerable populations. 
                                                 
22 
All relevant details are available in CORDIS.  
 
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1.2  EMPOWERING PEOPLE  
Empowering women 
It is important to ensure that all women have access to appropriate and adequate social protection on 
an equal basis with men, including those in non-standard employment and self-employment, for 
example by promoting the establishment of rights (such as pension rights) over the course of their 
lives. The EU continued to underline that in order to facilitate women’s access to the labour market, 
discriminatory legislation, negative social norms, and gender stereotypes (e.g. in the choice of 
education, occupation and sector) must be abolished, along with economic and sociocultural 
disincentives for women to work, such as the culturally anchored distribution of care and domestic 
work between men and women. Moreover, the concept of a work-life balance must be promoted. 
Together with international partners, the EU has also promoted the effective implementation of the 
ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) in line with the principle of equal 
remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value. 
For example, the EU awarded grants to women’s CSOs in the Republic of Serbia for empowering 
women in the labour market, supporting rural women, and promoting women’s entrepreneurship. 
Empowering children and youth 
The EU is committed to ensuring that children and young people meaningfully participate in 
decision-making processes on issues that directly affect them. In 2020, the EU involved children in 
the consultation process to prepare the strategy on the rights of the child, due to be adopted in 
spring 2021. More than 10 000 children aged 11-18 replied to a dedicated online questionnaire. The 
2020 European Forum on the rights of the child, that took place between 29 September and 1 
October, contributed to this process. Children from 18 countries around the world contributed and 
participated in the Forum as moderators, speakers and rapporteurs. Recommendations formulated 
during the Forum will be taken into account when drafting the strategy.  
 
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In 2020, the Erasmus+ programme played a significant role in supporting capacity building, 
empowerment projects and learning mobility opportunities for young people worldwide, as well as 
virtual exchanges between youth in Europe and, for instance, in the Southern Mediterranean.  
The EU and UNICEF implemented the U-Report online tool a social messaging tool and data 
collection system to improve public engagement, inform leaders and encourage positive change. 
Currently, the programme benefits 3 million participants in 41 countries, including in a number of 
Spotlight countries.  
Children and young people were also involved in designing policies related to their safety and well-
being online. On Safer Internet Day 2020, a group of youth ambassadors prepared a ‘Youth Pledge 
for a Better Internet’.23 This aimed to make online platforms and services more age-appropriate and 
inclusive for children and young people. A range of consultation processes took place during the 
year with the active participation of young people and resulted in the implementation of six 
industry-led projects under the ‘Alliance to better protect minors online’24. Intermediary results 
were presented at the Safer Internet Forum 202025, in which children with disabilities actively 
participated, sharing their experiences and recommendations on how to create an inclusive digital 
environment for children and young people. Final results of the projects were presented on Safer 
Internet Day 2021. 
                                                 
23 
Youth Pledge for a Better Internet: https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/policy/youth-
pledge-for-a-better-internet. 
 
24 
The ‘Alliance to better protect minors online’ is a self-regulatory initiative designed to 
improve the online environment for children and young people: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-
single-market/en/alliance-better-protect-minors-online. 
25 
Safer Internet Forum: 
https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/en/practice/articles/article?id=6759566  
 
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The EU has been promoting digital literacy to empower children to find reliable information online. 
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU-funded network of safer internet centres ran an 
awareness-raising campaign26 through the EU-funded betterinternetforkids.eu platform and 
continued to provide helplines to support young internet users facing online risks and hotline 
services for reporting material involving child sexual abuse. The EU-funded project ‘Bridging the 
digital divide in Serbia for the most vulnerable children’ (EUR 2 million) aims to support the 
education system in urgently adapting to facilitate distance learning, required due to COVID-19. It 
includes the development of a distance-learning platform and the legal framework to regulate an 
inclusive distance learning system and establish a monitoring and quality assurance system. It 
focuses on Roma children and other children in vulnerable situations.  
Since the COVID-19 crisis has brought unprecedented challenges for education, exacerbated 
inequalities and increased the risk of school dropouts and violence, the EU has continued its key 
commitment to providing education in emergencies and protracted crises. The EU focused its 
efforts on keeping children in learning in a protected environment, providing flexible and 
innovative distance learning opportunities and advocating for integrated and coordinated support for 
education. In 2020, the EU maintained its target of dedicating 10% of its humanitarian budget to 
education in emergencies, which translated into an investment of over EUR 109 million. 
                                                 
26  
https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/en-GB/practice/articles/article?id=5882569  
 
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Rights of persons with disabilities  
The Commission continued to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with 
Disabilities (CRPD) through the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020. A key achievement in 
2020 was the adoption of the first European standard for ‘accessibility to the built environment’. 
The strategy was effective in raising disability issues at EU policy level. During 2020, extensive 
consultations took place with civil society, experts on the rights of persons with disabilities, 
Member States authorities and other stakeholders to prepare a new strategy after 2020. Under the 
Web Accessibility Directive27, from 23 September 2020 onwards, all public sector websites in the 
EU Member States should be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust, an important 
milestone in digital accessibility. 
The 13th session of the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons 
with Disabilities (CRPD) was held between 30 November and 3 December 2020. Chaired by 
Ecuador, it featured a mix of in-person meetings (high-level opening and elections to the CRPD 
Committee) and virtual events with participation from all corners of the world. The three virtual 
roundtable discussions and an interactive dialogue provided a platform for civil society, UN 
agencies and UN Member States to engage constructively on key disability issues, with the impact 
of COVID-19 as an underlying theme.  
                                                 
27 
Directive (EU) 2016/2102 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of 
public sector bodies  
 
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The EU submitted a written statement, as there was no general debate due to COVID-19, and 
intervened during the roundtables. The roundtables dealt with the following topics: i) disability and 
business: ensure persons with disabilities can exercise their right to work in open, inclusive and 
accessible environments; ii) addressing the rights and needs of older persons with disabilities: 
ageing and demographic trends; and iii) promoting inclusive environments to fully implement the 
CRPD. In its interventions, the EU focused on the increased risk of poverty for persons with 
disabilities, and the need to guarantee the right to live independently, including for older persons. 
The age gap in technology use was emphasised, especially in assistive technologies, and 
information and communication technologies, and it was noted that older persons have been left 
behind in that regard in the COVID-19 pandemic.28 
The EU sponsored and participated in the following side events in partnership with the organisers: 
i) data driven advocacy for policy change; ii) using arts and culture to promote the inclusion of 
persons with disabilities; and iii) taking into account the rights of persons with disabilities in the 
COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan.  
A webinar on persons with disabilities and COVID-19 was organised in April 2020, which focused 
on how to ensure their inclusion and participation during and after COVID-19. Several webinars on 
different topics, such as women with disabilities, inclusive communication, and procurement, were 
also organised by the EU-funded ‘Bridging the Gap’ project. An online side event during the 
Conference of State Parties to the CRPD was organised to exchange best practices between the 
countries participating in the project. Furthermore, the EU supported the Office of the High 
Commissioner for Human Rights in finalising the development of indicators to help implement the 
SDGs in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. An online event was 
held in December 2020 to launch the SDG-CRPD resource package.  
                                                 
28 
Conference of State Parties documents / EU statements can be found at:  
https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-
convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/cosp13.html 
 
https://journal.un.org/en/meeting/officials/7021bb42-9d12-eb11-9117-0050569e8b67/2020-
12-01 
 
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/89715/european-union-
statement-%E2%80%93-united-nations-conference-states-parties-convention-disabilities_en 

 
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The EU continued to promote the use of the cross-cutting policy marker of the Organisation for 
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which tracks development aid for activities that 
promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities. The EU delegations continued 
to be very active in promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, such as 
improving their access to justice. In Montenegro, a roundtable on ‘Access to justice for persons 
with disabilities and equal recognition before the law’ was organised in March 2020 by the 
Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro, in which the EU delegation and the Ministry 
of Public Administration participated. 
Human rights of older persons 
Population ageing constitutes one of the most significant demographic transformations of the 21st 
century. The EU is fully committed to the human rights of older persons worldwide. The year 2020 
marked the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons. Considering the higher risks 
faced by older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic, policy and programmatic interventions 
should take full account of their special needs.  
On 9 October 2020, the EU adopted Council conclusions on ‘Human rights, participation and 
well-being of older persons in the era of digitalisation’.29 Specific threats such as those against 
the right to privacy were underlined and the importance of digital literacy was highlighted. Notably, 
all human rights and fundamental freedoms must be guaranteed without exception to older persons, 
including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which access to affordable, good 
quality healthcare is paramount. 
                                                 
29 
Council conclusions on Human Rights, Participation and Well-Being of Older Persons in the 
Era of Digitalisation, 9 October 2020. https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-
11717-2020-REV-2/en/pdf 
 
 
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The situation for older persons is high on the EU’s agenda, and its support for the UN’s Madrid 
International Plan for Action on Ageing continued in 2020. This is a resource to help policymakers, 
NGOs, and CSOs to change the ways in which communities perceive, interact with and care for all 
older persons. The UN’s Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030) is an opportunity to bring together 
governments, civil society, international organisations, professionals, academia, the media, and the 
private sector for 10 years of concerted and collaborative action to improve the lives of older people 
and the communities in which they live. The UN’s 2020 observance – the international day of older 
persons on 1 October – allowed governments, UN experts, civil society and health professionals to 
discuss the five strategic objectives of the WHO’s global strategy and action plan on ageing and 
health and take stock of the progress made and challenges in implementing them.  
The 11th session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, planned for 6-9 April 2020 in 
New York, was postponed due to COVID-19. The EU actively participated in developing a set of 
recommendations identifying possible gaps in the international instruments safeguarding the human 
rights of older persons and helped to have them applied more effectively. The EU was also active in 
the UNGA Third Committee, the HRC, and the Commission on Social Development. These fora 
offered important opportunities to discuss measures and actions devised to improve the situation of 
older persons.  
The EU continued to cooperate with the UN human rights special procedure mandate holders and 
treaty bodies, ensuring that due attention is given to the rights of older persons within their 
mandates. Moreover, the Universal Periodic Review process was in some cases used to highlight 
the human rights challenges faced by older persons. The EU remains committed to addressing the 
recommendations and exchanging best practices for the promotion in multilateral fora and bilateral 
dialogues of the human rights of older persons. 
 
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Rights of indigenous peoples  
The EU policies on support for indigenous peoples date back many decades. Through its policies 
and financing instruments, the EU is committed to the international advancement and recognition of 
the rights of indigenous peoples, as confirmed by the EU’s support for the UN Declaration on the 
Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In 2020, the EU supported the implementation of the 
UNDRIP at country level, through its programming activities, but also through its political and 
human rights dialogues. The EU has been advocating for the realisation of indigenous peoples’ 
rights and for indigenous peoples to fully and meaningfully participate in implementing and 
reviewing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Securing full participation and free, prior 
and informed consent (FPIC) in a meaningful way is a core principle of EU policy. 
In February 2020, the EU hosted a roundtable with indigenous peoples’ representatives and 
experts from the seven indigenous socio-cultural regions of the world.30 The roundtable’s 
objective was to identify the most prevalent as well as emerging threats to the enjoyment of human 
rights by indigenous peoples, in line with recommendations of the UN Permanent Forum. It was an 
opportunity to gather perspectives on advancing indigenous peoples’ rights through EU policy and 
action. The roundtable gave further recommendations on how EU policy can best protect the rights 
and interests of indigenous peoples, including FPIC, whether in development cooperation, climate 
action and biodiversity protection, trade agreements, or political and policy dialogue at national and 
international levels. The outcome of the roundtable refers to the state of play of EU support for 
indigenous peoples and contains recommendations on how to improve dialogue and consultation 
with indigenous peoples and make EU actions more coherent and consistent.  
                                                 
30 
The seven socio-cultural regions are Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the 
Caribbean, The Arctic, Central and Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and 
Transcaucasia, North America and The Pacific. 
 
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In 2020, the EU extended its contribution (EUR 1 million) to the flagship project, the Indigenous 
Navigator, an open-source, community-based data collection system and mapping tool led by 
indigenous peoples for indigenous peoples. This grant was used for worldwide action in support of 
international advocacy and the building of alliances with strategic partners within the human rights 
fora. The Indigenous Navigator builds on international human rights instruments, including the 
UNDRIP. It provides timely global reports on the situation of indigenous peoples, including on the 
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the status of indigenous women.  
For the EU, it is very important to reverse the deterioration in human rights experienced by 
indigenous peoples caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 13th meeting of the Expert 
Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples held between 30 November and 4 December 2020, 
the EU welcomed the focus on COVID-19’s impact on indigenous peoples’ rights, and raised 
concerns about the deteriorating situation for many indigenous peoples. Through the EIDHR human 
rights crisis facility, the EU mobilised special funds to address COVID-19’s effect on indigenous 
peoples, in particular, in Latin America, to i) address the lack of high quality, trustworthy and 
culturally relevant information on the pandemic (EUR 1 million), and ii) help protect indigenous 
human rights defenders against the new threats that emerged following the pandemic, such as land 
grabbing and the seizure of natural resources (EUR 530 000).  
The EU continues to address indigenous peoples’ rights in its human rights dialogues with non-EU 
countries. In Africa, EU delegations launched calls for proposals to help indigenous peoples 
establish FPIC protocols in the protected area of Messok Dja in the Republic of Congo, and 
improve access to quality healthcare and education for indigenous minority communities in Kenya. 
In Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, calls were launched to support indigenous peoples and 
environmental defenders in becoming key actors in promoting social and environmental policies 
leading to sustainable development.  
The EU worked closely with the ILO on promoting indigenous peoples’ rights, including in the 
countries that have not ratified the ILO’s Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention No. 169. The 
most recent free trade agreements require indigenous peoples to be consulted as part of the impact 
assessments.  
 
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The voices of indigenous peoples are important in informing the EU funding programmes and 
projects. Securing their full participation and FPIC in a meaningful way is a core principle of EU 
policy. In December 2020, the EU co-hosted with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) its 
second technical meeting on the principle of FPIC. The meeting served to share best practices and 
deal with obstacles encountered in implementation but also to strengthen collaboration on capacity 
building.  
The EU’s ProtectDefenders.eu mechanism provides significant support to defenders of indigenous 
peoples’ rights, in particular through the EU’s capacity-building programmes and through its 
fieldwork and accompanying programmes. Defenders of indigenous peoples’ rights represent a 
consistent 7% of the total number of beneficiaries across all programmes – an estimated 2 000 
HRDs every year and around 8 000 since the mechanism was launched. However, overlaps 
exist with support provided to other groups of defenders, such as land and environmental rights 
defenders, or defenders working in isolated areas, who also receive considerable support as a 
priority group
 
1.3  PROMOTING FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AND STRENGTHENING CIVIC AND POLITICAL SPACE 
Freedom of expression  
In 2020, the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the importance of freedom of expression and access 
to information. In times of uncertainty, access to reliable, fact-based information is crucial and 
contributes to a more resilient society. 
Emergency legislation imposed in countries around the world restricted the rights to freedom of 
expression and of association and raised doubts about the respect of the right to privacy.  
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about an onslaught of disinformation and 
misinformation causing disorientation among the public and in some cases inhibiting effective 
responses.  
 
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The spread of disinformation and misinformation on social media has relaunched the debate about 
the role of private companies and institutions in fighting disinformation. However, the fight against 
disinformation is used in some cases as a pretext to attack journalists, artists and critical voices in 
general and to limit their freedom of expression both online and offline. 
Upholding the freedom of expression, the EU’s response has also focused on promoting trustworthy 
sources, encouraging social media platforms to take effective measures against disinformation, and 
tackling illegal content disseminated through their services. The European Commission proposed 
new rules in its internal market with the Digital Services Act,31 to clarify the appropriate obligations 
on online intermediary services and to set out a balanced governance, with the rule of law and 
fundamental rights at its centre. 
Media freedom and pluralism were significantly prominent in the European Commission’s 2020 
Rule of Law Report.32 
HR/VP Borrell has been vocal in public statements, high-level meetings and on social media in 
highlighting the importance of EU engagement on freedom of expression, journalists’ safety and the 
fight against disinformation. A declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU was 
issued on World Press Freedom Day.33 
Freedom of expression has remained a key point on the agenda in most political and human rights 
dialogues such as those with China, Algeria, Iraq, the Republic of Moldova, Vietnam and Belarus. 
The EU emphasised that countries were obliged to uphold, protect and promote the rights to 
freedom of opinion and expression, including academic and artistic freedom. 
                                                 
31 
Proposal for a Regulation on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act) for 
ensuring a safe and accountable online environment), 15 December 2020: 
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-
services-act-ensuring-safe-and-accountable-online-environment_en 
 
32 
Commission Communication on 2020 Rule of Law Report (COM (2020) 580 final) of 30 
September 2020: 
https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/communication_2020_rule_of_law_report_en.pdf 
33 
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/05/02/declaration-by-the-
high-representative-josep-borrell-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-on-the-occasion-of-the-
world-press-freedom-day-3-may-2020/ 

 
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The EU continued to support the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and 
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and to collaborate with the CoE, the 
OSCE, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and relevant CSOs.  
The EU supported the resolution on freedom of expression presented by the Netherlands, Sweden, 
Canada and others at the HRC. The resolution recalled that access to information is a critical tool to 
prevent and combat corruption and ensure democratic participation, by enabling the public to have 
an impact on decision-making and influence legislation. Access to information is central to the 
work of journalists, media workers, civil society and human rights defenders. 
The EU welcomed the statement by international experts on freedom of expression34 in March 2020 
on access to and the free flow of information during the pandemic. It called upon governments to 
i) provide reliable and accessible information about the nature of the threat posed by COVID-19, 
ii) address disinformation, iii) refrain from blocking internet access and iv) take exceptional 
measures to protect the work of journalists. The use of surveillance technology to track the spread 
of the coronavirus should comply with strict limitations and be consistent with international human 
rights standards. 
The EUSR for Human Rights raised issues concerning freedom of expression at political level 
during i) human rights dialogues (e.g. with Myanmar, Cuba, ASEAN, Azerbaijan), ii) country 
visits, such as in Qatar (international conference on social media), iii) exchanges with high-level 
interlocutors, or iv) high-level events and conferences. The EUSR met a number of persecuted 
journalists and media workers and intervened in specific cases in countries such as Saudi Arabia, 
Egypt, the Philippines, Ukraine, Bangladesh and Nigeria.  
One of the main topics of the 2020 EU-NGO Forum was ‘Fundamental Rights and Freedoms in the 
Digital Sphere’. The use of technology to improve freedom of expression, fight against internet 
restrictions and share lessons learned on political activism online were discussed.  
                                                 
34 
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25729 
 
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Safety of journalists 
Across the world, journalists and media workers are facing intimidation, violence or abuse, which 
often threaten their life and security. The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the situation, further 
endangering the work of journalists and restricting space for civil society. Impunity for abuses and 
crimes against journalists and media workers remained widespread worldwide, reaching 90% of 
cases of impunity in some countries, according to a 2019 UNESCO report. 
During 2020, the EU followed with concern reports of journalists being placed in detention without 
trial, the closure of media stations, and internet shutdowns in many countries. The EU stepped up its 
action with other countries and issued clear messages on the key role of independent media and 
civil society, as well as on the need to protect human rights defenders, many of whom are 
journalists.  
The safety of journalists was at the centre of EU advocacy for media freedom in international 
fora and bilateral dialogues, such as those with China, Algeria, Vietnam and Belarus. The EU 
recalled the obligation to protect and promote freedom of opinion and expression, and offered to 
collaborate. The EU supported the resolution on safety of journalists presented at the 45th session of 
the HRC. Several statements were published, including on the International Day to End Impunity 
for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November.35 
A handbook on journalists’ safety was distributed to all EU delegations. It helped inform the EU 
response to attacks against journalists and enabled EU delegations to prepare or coordinate public 
statements and social media interventions, observe court cases and identify cases requiring special 
protection. In 2020, the EU supported over 425 journalists with emergency grants, temporary 
relocation, or support for their respective media outlets. 
Dedicated programmes continued to operate in many regions, for example, the ‘Safejournalists’ 
programme, run by journalist associations in the Western Balkans. 
                                                 
35 
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/87896/journalists-joint-
statement-high-representativevice-president-josep-borrell-and-vice-president_en 

 
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New dedicated programmes were finalised in 2020, including ‘COVID-19 response in Africa: 
together for reliable information’, which brings together organisations such as Deutsche Welle 
Akademie and Reporters Sans Frontières to increase the resilience of journalists in Africa. Similar 
programmes are being prepared for Asia and Latin America. 
On World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2020, the EEAS launched a campaign on 
Facebook,36 Twitter and Instagram37 involving journalists worldwide.  
Many of those who featured in the campaign were at risk or had already been harassed and 
threatened by authorities. The campaign aimed to offer them visibility and protection.  
The campaign highlighted the impact journalism has on people’s lives by focusing on the 
question ‘What if there was no journalism?’, asking people to imagine a world without 
journalism and to reflect on what freedom of expression means for everyone.  
The campaign reached about 400 000 people and featured media professionals from 36 
countries, including EU Member States (Belgium, France, Greece, Italy and Lithuania). 
In 2020, the freedom of artistic expression, a cornerstone of democracy alongside freedom of the 
press, has declined in the context of the pandemic.38 This is particularly due to misuses of 
blasphemy, anti-terrorism legislation, and COVID-19 measures as pretexts to 
silence dissident voices of artists and artworks. 
 
                                                 
36 
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=664944417640166 
37 
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_t3BTLlDvM/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet 
38 
https://freemuse.org/news/the-state-of-artistic-freedom-2021/  
 
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1.4  REINFORCING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND LABOUR RIGHTS  
The environment, climate change and human rights 
Human rights are increasingly affected by global environmental challenges such as environmental 
degradation, biodiversity loss, pollution and changes in the global water cycle. Sea levels are rising, 
as are global temperatures. The right to life can also be endangered by the increasing number of 
natural hazards. For instance, loss of coastal habitats and coral reefs due to floods and hurricanes 
has increased the risk to the rights to life and property for 100-300 million people worldwide.  
Environmental degradation particularly affects the poor and people in most vulnerable situations. It 
amplifies inequality, violence and discrimination. Therefore, the EU has undertaken policies and 
measures to uphold human rights. Social and gender equality and the empowerment of women and 
young people are important prerequisites for environmental conservation and for sustainable 
development. The EU has also worked with youth organisations across the world to ensure 
intergenerational equity.  
In 2020, the EU continued to protect and support the work of environmental human rights defenders 
and indigenous peoples who are facing an unprecedented level of threats and attacks. 
 
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The COVID-19 crisis has had a detrimental effect on the rights to water, food, health and life. The 
EU and its Member States, acting together as ‘Team Europe’, launched a support package in April 
2020 to i) promote an equitable, sustainable and inclusive recovery and ii) help the most vulnerable 
countries and the people most at risk in line with the Council conclusions on Team Europe Global 
Response to COVID-19.39 The EU’s support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic focuses on the 
actions set out below. 
• 
Responding to the immediate health crisis and the resulting humanitarian needs. This 
includes supporting the response plans of the WHO and the UN, and providing 
humanitarian support in affected countries. 
• 
Strengthening health, water and sanitation systems, as well as partner countries’ 
capacity and preparedness to deal with the pandemic. 
• 
Mitigating the immediate social and economic consequences, including supporting the 
private sector with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, and introducing 
government reforms to reduce poverty. 
The COVID-19 pandemic cannot be isolated from the ongoing climate emergency. Climate 
change is a threat multiplier to international stability and security and in particular affects the 
human rights of those in most vulnerable situations, intensifies environmental pressures and disaster 
risk, exacerbates the loss of livelihoods and causes the displacement of people.  
The European Green Deal adopted in December 2019 aims for the EU to achieve climate neutrality 
by 2050. It embraces a bold and comprehensive environmental agenda, centred on protecting and 
promoting human rights, and provides for a fair and just transition, leaving no one behind.  
                                                 
39 
Council conclusions on Team Europe Global Response to COVID-19, 8 June 2020: 
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/44347/team-europe-ccs-200608.pdf  
 
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In 2020, the EU adopted a broad set of measures to implement the policy objectives of the European 
Green Deal. In January 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on climate diplomacy.40 Together 
with the Council conclusions on water diplomacy adopted in 2018, these conclusions recalled the 
existential threat of climate change, underlined the impact of environmental degradation (notably 
water scarcity and biodiversity loss) on peace, security and human rights, and called for urgent 
collective responses.  
Conscious of the need to ensure respect for human rights, social justice, fairness and inclusiveness, 
in May 2020, the Commission adopted a new EU biodiversity strategy for 203041 together with the 
‘Farm to fork strategy’42 to make food systems more sustainable. The strategy emphasises that the 
post-2020 global framework under discussion must respect the rights of indigenous peoples and 
local communities and enable them to participate fully and effectively in the framework. It also 
adopts an inclusive approach with the participation of all stakeholders, in particular women, young 
people, civil society, local authorities, the private sector, academia and scientific institutions, and is 
in line with the new EU strategy on adaptation to climate change focused on improving resilience of 
the people in the most vulnerable situations. 
The EU further developed its diplomatic tools to promote the priorities of the European Green Deal 
(climate, biodiversity and circular economy) across the globe. The challenge of recovering from the 
economic impacts of the pandemic offers an opportunity to deal with long-term climate and 
environmental challenges in a strategic and socially sustainable way, focusing specifically on 
protecting and promoting human rights and democracy. In July 2020, the EU made a démarche on 
inclusive green recovery, designed to convince partners of the need to ‘build back better’ in the 
post-COVID-19 recovery strategy.  
                                                 
40 
Council conclusions on Climate Diplomacy: 
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-5033-2020-INIT/en/pdf 
41 
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/actions-being-
taken-eu/eu-biodiversity-strategy-2030_en 
 
42 
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/actions-being-
taken-eu/farm-fork_en 
 
 
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On 28 September 2020, on the margins of the UNGA, the EU co-organised a high-level leaders’ 
event, at which it launched the ‘Leaders Pledge for Nature’43. The Pledge, endorsed by 76 countries, 
contains significant commitments at the highest political level to put nature, climate and the 
environment at the heart of recovery strategies and decision-making. The Pledge is also a statement 
of intent in support of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to be agreed at the 
Biodiversity COP15 and in anticipation of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in 2021.  
Economic, social and cultural rights 
The EU is committed to promoting social and economic rights both internally and in its external 
relations, notably quality employment, universal social protection, access to social services, decent 
work as well as addressing multidimensional poverty, inequalities and social exclusion. 
The year 2020 marked the 10th anniversary of water and sanitation as universal human rights, as 
well as the first anniversary of the EU’s adoption of the human rights guidelines on safe drinking 
water and sanitation44 – the first EU human rights guidelines on economic, social and cultural 
rights. These guidelines highlighted the EU’s commitment to helping ensure the rights to safe 
drinking water and sanitation worldwide, which are deeply rooted in the indivisible principles of 
equality and non-discrimination.  
Via its bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the EU promoted the rights to water and sanitation 
through the complementary use of the EU’s financial instruments, in collaboration with the UN, 
national authorities, CSOs and other partners. In 2020, the right to water was a key priority for EU 
development and emergency support in vulnerable areas, in particular due to the ongoing health 
emergency. 
                                                 
43 
Leaders’ Pledge for Nature: https://www.leaderspledgefornature.org/ 
44 
EU Human Rights Guidelines on Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation adopted by the 
Council on 17 June 2019: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/39776/st10145-en19.pdf 
 
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The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of the importance of the rights to water and sanitation. 
At present, 2.1 billion people still lack safe access to water, one in four healthcare facilities lack 
basic water services, and one in five have no sanitation service. In 2020, the EU promoted the 
guidelines on safe drinking water and sanitation at multilateral human rights fora such as the annual 
High-level Political Forum organised ahead of the UNGA, taking stock of the progress made in 
implementing the SDGs. The guidelines strengthened the EU’s development cooperation, 
humanitarian aid and civilian protection in crisis recovery contexts. In the context of the COVID-19 
pandemic, the EU helped to prevent the health systems in many countries from being overwhelmed 
and to save lives. 
The EU continues to increase partners’ capacity to prioritise and integrate interventions to meet 
demands for quality water and sanitation services and improve measures in healthcare facilities. In 
addition, the EU is developing activities to promote hygiene targeting households and public spaces 
in order to reduce exposure to the disease at home, at work, and in communities. 
 
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Seawater desalination plant in Gaza 
One of the EU’s flagship programmes to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of 
water and sanitation is in Gaza. Gazans rely on ground water and experience a high level of water 
contamination. The ongoing crises, including power outages and a lack of sufficient 
infrastructure and effective water resource management, have led to a critical humanitarian and 
environmental situation. In the Gaza Strip, only 10% of the water meets international quality 
standards. 
To meet the domestic demand for fresh water in Gaza, the EU is funding the operation and 
management of a desalination plant, costing approximately EUR 150 million. The desalination 
plant mixes desalinated seawater with water from the underground tank, doubling the quantity of 
usable water. To date, EU investments have provided safe drinking water to 205 000 Palestinians 
in Gaza and 115 000 in the West Bank. Furthermore, safe sanitation services have benefited 
550 000 Palestinians in Gaza. Ongoing EU investments will provide a long-term solution for safe 
drinking water to all of the estimated 2 million people who live in Gaza. 
In Gaza, the water-energy nexus is particularly critical, and the EU’s work in the water sector is 
supported by its work in the energy sector, notably through renewable energy projects and the 
Gas for Gaza project. 
In 2020, EU Member States helped in the adoption of several resolutions and initiatives on 
economic, social and cultural rights at the UNGA and HRC, as in previous years. These included:  
• 
the right to education (sponsored by Portugal);  
• 
adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living and the 
right to non-discrimination in this context (co-sponsored by Brazil, Finland, Germany 
and Namibia);  
• 
the right to work (co-sponsored by Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico and Romania);  
 
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• 
human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (co-sponsored by Germany and 
Spain);  
• 
extreme poverty and human rights (co-sponsored by Albania, Belgium, Chile, France, 
Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Romania and Senegal);  
• 
mental health and human rights (co-sponsored by Brazil and Portugal);  
• 
rights to social security (co-sponsored by Finland, Iceland, Namibia and South Africa);  
• 
protecting human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal (co-sponsored by Brazil, 
China, Congo, Cyprus, Greece, Japan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Republic of Korea and 
Russia); 
• 
guaranteeing the rights of the child through a healthy environment (sponsored by the 
EU/Germany and Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries 
(GRULAC)/Uruguay). 
Gathering feedback from the rural population on public service delivery in Uzbekistan 
The EU-funded project ‘Improved Public Service Delivery and Enhanced Governance in Rural 
Uzbekistan’ supports the government’s efforts to develop citizen-centric public service and 
strengthen the local governance system in addressing the social and economic concerns and 
interests of local citizens more effectively. The project is also designed to support the country’s 
digitalisation and to facilitate contactless service provision in the context of the COVID-19 
pandemic. 
By improving the delivery of public services, this project will contribute to improving the quality 
of life of people in rural areas, particularly vulnerable groups – such as women, youth and 
children, older persons, and persons with disabilities – by improving their access to public 
services and by increasing the quality of service delivery. This project also aims to strengthen 
citizens’ participation in local decision-making and increase people’s access to information. 
 
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The COVID-19 crisis has heavily affected culture. The EU and its Member States remained a close 
partner of UNESCO as well as its largest donor. They have paid tribute to the role that UNESCO 
continues to play at the forefront of efforts in the fields of education, science, and culture, and 
joined forces with UNESCO to ensure that the UN’s ‘building back better and greener’ initiative 
stays on track. 
In 2020, the EU launched the ‘Creatives Unite’ platform for cultural and creative sectors.45 This 
offers a common space for people looking for information on initiatives in the cultural and creative 
sector, in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The platform provides access to a multitude of existing 
resources and relevant networks and organisations. It offers a space to co-create solutions, and 
upload and share them, and helps to safeguard the freedom of artistic expression. The platform 
complements the weekly ‘Culture & COVID-19: Impact and Response Tracker’,46 produced by 
UNESCO as a snapshot of the impact the pandemic is having on the cultural sector worldwide and 
of the responses at national, regional and local levels.  
EU-UNESCO cooperation works towards achieving several of the UN SDGs through culture. It 
includes projects to mitigate the impact of disasters, prevent and respond to conflicts, and support 
i) resilience, ii) local development, iii) decent work, iv) gender equality and inclusive societies and 
v) safe and sustainable cities. Projects signed and implemented in 2020 include: 
• 
‘Reviving Mosul and Basra Old Cities’; 
• 
‘Fighting illicit trafficking of cultural property in the Western Balkans’; 
• 
‘Protecting silk roads heritage corridors in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran as part of 
the International Dimension of the European Year of Cultural Heritage’; and 
• 
creating job opportunities for Yemen’s youth through restoring cultural heritage sites. 
In 2020 alone, the EU supported cultural projects, with over EUR 20 million in funds.  
                                                 
45 
Creatives Unite: http://creativesunite.eu/ 
46 
UNESCO Culture & COVID-19: Impact and Response Tracker 
https://en.unesco.org/news/culture-covid-19-impact-and-response-tracker 

 
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Labour rights  
The EU is committed to promoting human rights and decent work, labour rights and international 
labour standards worldwide. It has advocated in particular for the ratification and implementation of 
fundamental ILO conventions regarding freedom of association and the effective recognition of the 
right to collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the 
effective elimination of child labour, and the elimination of discrimination in respect of 
employment and occupation. The freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right 
to collective bargaining are particularly important as enabling rights. 
The COVID-19 crisis has negatively affected the working and living conditions of workers, in 
particular for those in the most vulnerable and disadvantaged situations and notably persons with 
disabilities and older persons. 1.6 billion workers in the informal sector have lost job opportunities; 
migrant workers have experienced a rising level of xenophobia; food insecurity and an overall 
worsening of working conditions has become more common; and the ratio of child labour is 
expected to rise again for the first time in 20 years.  
In this context, the EU remained active in various policy areas to promote job creation and decent 
work in global value chains, striving for a fair, sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-
19 crisis.  
The Commission published a staff working document in October 2020, which provided an overview 
of the EU’s involvement in promoting decent work around the world. It underlined the cross-cutting 
nature of the decent work agenda, which is relevant to external action, multilateral fora, and other 
key EU policy areas.  
The sustainable development chapters of trade agreements signed by the EU reaffirm the parties’ 
commitment to the decent work agenda, call for the ratification and effective implementation of 
fundamental ILO Conventions and include provisions on occupational health and safety. 
Cooperation on a broad range of trade-related labour topics, and the promotion of responsible 
business practices in line with relevant international principles and guidelines are also included. 
 
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In June 2019, ILO Convention No. 190 was adopted as the first international instrument to set out 
minimum standards in order to tackle work-related harassment and violence. The European 
Commission proposed on 22 January 2020 a Council decision to authorise EU Member States to 
ratify ILO Convention No. 190. The Council in its conclusions47 urged the Member States to 
continue their efforts to ratify and apply up-to-date ILO conventions and to take necessary measures 
to eliminate violence and harassment at work. 
The EU continued to provide funding to several ILO projects aimed at combating forced labour. For 
example, the ongoing ‘Clear Cotton’ project is dedicated to combating child labour and forced 
labour in the cotton, textile and garment supply chains in Burkina Faso, Mali and Pakistan. The 
project ‘Ship to Shore Rights’, concluded in 2020, helped the Thai government to combat forced 
labour in the Thai fishing and seafood industries, mainly involving migrant workers from Cambodia 
and Myanmar.  
Besides forced labour, the EU provided funding for 53 ILO projects48 aimed at improving and 
effectively implementing labour rights. For instance, in 2020, the project ‘Towards safe, healthy 
and declared work in Ukraine’ started, aimed at improving compliance with occupational health and 
safety standards and fighting undeclared work, including by improving the effectiveness of the 
labour inspection system. 
Through its ‘Better Work’ programme implemented by the ILO, the EU seeks to improve working 
conditions in the garment sector at factory level, addressing issues such as gender equality, sexual 
harassment, discrimination, wages, reproductive health and maternity protection. This programme 
proves that respecting labour rights leads to better performance in factories. 
In line with its zero tolerance policy on child labour, the EU prolonged its development 
cooperation measures to help eliminate child labour and ensure a decent living wage and 
sustainable production practices.  
                                                 
47  
Council conclusions on the Future of Work: the European Union promoting the ILO 
Centenary Declaration, 24 October 2019: 
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13436-2019-INIT/en/pdf  
48  
https://www.ilo.org/DevelopmentCooperationDashboard/#bd7d4pu  
 
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Through its continuous efforts to eliminate child labour and its cooperation with the ILO, the EU 
contributed to the universal ratification in 2020 of the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour 
Convention, 1999 (No.182). Despite this achievement, progress on eliminating child labour has 
slowed down. Therefore, the EU has continued its efforts to combat child labour, including through 
political and policy dialogue with partner countries. 
At the ILO Governing Body meeting in November 2020, the EU called on Bangladesh and 
Myanmar to effectively eliminate child labour; this issue was also discussed during human rights 
dialogues, including those with Myanmar and Vietnam.  
Under the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapters of the EU trade agreements, the 
parties are committed to ratifying and effectively implementing the fundamental conventions of the 
International Labour Organization. The EU has continued to engage in regular dialogues with 
partners on these commitments.  
The EU has also maintained regular dialogues with countries benefitting from the Special Incentive 
Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance of the Generalised System of 
Preferences (GSP+). These countries have committed to ratifying and effectively implementing 
conventions on human rights, fundamental labour rights, environment and good governance, as a 
condition for benefitting from unilateral tariff preferences under the GSP+.  
The EU is currently reviewing the EU Generalised System of Preferences Regulation. The new GSP 
Regulation is intended to foster the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of 
beneficiary countries, including the respect for good governance and human rights, with the primary 
goal of eradicating poverty. 
In Asia, the EU worked closely with Vietnam on fundamental labour rights commitments under the 
Trade and Sustainable Development chapter of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. To this 
end, Vietnam committed to developing an action plan to mitigate and prevent child labour for 2021-
2025. Tackling child labour, alongside other labour rights including in particular freedom of 
association and collective bargaining, was identified as a priority for GSP+ monitoring for the 
Philippines and Mongolia. Labour rights are also a key issue in the EU enchanced monitoring of 
Cambodia and Bangladesh under the Everything-But-Arms trade arragement.  
 
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Child labour and the EU’s zero tolerance policy have been raised in bilateral dialogues with a 
number of other countries. 
As regards Central Asian countries, child labour was raised at the human rights dialogue with 
Kyrgyzstan, for which child labour was also among the priority areas for progress in the GSP+ 
monitoring report of February 2020. Child and forced labour was a focus of attention with regard to 
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, including in the context of their interest in the GSP+ regime. At the 
human rights dialogue with Uzbekistan, the EU acknowledged achievements regarding the 
eradication of child labour and stressed the need to fully eliminate forced labour. 
As regards the Eastern Partnership countries, child labour was discussed during the 2020 Trade and 
Sustainable Development sub-committee meetings and human rights dialogues with the Republic of 
Moldova and Georgia. For both countries, child labour has been one of the priority areas for action. 
Child labour was also among the priority areas for progress identified for Armenia in the GSP+ 
report published in February 2020. 
The rights of the child are raised as a priority in the context of GSP+, and beneficiary countries are 
required to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO Conventions No. 138 
(minimum age) and No. 182 (eliminating the worst forms of child labour). In this context, Myanmar 
ratified ILO Convention No. 138, and the EU requested child labour surveys to be carried out in 
GSP+ beneficiary countries such as Pakistan and Mongolia.  
The EU has recognised the significant legislative progress made by Cape Verde regarding the 
abolition of the worst forms of child labour in its GSP monitoring. However, it also pointed out 
certain pertaining shortcomings, which require further improvement.  
Ratification of ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age was discussed in the course of Free 
Trade Agreement negotiations with Australia and New Zealand. 
 
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In 2020, the European Commission appointed a Chief Trade Enforcement Officer (CTEO), who 
will be leading the work. The Commission launched the Single Entry Point under CTEO, with the 
objective of streamlining internal processes to tackle non-compliance with TSD/GSP commitments. 
EU stakeholders are now able to directly lodge complaints concerning breaches of commitments in 
the EU’s TSD chapters and under the GSP Regulation, and the Single Entry Point is the central 
point of contact for submitting complaints. 
The Commission also announced that the review of the 15-point TSD Action Plan on improving the 
implementation and enforcement of Trade and Sustainable Development chapters in EU Free Trade 
Agreements49 would be moved to 2021. 
In September 2020, the EU launched its Sustainable Cocoa Initiative. The initiative seeks to 
improve sustainability in the cocoa sector through a multi-stakeholder dialogue, which brings 
together representatives of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana – the two main cocoa-producing countries, 
accounting for 70% of global cocoa production – as well as representatives of the European 
Parliament, Member States, cocoa growers and civil society. The dialogue aims to provide specific 
recommendations on increasing sustainability across the cocoa supply chain through collective 
action and partnerships, as well as to eliminate child labour in cocoa supply chains.  
In September 2020, the European Commission proposed the new EU Pact on Migration and 
Asylum,50 which includes initiatives in order to work with key partner countries to facilitate 
cooperation between skilled workers, employers, social partners and labour market institutions in 
line with the EU’s skills and labour market needs, while fully respecting EU and Member States’ 
competencies.  
The EU continued to use human rights and other bilateral dialogues to engage with non-EU 
countries, such as the Thailand-EU labour dialogue held in February 2020, in order to promote 
respect of labour rights and the uptake and implementation of international labour guidelines and 
standards. 
                                                 
49 
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2018/february/tradoc_156618.pdf  
50 
Commission Communication on a New Pact on Migration and Asylum, COM(2020) 609 
final of 23 September 2020: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:85ff8b4f-
ff13-11ea-b44f-01aa75ed71a1.0002.02/DOC_3&format=PDF 
 
 
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In October 2020, the Council Presidency organised a two-day conference on human rights and 
decent work in global supply chains. In December 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on this 
topic, calling for an ‘EU Action Plan by 2021 focusing on shaping global supply chains sustainably, 
promoting human rights, social and environmental due diligence standards and transparency’.51 
 
1.5  SUPPORTING THE RULE OF LAW AND THE FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 
Human rights and counter-terrorism 
In 2020, the EU remained fully committed to providing continued support to its key partners in this 
area, with due respect for the rule of law, democracy and human rights and the values enshrined in 
the UN Charter and set out in the Security Union Strategy52 and the Counter-Terrorism (CT) 
Agenda for the EU53
Through regular political and security dialogues on CT with priority countries, and through 
multilateral coordination, the EU systematically encourages partners to strengthen their capacity to 
prevent and respond effectively to radicalisation, violent extremism and terrorism, while fully 
respecting human rights. The EU also emphasises that the prevention and countering of violent 
extremism (P-CVE), and counter-terrorism policies and measures should not negatively affect, limit 
or impact women’s rights. Furthermore, CT/P-CVE policy should not be used as a pretext to restrict 
human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy or the rule of law.  
All dialogues and consultations with partners have continuously advocated that human rights and 
rule-of-law principles be integrated into counter-terrorism policies, by means of, for example, 
developing an evidence-based criminal justice system. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, combined 
with the sensitivity of the topic of counter-terrorism, only a limited number of consultations took 
place online with partner countries during 2020.  
                                                 
51  
Council Conclusions on Human Rights and Decent Work in Global Supply Chains, 
2 December 2020: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13512-2020-REV-
1/en/pdf 
 
52 
COM(2020) 605 final, 24.7.2020. 
53 
COM(2020) 795 final, 9.12.2020. 
 
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While engaging with non-EU countries, the EU highlights the importance of prevention as the key 
pillar of any ‘whole of government’ counter-terrorism strategy, and recommends a national action 
plan be developed to prevent violent extremism in line with the UN’s call to accord a greater role to 
civil society. The EU encourages a civilian-led approach to P-CVE by engaging with local 
authorities and communities, including young people, women and religious leaders. The EU seeks 
to take the lead in encouraging its partners to take action against hate speech, religious intolerance 
and divisive rhetoric and all forms of extremism leading to violence, in full compliance with 
international human rights law.  
The EU and the UN conducted the third high-level CT dialogue online in December 2020. The EU 
is committed to multilateral cooperation in addressing the global threat of terrorism, in full 
compliance with the rule of law and international law, including human rights law, international 
humanitarian law and international refugee law. The EU promotes the prevention of violent 
extremism as a policy priority and highlights the need to involve civil society in the UN context. In 
this regard, the 2014-2020 EU framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon 2020, 
devoted a specific research call to “drivers and contexts of violent extremism in the broader Middle 
East and North Africa region and the Balkans”. The 3 research projects54 being funded with EUR 9 
million mobilise more than 40 participants (policymakers, religious leaders, representatives of civil 
society), to improve the knowledge base on violent extremism in those regions and ensure progress 
in mutual learning between the EU and partner countries in light of common challenges. 
The EU is an active member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and co-chairs, together 
with Egypt, the Capacity Building in the East Africa Region Working Group. The Working Group 
provides a forum for regional exchange and networking, including on best practices for P-CVE. The 
three GCTF-inspired P-CVE institutions (the Hedayah Centre in Abu Dhabi, the Global Community 
Engagement and Resilience Fund in Geneva and the International Institute for Justice in Malta), co-
funded by the EU, are mainstreaming a human rights-based and ‘whole of society’ approach in 
supporting the development of P-CVE programmes. The experts from the Radicalisation Awareness 
Network, created to support EU Member States, has also been - to a limited extent - deployed 
outside the EU to support prevention efforts.  
                                                 
54  
An overview of the projects is available in CORDIS.  
 
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Furthermore, the EEAS manages the network of regional CT/security experts deployed in EU 
delegations in 17 priority countries, some of whom have regional responsibilities such as the EU 
CT/security experts in the Western Balkans, Kenya and Indonesia. Several civilian common 
security and defence policy (CSDP) missions, including the EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali 
(EUCAP Sahel Mali) and the EU Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq), support the development 
of local CT/P-CVE capabilities, while observing human rights and rule-of-law principles. 
The International Criminal Court  
The EU continued its efforts to ensure accountability, in particular for the most serious crimes under 
international law, and to help victims of atrocities obtain justice. The EU provided political, 
diplomatic and financial support to the International Criminal Court (ICC)55. The EU also supported 
other international criminal tribunals and ad hoc national tribunals, as well as truth and 
reconciliation commissions and redress mechanisms to protect the rights of victims to justice and 
reparation. 
EU action in support of the ICC focused on helping the Court to counter external attacks, in 
particular through EU statements and interventions in support of its independence and integrity and 
other advocacy activities. The EU also intensified its cooperation and exchange of information with 
the ICC. 
                                                 
55 
In accordance with Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP and the 2011 action plan on its 
implementation, as well as part of the implementation of the 2006 Agreement between the 
ICC and the EU on cooperation and assistance. 
 
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The EU continued to promote the universality of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal 
Court, in particular during its human rights dialogues and through its annual démarche campaign 
encouraging the ratification of, or accession to, the Rome Statute. A specific clause to this effect 
was included in agreements concluded with non-EU countries. Financial support has been provided 
to CSOs that advocate the universality of the Rome Statute. The EU supported in particular the 
work of Parliamentarians for Global Actions, a network of some 1 300 legislators in over 140 
elected parliaments around the world, and of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, a 
global civil society network of over 2 500 member organisations in 150 countries. Furthermore, 
CSOs were regularly invited to give presentations at EU meetings on the ICC.  
The EU continued to support the ICC in multilateral and regional fora such as the UN Security 
Council, the UNGA and the HRC, as well as in the context of the African Union.  
The EU’s financial support to the ICC aimed at broadening understanding of the ICC and the Rome 
Statute amongst key stakeholders, and strengthening national capacities to deal with crimes under 
the Rome Statute. The main activities include: 
• 
seminars, events and training aimed at fostering cooperation, sharing expertise and 
building national capacity; 
• 
placing legal professionals from ‘situation countries’ in the Court’s visiting 
professionals programme; and 
• 
developing legal tools to assist legal professionals working on core international crimes 
(genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes). 
The EU’s support for the ICC is part of wider efforts to ensure that perpetrators of the most serious 
crimes under international law are held accountable for their actions. In line with the principle of 
complementarity, the EU also provided support to the national criminal justice systems of a number 
of countries, including Afghanistan, DRC, Myanmar, Georgia, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Guinea, Mali 
and Uganda.  
 
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Furthermore, the EU continued to support a number of international criminal tribunals and 
mechanisms, including: 
• 
the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic (CAR); 
• 
the Special Court for Sierra Leone; 
• 
the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia; 
• 
the Special Tribunal for Lebanon; and 
• 
the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals – mandated to carry 
out essential remaining work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the 
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. 
In August 2020, the EU adopted a decision to support a ‘Programme on access to justice for 
children on the move in West Africa’ (EUR 7.89 million). The programme seeks to improve 
children’s access to child-friendly justice through age and gender-sensitive juvenile justice 
mechanisms and provide alternatives to detention for migrant children in Burkina Faso, Guinea, 
Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria. In the Western Balkans, the EU regularly monitors the 
situation as regards justice for children, and in the regular political dialogues under the Stabilisation 
and Association Agreements, it raises concerns on issues such as inadequate healthcare or access to 
education for children deprived of their liberty. 
 
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Enhancing Prosecutors’ role in the protection against and the penalisation of gender-based 
violence in Morocco 
During 2020, the new Prosecutor’s office, set up in 2017, affirmed strongly its independence and 
leadership role in the fight against gender-based violence as the ‘shadow pandemic’ during 
COVID-19 crisis. The EU has contributed to the reinforcement of Prosecutor’s office combining 
political dialogue and financial mix tools through Justice and Equality programmes (budget 
support) and technical support with the Council of Europe in order to ensure a rights-based 
approach aligned with international standards such as the Istanbul Convention.  
A monitoring system was deployed to ensure the respect of the rights of the child as regards 
derogation procedure for early marriage as well as to ensure the criminalisation of gender-based 
violence. Specific measures were adopted to reflect the pandemic situation in 2020. In addition, 
an online support system for complaints was developed during the lockdown period. Cases of 
aggression or violence against women and girls could be reported through a free number (8350) 
the hotline "Koulna Maak" (All together). These cases were immediately notified to the public 
prosecutor's office and to the judicial police services. 
This initiative which was implemented in close coordination with other institutional services and 
civil society underlined the Prosecutor’s role to maintain accessibility to justice for victims and to 
ensure that these areas remain a priority.  
 
 
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1.6  CLOSING THE ACCOUNTABILITY GAP, FIGHTING IMPUNITY AND SUPPORTING TRANSITIONAL 
JUSTICE 
On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted a Decision and a Regulation establishing a global 
human rights sanctions regime. This is a landmark achievement. For the first time, the EU has a 
legislative framework allowing it to target individuals, entities and bodies – including state and 
non-state actors – responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights 
violations and abuses worldwide, no matter where they occurred. 
The restrictive measures provide for travel bans for individuals and the freezing of the funds of 
both individuals and entities. In addition, individuals and entities in the EU will be forbidden to 
make funds available to those listed, either directly or indirectly. 
The EU global human rights sanctions regime contains a humanitarian derogation, which allows the 
competent authorities of the Member States to authorise the release or the making available of funds 
or economic resources to those listed, if necessary solely for the purpose of providing humanitarian 
aid.  
The framework for targeted restrictive measures applies to acts such as genocide, crimes against 
humanity and other serious human rights violations or abuses (e.g. torture, slavery, 
extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests or detentions). Other human rights violations or abuses may 
also fall under the scope of the sanctions regime if they are widespread, systematic or are 
otherwise of serious concern with respect to the objectives of the common foreign and security 
policy set out in the Treaty (Article 21 TEU). 
 
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In 2020, the EU continued to implement its policy framework on support to transitional justice. 
This included raising the topic with non-EU countries, such as Nepal, in bilateral dialogues as well 
as with regional organisations, such as the African Union. During the last round of the EU-AU 
human rights dialogue on 8 December 2020,56 both sides underlined the importance of continuing 
efforts to address impunity and the need for complementarity at national, regional and international 
levels, restating their commitment to organising an expert seminar in 2021. The EU Facility on 
Justice in Conflict and Transition, financed under the EU Instrument contributing to Stability and 
Peace (IcSP), continued to provide tailored and high-level technical assistance to selected EU 
delegations on the ground. The mid-term review of the Facility confirmed its clear benefits, also 
illustrated by EU delegations’ keen interest in using the advisory services provided by the Facility’s 
experts. The EU supported extending the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion 
of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence57
Promoting civil society scrutiny in justice reform in Bolivia 
The EU has been supporting the civil society Platform on Justice, since its creation in 2015, in its 
role of policy advocacy and monitoring. This has been done through two consecutive EIDHR 
projects implemented by ‘Fundación Construir’58 in support of citizens’ participation in a justice 
reform that grants access to justice for all (with a total budget of EUR 1.5 million). Under this 
longstanding cooperation, the EU has supported the public scrutiny of the judicial elections and 
the office of the General Prosecutor. The project contributed to the production of crucial reports 
informing the UN and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the main challenges 
related to fundamental rights and due process in Bolivia. In 2020, the Justice Observatory, also 
supported by the project, constituted the main repository of data on justice across state 
institutions. Finally, this initiative has been instrumental in developing innovative cooperation 
mechanisms between the state and civil society, and in promoting pro bono legal aid to help the 
persons in the most vulnerable situations to obtain free justice and reparation. 
                                                 
56 
https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/african-union-au/90470/joint-communiqu%C3%A9-
european-union-%E2%80%93-african-union-hold-16th-human-rights-dialogue_en 
 
57 
https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/RES/45/10  
58 
https://www.fundacionconstruir.org/participacionciudadanaenlareformaalajusticia/# 
 
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During 2020, the EU continued to be a staunch supporter of the responsibility to protect (R2P
concept. In close cooperation with EU Member States, EU action focused on promoting continued 
political commitment to and implementation of the R2P concept by facilitating dialogue and 
engagement in the UN context and by applying the concept as an analytical tool to specific country 
situations. 
The 15th anniversary of the adoption of the R2P concept offered further opportunities in this regard. 
At the 44th session of the HRC, the EU supported the resolution on the ‘15th anniversary of the 
responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against 
humanity, as enshrined in the World Summit Outcome of 2005’, which constituted the first thematic 
resolution on the R2P concept. 
Equally, the EU supported the HRC Resolution59 on the ‘contribution of the Human Rights Council 
to the prevention of human rights violations’ and the resolution on the ‘prevention of genocide’.60 
On 18 September 2020, all EU Member States voted in favour of including an item on R2P and the 
prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity on the agenda of 
the 75th session of the UNGA.  
The EU and its Member States, working together with the Group of Friends of R2P both in Geneva 
and New York, continued to strive to enable effective and operational action on R2P at the UN, not 
least by supporting the French/Mexican initiative on veto restraint if it is determined that a mass 
atrocity occurred. The EU further strengthened its cooperation with the UN on R2P and continued 
to support the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on R2P and the UN Joint Office on 
Genocide Prevention and the R2P, both politically and financially. The EU funded the development 
of atrocity prevention guidelines based on research assessing how preventive action works and what 
lessons can be learned to improve future practice. 
                                                 
59 
A/HRC/45/L.32. 
60 
A/HRC/RES/43/29. 
 
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In line with its broad ambition to ‘build back better’ for a green, inclusive, digital and resilient 
global recovery, the EU’s comprehensive strategic response also aims to prevent mass atrocities. 
The EU has continued to foster a culture of prevention and early action, based on close 
collaboration between thematic, geographic and crisis management departments. Furthermore, it 
has strengthened its capacity to adapt relevant instruments and initiatives to include R2P as a cross-
cutting and operational concept in foreign policy, including through internal training. The EU, 
supported by Member States, has continued to use conflict analysis and its Conflict Early Warning 
System to identify R2P issues and focus on early action.  
 
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2. 
BUILDING RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES  
2.1  ENHANCING DEMOCRATIC, ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT INSTITUTIONS 
For the first time since 2001, autocracies are in the majority and the outbreak of COVID-19 has 
worsened the already existing challenges to democracy around the world.61 To tackle democratic 
backsliding, the EU strives, for example, to support independent media and journalists, to 
strengthen parliaments and the rule of law, and to work with political parties in a non-partisan 
manner.  
The European Democracy Action Plan62 seeks to increase EU democracies’ resilience to challenges, 
addressing the areas where our democratic systems are most exposed. Therefore, it complements 
and mirrors the new EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy by addressing the risk of 
interference and manipulation in order to protect democracies within and outside the EU.  
Election observation missions (EOMs) are a highly visible demonstration of the EU’s commitment 
to supporting democracy and promoting respect for human rights and the rule of law in partner 
countries. In 2020, the EU deployed three EOMs: at the beginning of the year to Guyana and Peru, 
and in October to Ghana – the first deployment of an EU EOM since the start of the COVID-19 
pandemic. Eight election expert missions were deployed to follow electoral processes in Bolivia, 
Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Jordan, Mali, Myanmar and Niger. 
In addition, the EU spent EUR 73 million on electoral assistance including projects dedicated to 
preventing election violence and strengthening the role of citizens and local CSOs in observing 
elections. Capacity building and support were provided to election management bodies in a wide 
variety of countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Paraguay, the Central African Republic, Niger and 
Burkina Faso.  
                                                 
61 
Anna Lührmann, Seraphine F. Maerz, Sandra Grahn, Nazifa Alizada, Lisa Gastaldi, 
Sebastian Hellmeier, Garry Hindle and Staffan I. Lindberg. 2020. Autocratization Surges – 
Resistance Grows. Democracy Report 2020. 
Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem) and 
V-Dem’s Pandemic Backsliding Project. 
62 
European Democracy Action Plan, COM (2020) 790 final of 3 December 2020: https://eur-
lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2020%3A790%3AFIN&qid=1607079662423 

 
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The EU supported citizen observers during elections in OSCE participating States, notably in 
Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The EU also provided funds to African NGOs such 
as the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable 
Democracy in Africa, to design and carry out, jointly with local CSOs, domestic election 
observation or peace monitoring, e.g. in Burkina Faso or the Central African Republic.  
The role of social media during election campaigns worldwide has further increased during the 
global health pandemic. While the EU began to develop and pilot its methodology to observe online 
election campaigning in 2019, observation of the online space became a standard part of the work 
of EU EOMs in 2020.  
All EU EOM final reports since 2016, including missions’ recommendations, are available online in 
the EU Election Mission Database.63 
In 2020, the Commission adopted the revised methodology for enlargement, which was endorsed by 
the Member States. According to the revised methodology, the ‘fundamentals’, including the 
functioning of democratic institutions, will become even more central to accession negotiations and 
will determine their overall pace.  
During 2020, the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) remained a key EU partner in the 
enlargement and neighbourhood countries and supported initiatives in several areas, ranging from 
observation and awareness raising around specific issues such as the need to vote and voters’ rights, 
to the training of inexperienced activists in electoral participation.  
Furthermore, the EED supported media monitoring and social surveys, for example, monitoring 
people’s attitudes towards elections. The cooperation with the EED proved particularly responsive 
during the COVID-19 pandemic, and provided essential assistance to CSOs and media outlets in 
adapting to the current constraints and safety measures. 
                                                 
63 
EU Database on election missions: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/relations-non-eu-
countries/types-relations-and-partnerships/election-observation/mission-recommendations-
repository/home 
 
 
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The EU continued to work with the CoE on issues related to the promotion of democracy. For 
instance, in Ukraine, a joint project on media freedom aimed to ensure balanced and professional 
media coverage of the 2019-2020 elections.  
The EU supports the governance reform in Turkmenistan 
The European Union advocates for democratic reform in Turkmenistan. With this purpose in 
mind, the EU funds a bi-lateral project “Support for Public Administration Capacity Building in 
Turkmenistan”. The EU project supports development of the Master's degree programme in 
Public Administration and the administrative reform of the Academy of Civil Service. A series of 
trainings and workshops for academic staff were conducted to ensure knowledge transfer and 
promotion of the democratic principles and values in the civil service of Turkmenistan, 
strengthening their institutional and training capacities to implement international conventions in 
line with the National Human Rights Action Plan. 
During 2020, the EU also provided technical electoral assistance to several countries. For instance, 
under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), the Central Electoral Commission of 
Bosnia and Herzegovina developed a five-year strategy and corresponding action plan to improve 
the integrity, transparency and efficiency of the election process. EU funds also allowed the NGO 
‘Pod Lupom’ to field more than 2 600 electoral observers at the municipal elections in November 
2020.  
 
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The Western Balkans remained a priority region with strong political support for its democratic 
institutions and some in-person activities were organised at the beginning of 2020. The third round 
of the Jean Monnet Dialogue with the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia was 
organised in January, as was a follow-up online consultation after the early parliamentary elections. 
Regarding the Inter-Party Dialogue in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, 
consultations were conducted in February 2020. Online consultation with political stakeholders 
from these countries (and others, such as Ukraine) continued throughout the year. A virtual training 
session to tackle pandemic-related corruption risks was organised for parliamentary officials in the 
six countries of the region along with Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. An 
information session for parliamentary officials also took place, highlighting the EU’s economic 
support for the Western Balkans.  
The EU’s flagship project on parliamentary strengthening, INTER PARES | Parliaments in 
Partnership – EU Global Project to Strengthen the Capacity of Parliaments,64 went into full 
swing in 2020. It established partnerships between eight partner parliaments around the world 
(Malaysia, Bhutan, Maldives, The Gambia, Panama, Malawi, Trinidad and Tobago and Mauritania) 
and EU Member States’ parliaments (including Greece, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, 
Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, Ireland and Sweden).  
The project adapted its activities, including seminars, training, dialogues and mentoring, to online 
and virtual formats. INTER PARES documented parliamentary responses to the COVID-19 crisis, 
collecting and sharing best practices in order to safeguard and strengthen parliamentary democracy. 
The project published a primer on ‘Parliaments and Crisis: Challenges and Innovations’ in early 
May 2020. On the International Day of Parliamentarism on 30 June, it released a data-tracking map 
showing parliamentary responses in 166 countries.  
Moreover, the project provided key support for i) the revamping of the AGORA platform, ii) a 
multi-stakeholder knowledge-sharing online hub on parliamentary development, as well as iii) the 
Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament. It also started to produce a series 
of e-learning modules on key parliamentary matters. 
                                                 
64 
EU Global Project to Strengthen the Capacity of Parliaments https://www.inter-pares.eu/  
 
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2.2  PROMOTING RESPONSIVE, INCLUSIVE, PARTICIPATORY AND REPRESENTATIVE DECISION-MAKING 
In 2020, the EU’s stand for political pluralism was reflected in its continued support for political 
party systems, in a multi-party, non-partisan manner.  
In this context, the implementation of five projects that were awarded grants under the ‘Pilot 
Programme to Strengthen Political Parties’ helped to strengthen the role of women in political 
parties and to level the playing field of multi-party systems in Malawi, Bolivia, Morocco, Benin, 
Paraguay, Mongolia, Moldova, Tunisia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. 
In-person activities under the Young Political Leaders programme - which promotes dialogue and 
understanding to foster longer-term peace and trust amongst future leaders outside the EU – were 
suspended. However, a series of online events were held with the programme’s alumni during the 
lockdown: three debates were organised jointly with the Anna Lindh Foundation and an alumna 
participated in a session of the European Parliament’s Sub-Committee on Security and Defence. 
In celebration of International Democracy Day on 15 September, a series of online debates on the 
state of democracy during the COVID-19 pandemic took place between 14 and 17 September. 
These were co-organised by the European Parliament and the leading associations for promoting 
democracy in Europe and beyond. An international conference on ‘Parliaments and democratic 
innovations: adapting the capacities of parliaments to changing democracies’ was organised in 
December, jointly with the European Commission and INTER PARES | Parliaments in Partnership. 
The conference gathered Members of Parliament (MEPs), scholars and parliamentary officials to 
discuss how representative democracy is changing and how these changes affect parliaments. 
 
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The EU funded the ‘Young Mediterranean Voices’ programme across the southern Mediterranean 
region and Europe, focusing on intercultural dialogue. Its objective is to transform youth-led debate 
into policy action for inclusive societies. In 2020, the programme co-organised several online high-
level policy dialogues, where young delegates engaged with global leaders, including the HR/VP, 
the EU Ambassador to the UN, the Commissioner and the Director-General for Neighbourhood and 
Enlargement Negotiations, the Vice-President of the European Parliament and other MEPs. In April 
2020, alumni from this programme joined the EU Ambassador to the UN in an online conversation 
around the UN resolution on youth, peace and security, ensuring that their voice is heard in this 
crucial discussion at the UN Security Council.  
The Intercultural Learning Exchange through Global Education, Networking and Dialogue 
(iLEGEND) joint programme of the EU and the Council of Europe shared similar objectives by 
fostering intercultural dialogue, participation, capacity building and exchange of good practices. 
 
2.3  SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT AND PLURALISTIC MEDIA, ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND THE FIGHT 
AGAINST DISINFORMATION 
The EU continued supporting independent and pluralistic media, access to information and the fight 
against disinformation. It condemned and took action against restrictions on the work of journalists 
and media workers, ensuring the safety and protection of journalists and media workers, and 
supporting media initiatives. Moreover, the European Democracy Action Plan adopted in December 
2020 included a chapter specifically addressing media freedom and media pluralism and 
highlighting their importance to our democracy. Actions included measures to promote the safety of 
journalists and address the issue of strategic lawsuits against public participation, and foresee a 
structured dialogue with relevant international organisations to promote their implementation. 
The EU continued to operate programmes supporting media freedom and journalists’ safety in 
many regions and it launched new programmes in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The 
financial support awarded to journalists and media freedom over the past 2 years totalled EUR 50 
million. 
 
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Both the standard cooperation programmes and the IcSP were used to provide support to areas 
affected by conflict across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. These programmes 
aimed to improve the resilience and stability of fragile societies by strengthening independent 
media and CSOs, and supporting journalists and fact-checkers, in order to increase access to reliable 
information on COVID-19 and to counter disinformation.  
A range of measures were implemented in the EU neighbourhood: 
• 
The EU renewed its support to media freedom in the Southern Neighbourhood (where 
EUR 14 million was awarded to independent media serving the public interest) and in the six 
Eastern Partnership countries (where EUR 12 million was awarded in Armenia, Azerbaijan, 
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine). In the Western Balkans and Turkey, nearly EUR 20 
million was allocated to initiatives designed to support media freedom and pluralism and 
promote the diversity, effectiveness and sustainability of civic bodies, including media outlets 
and organisations. 
• 
Through the Horizontal Facility, the EU, in cooperation with the CoE, provided training and 
other support activities for representatives of the judiciary, the legal profession and civil 
society, among others, on various aspects of freedom of expression (Chapter 10 of the 
European Convention of Human Rights), including the safety of journalists.  
• 
Additional grants were provided to programmes in specific countries. For example, the EU 
supported a project implemented by the Albanian Media Institute in partnership with the 
International Federation of Journalists. This project aims to increase the ability of media 
organisations and professional journalists’ associations to strengthen professional standards 
and ethics and to promote and protect the right to freedom of expression. The project also 
supports CSO initiatives advocating for improved labour standards and laws, and standards 
and practices that protect freedom of opinion and expression.  
 
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Throughout 2020, the EU continued to promote greater consistency and coordination between 
actions taken in the EU and in partner countries. For example, a number of non-EU countries 
responded to the EU’s resolute approach to disinformation and hate speech and its prominent 
content regulation measures. The Digital Services Act, proposed by the Commission, and the 
recently adopted Racism Action Plan are both relevant in this respect, given their intrinsic links to 
the question of freedom of expression. The European Democracy Action Plan also included actions 
to protecting election integrity and promoting democratic participation, as well as tackling 
disinformation. 
The following initiatives adopted in 2020 were significant in terms of their effect outside the EU. 
• 
In the Joint Communication ‘Tackling COVID-19 disinformation – Getting the facts right’, 
adopted on 10 June 2020, the Commission and the HR/VP announced measures to strengthen 
media freedom and pluralism in the EU as part the European Democracy Action Plan.  
• 
The European Democracy Action Plan is designed to increase media freedom and media 
pluralism, to protect free speech and the democratic debate, to promote resilient electoral 
processes and to combat disinformation. It addresses issues such as protecting the safety of 
journalists and countering the effect of strategic lawsuits against public participation. It 
includes measures to support media pluralism in close alignment with the Media Action Plan. 
It announced initiatives to promote transparency of political advertising and communication, 
clearer rules on the financing of European political parties, and strengthened cooperation in 
the EU to ensure credible, inclusive and transparent elections. This will include facilitating 
cooperation between EU networks and partner countries and international organisations to 
build capacity and exchange best practices in countering electoral threats and promote high 
international standards in the use of new technologies.  
• 
Actions against disinformation in the European Democracy Action Plan are complementary to 
the legislative measures taken by the European Commission through the proposed regulation 
on the Digital Services Act, which among other things addresses the dissemination of illegal 
content and disinformation online, while protecting fundamental rights.  
 
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The above initiatives will shape the EU’s external action on supporting democracy in partner 
countries. The challenges to democracy within and outside the EU are similar, although are in some 
contexts considerably exacerbated by additional factors linked to e.g. lack of respect for human 
rights, democracy and the rule of law, development, economy or insecurity. This makes EU 
assistance designed to ensure transparent elections, free media and access to information even more 
relevant.  
A media environment in which a free and pluralistic media, journalists, fact-checkers and other 
media workers are able to carry out their work safely and independently is key to addressing 
disinformation and ensuring access to information. In 2020, the EU’s efforts to tackle 
disinformation supported its work towards meeting its objective of strengthening the media 
environment, not only within the EU but also beyond, including by promoting media freedom and 
independent media. 
The EU reiterated that, as a guiding principle, measures designed to tackle disinformation should 
remain proportionate to their objective and not undermine fundamental rights and freedoms. In this 
context, free and pluralistic media are key to addressing disinformation and informing the public. 
Following the adoption in 2018 of the EU Action Plan against Disinformation65 and the package of 
measures designed to secure free and fair elections66, specific EU initiatives on disinformation were 
developed and implemented in 2020, in full respect of fundamental rights and freedoms. This 
included the monitoring of the measures taken by the Member States in the context of the COVID-
19 pandemic, including measures to combat disinformation, and their impact on democracy, 
fundamental rights and the rule of law. The Commission supported the Member States through the 
exchange of best practices to support credible, inclusive and transparent elections in this context in 
the framework of the European Cooperation Network on Elections, which facilitated two such 
exchanges in 2020.  
                                                 
65 
https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/action_plan_against_disinformation.pdf 
66 
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_5681 
 
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The EU improved its response to disinformation, including by setting up the Rapid Alert System
In 2020, this platform ensured that information between the EU institutions and all EU Member 
States was exchanged effectively, not only on disinformation, but also on media freedom and media 
literacy.  
The work of the EEAS Stratcom Task Forces continued to focus on the Eastern Neighbourhood and 
Russia, the Western Balkans and the Southern Neighbourhood, MENA and the Gulf. The Task 
Forces’ objectives include:  
• 
addressing and responding to disinformation activities conducted by foreign state and 
non-state actors; 
• 
strengthening the media environment in the EU’s neighbourhood, the enlargement 
region and Member States, including by offering support to promote media freedom;  
• 
strengthening independent media; and  
• 
ensuring EU policies are promoted and communicated effectively.  
As of November 2020, the East Stratcom Task Force’s flagship project,67 EUvsDisinfo,68 had 
identified, analysed and exposed over 10 000 examples of disinformation originating in pro-
Kremlin media, which have been documented in a publicly accessible database since 2015. The 
Task Force also conducted a series of interviews with experienced Russian journalists working to 
investigate and expose disinformation in order to strengthen their voice in the debate.69 
                                                 
67 
The East Stratcom Task Force has a specific mandate to challenge Russia’s ongoing 
disinformation campaigns. European Council conclusions of 2015: 
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11-2015-INIT/en/pdf  
68 
www.euvsdisinfo.eu 
69 
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/the-information-boomerang-returns/ 
 
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The Earth is Flat? Are you sure? Let’s discuss … 
‘The Earth is Flat – How to Read Media’, a joint educational media literacy project of Goethe 
Institute in Moscow and COLTA.RU, funded by the European Instrument for Democracy and 
Human Rights, recently summed up the results of its three-year work. 
The project team held workshops for pupils, trainings for teachers, interactive video lessons for 
students and public lectures for wide audience, produced media content and supported media 
literacy initiatives in 16 cities of Russia – from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok.  
More than 900 people took part in the workshops with four times more participants than initially 
foreseen. More than 250 students participated in the interactive video lectures. About 300 
teachers attended 14 trainings. Public lectures, two online-discussions with media experts and an 
online-conference brought together 1800 people. 
The experts shared their knowledge of navigating the modern media landscape and distinguishing 
facts from fiction. They helped teenagers and adults to assess critically what the media offer and 
stand up for their rights. The discussion tackled also the issues of personal accounts and data 
protection, online debate ethics, hate speech and dealing with trolls and cyberbullying.  
The project supported civil society and dialogue about art and involved Russian and foreign 
media celebrities, including independent journalists, bloggers, film directors and artists.  
All the theoretical and practical materials, produced for almost three years, became part of a 
tutorial on media literacy. More information on the project and its methodological outputs 
(educational videos, lectures, interactive tests, etc.) are available at https://howtoreadmedia.ru/en/ 
Targeted activities have been carried out in various regions. The first EU-Western Balkans Media 
Literacy Conference took place on 29 September 2020, bringing together fact-checkers, young 
people, journalists and authorities from the Western Balkans, the EU and beyond to discuss media 
literacy and the fight against disinformation. The HR/VP issued a video statement, in which he 
addressed and praised fact-checkers in the region.  
 
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The EU also supports freedom of expression and media freedom in the Western Balkans through 
the EU-funded Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey, implemented by the CoE.  
As part of the Team Europe response to the pandemic, the EU supported a new project – the Global 
Monitor of COVID-19’s Impact on Democracy and Human Rights.70 The Global Monitor is an 
online platform that aims to facilitate public access to data and analysis on how measures adopted in 
the context of the COVID-19 pandemic affected democracy and human rights in 165 countries 
around the world.  
The International institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is 
implementing the project, which is co-funded by the EU under the EIDHR. International IDEA 
independently collects and analyses the data based on its own democracy measurement framework, 
which it uses for its biennial Global State of Democracy Report. The EU is not involved in the 
assessment. 
Furthermore, the Global Monitor is an example of strong cooperation across the board, as it also 
uses information gathered by leading CSOs, think tanks and universities, therefore bringing together 
all the data and knowledge available to create a ‘tracker of trackers’. 
Over 10 000 individuals across the EU neighbourhood benefited from the EU-funded regional 
OPEN media hub programme. This programme tackles new trends, such as the impact of 
digitalisation on media, including content and revenue, and the shrinking media freedom in many 
countries, and offers ways to refute disinformation. 
 
                                                 
70 
The Global Monitor of COVID-19’s Impact on Democracy and Human Rights: 
https://www.idea.int/news-media/events/global-monitor-covid-19%C2%B4s-impact-
democracy-and-human-rights-one-stop-tool-hold 

 
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2.4  REINFORCING A HUMAN RIGHTS AND PARTICIPATIVE APPROACH TO CONFLICT PREVENTION AND 
CRISIS RESOLUTION 
As a global actor, the EU promotes peace through peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and mediation 
and dialogue. Lasting peace requires human rights being respected and adopting an inclusive 
approach. It is through multilateralism that we are able to enforce respect for common international 
norms and mitigate conflictual relations. 
In line with the EU guidelines on children and armed conflict, the EU continued to support the UN 
Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) mandate and the accompanying tools, such as the monitoring 
and reporting mechanism and the UN Secretary-General’s annual report, which lists parties to 
conflicts who committed grave violations against children. The EU supported the work of the UN 
Special Representative on CAAC, notably on developing and implementing action plans designed 
to end and to prevent six types of grave violation against children affected by armed conflict: i) 
recruitment and use of children; ii) killing and maiming; iii) sexual violence; iv) attacks against 
schools and hospitals; v) abduction; and vi) denial of humanitarian access. 
In 2020, the EU Member States endorsed the list of priority countries with respect to children and 
armed conflict. This political engagement is strengthened by:  
• 
the implementation of concrete projects focusing on preventing and responding to 
violence; 
• 
prevention of the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict; 
• 
case management; 
• 
restoration of civil documentation; 
• 
family tracing and reunification; 
• 
demobilisation; 
• 
release and reintegration; and 
• 
psychosocial support and alternative forms of care for unaccompanied and separated 
children.  
 
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In Armenia, for example, the EU launched the ‘Future Today’ project that seeks to increase the 
uptake of quality early-childhood care and education in rural areas, thereby supporting vulnerable 
families, women and children, whose difficult circumstances have been further aggravated by 
COVID-19 and the recent escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The programme includes 
work with teenage boys (aged 12-18) and men on men’s engagement in childcare and household 
work, as well as promoting tolerance, problem-solving skills and non-violent conflict resolution.  
The issue of CAAC continues to be present in political dialogue. The EU advocates, in particular, 
ratifying and implementing the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 
on the involvement of children in armed conflict, and criminalising grave violations committed 
against children during conflict. It also takes action to ensure accountability, deliver quality services 
for children and ensure reintegration of former child soldiers.  
The EU contributing to the strengthening of child protection in the Central African 
Republic 
The EU has contributed to the strengthening of child protection in the CAR through supporting 
UNICEF’s actions in this area, in particular as regards the reintegration of children released from 
armed groups. This initiative is a part of a national plan to effectively address the needs of 
children whose lives have been affected by conflicts in the CAR, including children recruited or 
at risk of being recruited by armed groups. Key results include the release of children (1,757 
children in the prefectures of Bamingui Bangoran, Ombella MPoko, Nana Gribizi, Kémo and the 
capital Bangui), care and support for socioeconomic reintegration (93 % of released children have 
been included in UNICEF supported reintegration programmes), foster families, psychosocial 
needs response and protection of children in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
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Children make up the majority of beneficiaries of EU-funded humanitarian operations. These 
include, for example, action to support children associated with armed forces and groups, 
psychosocial support, family tracing and identification, creating child-friendly spaces, preventing 
and responding to violence (including sexual violence), and supporting unaccompanied and 
separated children. The EU also funds UNICEF’s work on specific projects in Syria, Yemen, 
Somalia, South Sudan and Chad that offer support to children in armed conflict (e.g. monitoring and 
reporting of grave violations or reintegration). Advocating and ensuring respect for international 
humanitarian law remains a necessity.  
The EU aims to increase the capacity of CSDP missions designed to mainstream human rights and 
gender by ensuring that each mission has both a fulltime human rights adviser and a gender adviser, 
as some missions had only one ‘double-hatted’ position in the past. This standard set-up was 
introduced in the revised document establishing the mission model structure. In 2020, the EEAS for 
the first time employed a human rights expert in its Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability 
(CPCC) Directorate.  
Both human rights and gender mainstreaming as well as the implementation of the WPS agenda 
have been regularly addressed in CSDP senior management seminars and meetings, such as 
the biannual meetings of heads of mission and the meetings of the deputy heads of mission and 
chiefs of staff. Initial work has started on developing operational guidelines for human rights 
mainstreaming.  
The operational guidelines on gender mainstreaming for mission management and staff continued to 
guide civilian CSDP missions in their efforts to more systematically mainstream a gender 
perspective in their daily operations and help implement the UNSC Resolutions on Women, Peace 
and Security. The guidelines are a step towards further implementing the recommendations of the 
baseline study, and help promote a more uniform and recognisable approach to gender 
mainstreaming for the civilian CSDP.  
 
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Furthermore, the Upgraded Generic Standards of Behaviour for CSDP Missions and Operations are 
now being implemented in all CSDP missions and operations. The document specifically addresses 
sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based 
violence. It stresses that all personnel have the right to live and work in an environment free from 
harassment, abuse, unlawful discrimination, intimidation and bullying. The pre-deployment training 
followed in Brussels includes a two-hour session on the new Code of Conduct and Discipline, the 
Generic Standards of Behaviour, and the Guidelines on Ethics and Integrity. Since March 2020, a 
mandatory e-learning module was made available to everyone who is working in, or will work in, 
civilian CSDP missions. 
In the area of operational planning, the EEAS CPCC Directorate updated and standardised 
the Human Rights and Gender annex to the Operation Plan (OPLAN). The standardised annex 
still allows for a description of the local context and mandate-related information to be 
incorporated. 
As regards human resources, the CPCC Directorate introduced the collection of more detailed 
gender-disaggregated data, allowing for in-depth analyses and comparison of the gender balance, 
not only between missions but also at different levels and across different functions.71  
In line with best practice, individuals with human rights and gender expertise were part of the core 
planning team and the technical assessment mission for the EU Advisory Mission in the Central 
African Republic (EUAM RCA).  
Progress was made in implementing the operational guidelines on gender mainstreaming at mission 
level. 
• 
All missions started to collect gender-disaggregated data in line with instructions from 
Brussels. 
• 
Eight missions adopted an internal gender action plan. 
• 
Ten missions established a gender focal point structure. 
                                                 
71 
For example, in civilian CSDP missions, female staff account for around 30% of all mission 
members, both local and international. 
 
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• 
Around 80 individuals served as gender focal points in missions and received specific 
training. The gender focal point system, coordinated by the mission’s gender adviser, 
plays an important role in civilian missions by ensuring a gender perspective is 
integrated into the mission’s daily activities, including training. 
• 
Three missions conducted in-depth gender analysis to guide implementation of the 
mission mandate. 
• 
Since 2018, special reports on gender have been produced for five missions (EUMM 
Georgia, EULEX Kosovo, EUCAP Somalia, EUCAP Sahel Mali and EUBAM Libya). 
EUAM Ukraine is working with partners in Ukraine to improve mitigation and response 
measures in order to tackle domestic violence, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. For 
example, a webinar was organised for the cadets of the Kharkiv National University of Internal 
Affairs in October. EUAM experts provided the cadets with effective policing techniques for 
mitigating the consequences of domestic violence, dealing appropriately with victims and 
aggressors, and taking care of children caught up in domestic violence cases. Children who 
grow up in a violent environment are inclined to adopt the same models for solving problems 
when they are adults. The webinar also focused on interview techniques, as it is crucial for 
police to establish a clear picture and to take into account all circumstances before forming 
judgements.  
The EUCAP Sahel Mali mission works with the internal security forces and other actors in tackling 
gender-based violence. In particular, EUCAP encouraged the Malian internal security forces to 
appoint focal points in each force (the police, the gendarmerie and the national guard) and organised 
several training sessions for the forces focused on gender-based violence and victim support. 
 
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In November 2020, EUAM Ukraine organised an online seminar on Roma minorities for 35 cadets 
and teachers from the National Academy of Internal Affairs in Kharkiv. The training focused on 
how police officers can take into account community-specific situations in order to maintain law 
and order effectively and how they can establish a partnership with the local community. The aim is 
to improve access to police services and enable a more effective response if there is a dispute. The 
EUAM trainer shared his experience from his hometown, Kyustendil (Bulgaria), which has a 
significant Roma community. 
EULEX Kosovo closely monitors legal cases involving attacks against journalists dealt with by the 
Kosovo*72 police, prosecution and courts. On the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes 
against Journalists’, it honoured journalists who were killed or attacked while doing their job. The 
mission also paid tribute to the journalists who disappeared or were kidnapped or murdered during 
and in the aftermath of the Kosovo conflict.  
In November 2020, EUCAP Sahel Niger organised a workshop for police, magistrates and 
representatives of local NGOs in order to improve mutual understanding and trust between the 
national police and the public. In September 2020, EUCAP Sahel Niger, together with the local 
security forces in Agadez, organised a workshop for 100 pupils and five directors of a school to 
teach them about the dangers of unexploded ordnances.  
In the autumn of 2020, the EUAM Ukraine teamed up with the National Police Department of 
Juvenile Protection for an awareness campaign dedicated to the International Human Righ ts 
Day on 10 December.  
                                                 
72* 
This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 
1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. 
 
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EUAM Ukraine experts came up with the idea of a human rights campaign focusing on the 
challenges created by the ongoing pandemic. The campaign was held in centres for vulnerable 
children aged 3-16 who are under the observance of police in the Kyiv region. Before the 
juvenile police officers visited the children’s centres, EUAM experts provided them with key 
messages and techniques on how to conduct child-friendly meetings and discuss the most 
relevant human rights topics with children – such as the right to education and the right to 
personal development – through games and drawings. The idea was not only to explain to 
children their fundamental rights, but also encourage them to express their understanding of 
the situation. Children were asked to put their vision of human rights into their drawings, 
which will later be printed on reusable facemasks. 
Child protection aspects are taken into account in the planning and implementation of crisis 
management operations, in training, in early-warning and preventive approaches, and in the EU’s 
work in peace negotiations and peace agreements. In the CSDP context, child protection aspects are 
integrated into training and other activities at mission level. At the EU training mission in Mali, for 
example, the issues of child soldiers and the protection of children are covered as part of a training 
on IHL provided to Malian armed forces. EULEX Kosovo organised training on forensic 
interviewing and case management techniques for police working on cases of sexual abuse and 
domestic violence. Particular attention was given to cases where the victims are children. 
The EU recognises and supports the work of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack 
and supports its initiatives including the promotion of the Safe School Declaration. The EU strongly 
believes that schools should be safe havens, in line with their protection under IHL. 
The EU promoted IHL capacity building through its work with military and security actors. For 
example, the EU training missions in the Central African Republic, Mali and Somalia continued to 
provide training modules on IHL to national security and defence forces. Practical and gender-
sensitive training on international human rights and humanitarian law and the protection of civilians 
is included in every training course and is fully streamlined. 
 
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The EU’s engagement on gender equality and women’s empowerment in conflict situations 
also forms part of the EU’s implementation of the WPS agenda, which is central to cooperation 
with partners such as the UN, NATO and the OSCE, and to dialogues with non-EU countries on 
security. The EU’s policy is based on UN resolutions and is formulated in the ‘2008 Comprehensive 
Approach to the EU implementation of the UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 on Women, Peace and 
Security’. The EU-UN strategic partnership on the WPS agenda is one of eight priorities for 2019-
2021 relating to peace operations and crisis management.  
In 2020, the Council conclusions on Women, Peace and Security and the new EU Strategic 
Approach to WPS served as a critical compass for all EU policies and actions designed to engage, 
empower, protect and support women and girls in all areas of peace processes and security work. 
The new EU Strategic Approach to WPS emphasises the importance of women’s leadership and of 
meaningful and equitable involvement in all aspects of peace and security and in all areas of policy 
decision-making and programming. It also engages men and boys on the basis that they can act as 
positive agents for change, emphasising the need to address and transform gender stereotypes and to 
reconsider the deep-rooted perceptions present in societies. 
The EU continues to implement various measures to support the Office of the UN Special Envoy 
for Yemen. The EU has been funding Deep Root, a specialised organisation that works to increase 
women’s involvement in the Yemeni peace process. This work includes identifying and building 
consensus around possible solutions and options for the peace agreement and the transitional period, 
and giving a voice to women’s views. Any meeting financed by the EU requires a minimum 
representation of 30% women; however, most reach 50%. The EU and UN are planning to 
mainstream women’s inclusion in all areas of work: governance, the South of the country, young 
people, the economy, and community safety. A group of Yemeni and Syrian women visited 
Brussels and New York for high-profile meetings at the EU and the UN, resulting in their 
involvement gaining added visibility and credibility. 
 
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During 2020, the joint UN-EU-AU peace process analysis on the Central African Republic included 
an assessment of the specific role women play in implementing the peace process and in selected 
armed groups. It covered i) factors that either facilitate or prevent women’s involvement, 
ii) differences in rules on access to natural resources and other assets, iii) the inclusivity and 
legitimacy of government mechanisms, and iv) the role of women ex-combatants in the 
disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process. 
The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the central importance of the 
WPS agenda and of the nexus between security and gender equality for addressing the pandemic 
more effectively. The pandemic has further exacerbated the challenges that women have already 
been facing, including political participation, domestic violence and health. In addition, the 
lockdown and self-isolation measures have limited the ability of peacekeepers to have direct 
physical contact with communities. 
The pandemic also threatens the existence of women-led grassroots organisations, as the operational 
environment has become even more hostile, and funding is being questioned. Increasing levels of 
unemployment and the resulting threats to women’s economic welfare are major challenges, placing 
women in an even more vulnerable situation. 
For survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and those at risk in fragile and conflict-affected 
areas, who already face shame, stigma and fear of repercussions, the COVID-19-related challenges, 
such as quarantines and curfews, together with the fear of contracting COVID-19, are making it 
even more difficult for them to report cases of SGBV and to access essential services, e.g. justice, 
shelters, and sexual and reproductive healthcare.  
In Myanmar, the EU has supported the Myanmar National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC) 
through the Joint Peace Fund. This has helped increase WPS expertise in a key institution in the 
Myanmar peace architecture. Six technical advisers in WPS are being recruited to provide expertise 
to the NRPC secretariat. 
 
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The COVID-19 pandemic is also affecting the role of mediators in peace processes, and notably on 
women. Holding dialogues and mediation processes online has had both positive and negative 
effects.  
The new concept on EU peace mediation was adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 7 
December 2020. The concept highlights the EU’s value-based approach to peace mediation, rooted 
in respect for the rule of law, democracy and human rights. Drawing on lessons learned over the last 
ten years and on insights from European and international experts, it outlines the specific features of 
EU mediation. 
It aims to further strengthen the EU’s leading role in peace mediation, conflict prevention and 
peacebuilding worldwide. It sets out an assertive stance and increased level of ambition for the EU, 
reconfirming its strategic partnership with the UN and regional bodies such as the OSCE and the 
AU.  
Notably, it also factors in new challenges in the field of conflict resolution, such as the impact of 
climate change and environmental degradation and of digital technologies. 
The new concept will be accompanied by a set of EEAS peace mediation guidelines, which will 
provide guidance on how to apply the spirit of EU peace mediation in practice and will support EU 
peace mediators and EU mediation bodies in designing and managing the mediation process 
accordingly. 
The adoption of the new concept reflects the particular momentum driving the development of the 
EU’s work in mediation, the increase in its capacity and the revision of its policy. The steps taken to 
achieve its mandate in this area include creating a gender-balanced pool of EU mediators, which 
will allow the EU to pursue its foreign policy objectives by drawing on mediation and dialogue as 
the preferred means of action. In addition, a high-level task force is working to increase attention to 
strategy and to provide political guidance on mediation opportunities and involvement around the 
world.  
 
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The EEAS Mediation Support Team has specific expertise in WPS. All activities that involve 
assessing mediation potential, supporting existing mediation efforts or building mediation capacity 
are gender sensitive. 
In 2020, a guidance note was developed on using conflict analysis to support EU external action.  
 
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3. 
PROMOTING A GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY 
3.1  MULTILATERAL COOPERATION 
The EU continued to be a leader in the universal promotion and protection of human rights, 
democracy and the rule of law in multilateral fora, including in the UN Human Rights Council 
(HRC) and at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). It supported the 
process put in place to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the HRC, strengthened the links 
with the work of the UNGA Third Committee and promoted synergies with other multilateral and 
regional human rights fora.  
The EU has increased its activity in building coalitions with regional and cross-regional groups in 
order to achieve credible and meaningful outcomes in an increasingly difficult environment that is 
characterised by trends that undermine human rights, democracy, the rule of law and the 
effectiveness of multilateral institutions. As a firm supporter of the UN human rights system, the 
EU used all available tools to address human rights violations and abuses, including through 
country-specific statements and resolutions and by offering support to commissions of inquiry, fact-
finding missions, other Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review.  
The 75th session of the Third Committee of the UNGA held in October and November 2020 was a 
success for the EU. Despite the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted 
in the session being organised in a hybrid format involving in-person and virtual meetings, over 60 
interactive dialogues were held with UN Special Procedures mandate holders and senior officials, 
and over 50 resolutions were adopted73. The Committee adopted all nine resolutions presented by 
the EU and its Member States without vote or with comfortable voting tallies. Member States 
worked closely with the Delegation of the EU to the UN in New York to support EU positions, 
including by burden sharing on certain resolutions and statements.  
                                                 
73 
All resolutions can be found on the UN webpage, 
https://www.un.org/en/ga/75/resolutions.shtml 
 
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The EU attaches great importance to country resolutions. As in previous years, the Committee 
adopted without vote the resolution on the human rights situation in the DPRK tabled by the EU 
and co-sponsored by 58 countries. The ambitious text of the joint resolution of the EU and the 
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on the situation of human rights in Myanmar continued to 
enjoy wide support among all regional groups and remains a good example of cross-regional 
cooperation. It emphasised a number of important elements, including references to the ICC, the 
COVID-19 response, the electoral process, and business and human rights. The interactive dialogue 
with the UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus reaffirmed the strong support for democracy and human 
rights in this country. The EU-US coordinated joint statement was supported by 52 partners. The 
outcome of the vote on the resolution on the situation of human rights in Syria, co-sponsored by all 
27 EU Member States, is a good example of a human rights-focused, balanced and fact-based text.  
Regarding thematic resolutions, the Committee adopted by 120 votes the resolution on the 
moratorium on the death penalty presented by an interregional task force co-chaired by Mexico and 
Switzerland, and supported by the EU. The Committee also adopted the resolution on freedom of 
religion or belief without a vote. The EU maintained unanimity in expressing opposition to the 
Russian-tabled resolution on combating the glorification of Nazism. Despite challenging 
negotiations, the Committee adopted a number of gender resolutions. In addition to the usual 
resolutions on violence against women, child, early and forced marriage, FGM, fistula and 
trafficking, two new resolutions on women and COVID-19, tabled by Spain and Egypt, were 
adopted. The adoption of seven resolutions on gender, including four fully negotiated ones, is a very 
positive outcome. The resolution on violence against women is the first to recognise the impact of 
the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative. The overwhelming vote in favour of the initiative confirms that 
support for gender equality remains strong within the UN membership.  
 
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The EU also continued to play a leading role at the HRC: it achieved progress on thematic priorities 
and addressed country-specific situations by putting forward EU-led resolutions and statements, 
including by working cross-regionally and supporting action initiated by others. Although the 
session was ultimately suspended in its last week - on 13 March - due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 
the EU actively engaged in facilitating the continuation of this 43rd session. In view of the incidents 
of excessive use of force of which people of African descent had been victim, and the violence used 
against peaceful protest, the EU supported the African Group and the call by civil society and 
relatives of victims for these important matters to be discussed at the HRC, and welcomed the 
adoption of the resolution by consensus. The EU-led resolution on Myanmar addressed ongoing 
human rights violations and abuses, underlined the importance of the work of the Independent 
Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, called for justice and accountability and requested the 
renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur. The EU resolution on DPRK sent a clear 
message that there must be an immediate end to human rights violations and an improvement in 
civil liberties, social and economic rights, and that the DPRK must engage effectively with the UN 
human rights system. The EU called for support for the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and the 
accountability project being implemented by the OHCHR Seoul Office.  
At the 43rd HRC session, the EU, together with the Group of Latin America and Caribbean 
Countries (GRULAC), tabled a resolution with a special focus on children in vulnerable situations. 
It called for the renewal and strengthening of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the sale and 
sexual exploitation of children, receiving cross-regional support. The EU remains fully committed 
to the protection and promotion of the right to freedom of religion or belief, and presented a 
resolution on this issue, urging countries to step up their efforts to ensure that this right is upheld 
when addressing instances of intolerance, discrimination and violence based on religion or belief. 
This resolution was presented in parallel with an OIC-led resolution on religious intolerance. The 
Council adopted both by consensus. The EU also supported the resolution by the African Group on 
the human rights situation in Libya, calling for the creation of a fact-finding mission: this mission 
will play a vital role in establishing the facts and circumstances of violations and abuses of human 
rights law and humanitarian law and in documenting and reporting to the HRC. The EU Member 
States also co-sponsored the resolution on cooperation with Georgia. 
 
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At the 44th session, the EU presented a resolution on the human rights situation in Belarus, whic
called for the mandate of the Special Rapporteur to be extended by one more year due to the 
continuing human rights violations in this country. In order for the highly concerning situation in 
Belarus to be examined in the Council, the EU requested an urgent debate on this matter at the 45th 
session and introduced a resolution, which the Council adopted on 18 September 2020. The 
resolution requested that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights present an interim oral 
update with recommendations to the HRC before the end of 2020, and a comprehensive written 
report on the human rights situation in relation to the 2020 presidential election at the next session.  
The EU strongly supported the resolution on the human rights situation in Eritrea, which included a 
technical rollover of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, there being no evidence that the 
country has made tangible progress on its human rights obligations. The EU reiterated its profound 
concern about the human rights situation in Venezuela, the worsening of the political crisis and the 
further shrinking of the democratic and political space. Consistent with the views it had expressed 
on numerous previous occasions following the imposition of a national security law in Hong Kong, 
the EU drew attention to the human rights situation in China, including in Hong Kong Special 
Administrative Region and Xinjiang, and reiterated its call for China to uphold its national and 
international obligations and to respect human rights. The EU-led resolution on the human rights 
situation in Burundi renewed the mandate of the existing Commission of Inquiry for a further 
period of 1 year. 
The EU was actively involved in a number of discussions on other human rights situations requiring 
continued attention from the international community, including the interactive dialogue with the 
fact-finding mission on Libya. It also supported important resolutions on Syria and Venezuela that 
will ensure continued scrutiny by the Council, and the resolution on Yemen renewing the mandate 
of the Group of Eminent Experts. In a joint statement with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation 
on the human rights situation in Myanmar, the EU made a strong call for accountability. The EU 
continued to raise concerns about the deteriorating human right situation in Russia as well as in the 
illegally annexed autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.  
 
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The EU also supported a resolution on freedom of expression, which included a timely focus on 
access to information, an essential factor in combating the current global health and economic 
crisis. The resolution on the realisation of the rights of the child through a healthy environment, 
tabled by the EU and the GRULAC, is an important contribution to this policy area, as it will guide 
countries’ efforts to strengthen the focus on child rights in their environmental decision-making. It 
also illustrates the power of cross-regional support. 
Strategic cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was further 
developed both at central level and with field offices. The EU continued to support and defend the 
integrity and independence of the mandate of the Office, including its role in addressing thematic 
issues, supporting the HRC Special Procedures and implementing the compliance framework. 
In 2020, the EU contributed to several reports by thematic special rapporteurs, including on climate 
change and human rights, and human rights and the environment. 
The 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the sessions of the UN Human Rights 
Council, in particular the June session, and the annual session of the UNGA Third Committee 
demonstrated the EU’s principled leadership on gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights and 
women’s empowerment. By actively engaging with partner countries in multilateral fora, the EU 
made a consistent contribution to progress towards achieving these goals. The EU successfully 
maintained its role as an international actor at a time of global uncertainty and made good use of 
opportunities to promote an effective rules-based international order. In 2020, the EU continued 
engaging strongly in negotiations at the UN, in order to strengthen guidance and political 
commitments on gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights, and to ensure that UN human rights 
mechanisms mainstream gender equality into their mandates. Furthermore, the EU placed gender 
equality at the centre of its working relations with multilateral partners, such as the OSCE, the CoE, 
NATO, the AU, the Organization of American States, the League of Arab States (LAS), ASEAN, 
the ASEAN Regional Forum and the OIC, and with the members of the G7 and the G20. 
 
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As part of its engagement with key stakeholders worldwide, the EU is committed to working for the 
success of the Generation Equality Forum. The Forum was convened in 2019 by UN Women and 
co-chaired by France and Mexico. Its objective was to organise a series of high-level global 
gatherings with six action coalitions, to help promote gender equality and speed up the 
implementation of the 1995 recommendations of the Beijing Platform for Action. The Generation 
Equality Forum is an example of multilateral cooperation and international solidarity, under which 
the EU is co-leading the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence, together with representatives 
of countries, UN agencies, CSOs, young people’s organisations and the private sector. In 2020, it 
made progress on preparing the blueprints of this Action Coalition. 
In 2020, the EU contributed to several reports by thematic special rapporteurs. In the area of climate 
change and human rights, the EU contributed to a report by the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme 
poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, titled ‘The “just transition” in the economic 
recovery: eradicating poverty within planetary boundaries’.74 The EU also contributed to two 
reports by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David Boyd, on the 
global water crisis and on healthy ecosystems, respectively. 
The EU and its Member States actively engaged on promoting labour rights and decent working in 
the context of the International Labour Organization’s work, including through contributions to the 
ILO Technical Meeting on Achieving Decent Work in Global Supply Chains (25-28 February 2020, 
the ILO Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work (1-9 July 2020), the 15th 
Commission-ILO high-level meeting (13 October 2020) and the 340th ILO Governing Body 
meeting (2-14 November 2020).  
The EU also participated actively at the 58th session of the UN Commission for Social Development 
(8-19 February 2020), where it co-hosted a side event with China and the ILO on experiences and 
challenges in building universal social protection systems. 
                                                 
74 
https://www.ohchr.org/en/Issues/Poverty/Pages/CallforsubmissionsJustTransition.aspx  
 
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3.2  REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS 
The EU in the Council of Europe 
On 13 July 2020, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted the new priorities for EU cooperation with 
the Council of Europe (CoE) for 2020-202275, reaffirming human rights, democracy and the rule of 
law as the priorities for cooperation. Within these priorities, a number of specific areas were 
highlighted, including the promotion of effective multilateralism, the impact of the COVID-19 
pandemic, guaranteeing fundamental social and economic rights, digitalisation and artificial 
intelligence (AI), environmental protection, and tackling threats to the rule of law. These new 
priorities cite the link between human rights and environmental protection as a guiding principle for 
implementing the European Green Deal. Two areas of action identified as central to creating further 
links between the work of the EU and the CoE are shaping a European legal framework for 
environmental protection and countering environmental crimes. The ninth World Forum for 
Democracy (WFD), organised by the CoE, is dedicated to the role of human rights and democracy 
in environmental protection. In 2020, the WFD organised a one-year virtual campaign with 
different themes for each month. The EU contributed to the virtual campaign in December 2020 on 
the theme of human rights and the environment. 
The EU remained fully committed to its accession to the European Convention on Human 
Rights (ECHR) and in September 2020, negotiations resumed in Strasbourg following the 2014 
negative opinion by the Court of Justice of the EU on the original draft accession agreement. For 
the EU, this is not only a treaty obligation, but also an expression of the EU’s fundamental values: 
once the EU becomes the 48th Contracting Party to the ECHR, citizens will be able to challenge the 
EU’s actions before the European Court of Human Rights. To mark the 70th anniversary of the 
ECHR in November, the EU led a joint communication campaign featuring animation videos that 
illustrated fundamental rights guaranteed by the Convention by recounting real human rights stories 
from the Court’s case law, thus highlighting the benefits of the Convention for victims of human 
rights violations.  
                                                 
75 
Council conclusions on EU priorities for cooperation with the Council of Europe 2020-
2022, 13 July 2020. https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9283-2020-
INIT/en/pdf 
 
 
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During 2020, the EU addressed a number of issues in the CoE Committee of Ministers, including 
observing World Press Freedom Day, the International Day against the Death Penalty, and the 
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. The EU also made statements on 
individual human rights cases and developments, in particular referring to the situations in Belarus 
and Russia and the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Although the COVID-19 public health crisis 
presented major challenges for all areas of cooperation in 2020, it also led to the development of 
innovative solutions. In April 2020, the CoE Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, shared 
with Member States a toolkit for respecting democracy, the rule of law and human rights 
during the COVID-19 crisis.76  
A clear illustration of the structured cooperation between the EU and the CoE, which is based on 
their different yet complementary roles, is the first annual Rule of Law Report, which was issued by 
the Commission in September and presents an assessment of all 27 Member States. The Report 
based many of its findings on rule-of-law recommendations from CoE bodies such as the Venice 
Commission and the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). The EU’s commitment to 
promoting the rule of law also features in the EU’s enlargement and neighbourhood policies: 
several CoE recommendations were referred to in the 2020 Communication on the EU’s 
Enlargement Policy and the attached reports77. Similarly, the close cooperation with the CoE helped 
the EU to deliver results under its policy on work with the Eastern Partnership countries.  
                                                 
76 
Respecting democracy, rule of law and human rights in the framework of the COVID-19 
sanitary crisis - A toolkit for member states. Council of Europe, 7 April 2020: 
https://rm.coe.int/sg-inf-2020-11-respecting-democracy-rule-of-law-and-human-rights-in-
th/16809e1f40 
 
77 
https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/countries/package_en  
 
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EU-Council of Europe joint programmes 
The EU-CoE joint programmes remained instrumental in supporting justice reform, fighting 
corruption and promoting human rights, independent media and civil society. In particular, 
the Partnership for Good Governance II delivered encouraging midterm results in October 2020, 
showing its effectiveness in helping to strengthen the rule of law, combat violence against 
women, provide access to justice for all, protect the human rights of people in vulnerable 
situations and promote equality and anti-discrimination policies in the Eastern Partnership region. 
Work under the joint programmes was carried out successfully despite the challenges posed by 
the pandemic. The fourth phase of the South Programme, which started in March 2020, continues 
to support the ongoing democratic reforms in the region, with a particular focus on combating 
violence against women and fighting economic crime. Similarly, the Horizontal Facility II helped 
deliver progress in the Western Balkans, notably on judicial reform, the execution of judgments 
from the European Court of Human Rights, non-discrimination, the rights of LGBTI persons, 
protection of persons belonging to minorities, and the rights of persons in detention. It also 
provided for a better evaluation of the results of judicial reforms thanks to improved 
understanding and implementation of the indicators developed by the European Commission for 
the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ). 
The EU in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 
The EU continued to engage in dialogue and cooperation within the ‘human dimension’ of the 
comprehensive security concept of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 
(OSCE).  
 
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The EU actively participated and took the floor in all human dimension events - exceptionally held 
online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic - including the three supplementary human 
dimension meetings, Human Dimension Committee meetings and the third Gender Equality Review 
conference. The annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting - exceptionally cancelled due 
to the ongoing pandemic - was replaced by a series of webinars on human dimension topics, in 
which the EU was also actively involved.  
In the OSCE Permanent Council, the EU proactively raised several issues relating to human rights 
and fundamental freedoms, including marking World Press Freedom Day, the International Day 
against the Death Penalty, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 
and Human Rights Day. The EU has regularly raised the question of the widespread electoral fraud 
and human rights violations seen in Belarus during and following the 9 August presidential 
elections, and in particular in light of the fact-finding mission’s report prepared under the Moscow 
Mechanism, which was invoked on 17 September by 17 participating States (including 12 EU 
Member States). The report’s findings confirmed, in a very substantiated and detailed manner, that 
the 9 August elections were neither free nor fair, and that they were followed by numerous serious 
violations of human rights. The EU also highlighted individual human rights cases and 
developments, in particular in Russia and Turkey. 
Taking account of the fact that negotiations were conducted entirely online, the overall outcome of 
the Ministerial Council of 3-4 December in Tirana was very positive, and included the adoption of a 
decision on torture prevention, a long standing EU priority in the human dimension. The Ministerial 
Council also agreed on appointments to the top four positions in the Organisation – OSCE Secretary 
General Helga Schmid (Germany), Representative on Freedom of the Media Maria Teresa Ribeiro 
(Portugal), High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov (Kazakhstan), and 
Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Matteo Mecacci 
(Italy) – and on the appointment of the Republic of North Macedonia as 2023 Chair, thus giving the 
Organisation secure leadership for the foreseeable future. 
 
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The EU continued to fully support the valuable work of the OSCE’s autonomous institutions (the 
ODIHR, the Representative on Freedom of the Media and the High Commissioner on National 
Minorities).  
The EU also continued to engage actively with CSOs, including by facilitating meetings between 
the EU Member States and like-minded delegations and representatives of the Civic Solidarity 
Platform and Human Rights Watch.  
The EU and the OSCE share common goals, standards and a similar methodology for the 
observation of elections. The ongoing efforts to strengthen the methodology for observing the use 
of new technologies in the electoral process and to encourage the implementation of 
recommendations from EOMs are examples of effective cooperation to support democracy and 
promote human rights. In 2020, the EU continued supporting the work carried out by the ODIHR to 
assist the OSCE’s participating States, for example, by funding projects to help implement the 
recommendations relating to elections in the Western Balkans. 
The EU and the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation 
The fourth Senior Officials’ Meeting between the EU and the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation 
(OIC), held on 15 July 2020, reaffirmed the parties’ commitment to fighting all forms of incitement 
to hatred and discrimination and to promoting freedom of religion or belief through all available 
means including legislation, dialogue and education on human rights. In the area of women’s rights, 
the OIC continued its work to operationalise the Organisation for Women Development, which held 
its first Ministerial Council in October 2020. This specialised OIC body will prioritise work on 
implementing the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women in the Member States. 
 
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The EU and the African Union 
The 16th human rights dialogue between the EU and the African Union, which took place on 8 
December 2020, co-chaired by the EUSR for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, and the AU 
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Minata Samate Cessouma, was the only EU-AU high-level 
meeting on human rights held in 2020, and it took place in VTC format. This dialogue is part of a 
long-term strategy designed to ensure consistent progress on the human rights and democracy 
agenda on both continents. The two parties discussed the situation of human rights and democracy, 
in particular in light of the COVID-19 crisis, and agreed on measures to strengthen cooperation on 
specific human rights issues, such as transitional justice, the death penalty, business and human 
rights, and on the exercise of fundamental freedoms.  
 
3.3  BILATERAL COOPERATION 
Human rights dialogues are a key instrument for EU bilateral engagement with governments and 
partners on human rights. In 2020, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human rights was 
discussed during human rights dialogues and consultations held in VTC format with a number of 
partners. These included Algeria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Georgia, Jordan, 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, the Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, 
Taiwan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Fundamental rights were also discussed with candidate 
countries and potential candidates for EU accession, notably in the context of meetings under the 
Stabilisation and Association Process. Informal human rights consultations were also held with 
Japan and Gulf countries, as were a number of dialogues at local level.  
 
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The human rights dialogues explored topics such as cooperation in multilateral fora, gender equality 
and women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights, freedom of expression and media freedom, 
torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the death penalty, freedom 
of religion or belief, and the rights of persons belonging to minorities. The situation of human rights 
defenders featured prominently in the human rights dialogues and a number of individual cases 
were raised. Business and human rights, the impact of digital technologies on human rights and the 
fight against disinformation were also discussed. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, dedicated 
consultations with civil society were carried out prior to human rights dialogues, and briefings were 
held on the outcomes.  
The EU continued to use its trade instruments, including unilateral trade preferences under the 
Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), to promote human rights, core labour standards, 
environmental protection and good governance in non-EU countries. The question of trade 
agreements was also raised during bilateral human rights dialogues with non-EU countries. The 
third biennial GSP report, published on 10 February 2020, confirmed that GSP+ is instrumental in 
addressing labour and human rights issues as it ensures monitoring in beneficiary countries and 
offers the prospect of accession for applicant countries. The dialogue on these matters continued in 
the framework of the current monitoring cycle, which started at the beginning of 2020. 
The EU continued to monitor compliance with international human rights and labour rights 
conventions in countries benefiting from the GSP+ arrangement or undergoing enhanced 
engagement in the Everything-But-Arms (EBA) schemes. On 12 February 2020, the EU decided to 
temporarily withdraw part of the tariff preferences granted to Cambodia under the EBA 
arrangement due to the serious and systematic violations of principles78 enshrined in the 
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The EU also continued to develop the chapters 
of EU free trade agreements on trade and sustainable development, which include binding 
commitments on international labour standards. 
                                                 
78 
Article 19 (freedom of expression), 21 (right of peaceful assembly), 22 (freedom of 
association) and 25 (the right to political participation). 
 
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The EU has continuously engaged with Vietnam on the fundamental labour rights commitments of 
the TSD chapter of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which led Vietnam to ratify two of the 
three outstanding fundamental ILO conventions and to present a timetable for the ratification of the 
third one.79 
On 9 November 2020, the Council and the European Parliament agreed on the modernisation of EU 
export controls. The new Export Control Regulation will introduce a legal basis for EU controls on 
trade in cyber-surveillance technologies in order to prevent human rights violations in third 
countries and for the publication of an ‘EU Watch List’ of technologies and export destinations of 
concern.  
The Commission continued to conduct human rights impact assessments (HRIAs) as a key element 
of its sustainability impact assessments (SIAs) of the EU’s ongoing trade negotiations, including 
through ex post evaluations of the EU’s existing trade agreements with partner countries. The 
Commission finalised three SIAs in support of FTA negotiations between the EU and Indonesia and 
negotiations for the modernisation of the trade part of the EU-Chile Association Agreement and the 
trade pillar of the Global Agreement with Mexico.  
By allocating and contracting EUR 89.8 million under the EIDHR, the EU continued to assist CSOs 
in becoming an effective force for the protection and promotion of human rights and democratic 
principles worldwide. The EU supported 160 new initiatives led by civil society organisations, in 
particular local CSOs, in over 70 partner countries. 
In 2020, political agreement was reached between the European Parliament and EU Member States 
in the Council on the Regulation establishing the financial instrument for EU external action
The EU is now equipped with a powerful tool for promoting cooperation with partner countries, 
rooted in shared values and common interests. Human rights, fundamental freedoms, democratic 
governance and the rule of law are among the basic principles underpinning the Regulation.  
                                                 
79 
C87 (on Freedom of Association) by 2023 
 
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The new instrument, which consists of three components - a geographic, a thematic and a 
rapid response component - prescribes as mandatory a rights-based approach, encompassing all 
human rights, whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural. This approach is in line with the 
gender mainstreaming approach, and will support measures that contribute directly and indirectly to 
ensuring full respect for human rights and democratic principles.  
The Human Rights and Democracy thematic programme, adopted under the new NDICI for 2021-
2027, is the successor to the EIDHR. The programme inherits all the strengths of its predecessor, 
namely: (i) it guarantees independence of action without reference to the consent of partner 
countries’ governments or other public authorities; (ii) it has a global nature, and can operate in 
any country outside the EU, including in middle-, upper- and high-income countries; and (iii) it is 
first and foremost implemented by local, national, regional or international CSOs, including non-
registered organisations and individuals. 
 
3.4  CIVIL SOCIETY AND NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS 
During 2020, the EU worked actively on combating threats to civil society organisations across the 
world and promoted a safe and enabling environment for civil society. 
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an existing trend: using the pandemic as a pretext, 
several repressive governments took excessive measures against human rights, notably the freedom 
of association and peaceful assembly.  
 
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Despite the pandemic and its threats to the survival of many organisations, the EU maintained a 
meaningful engagement with CSOs, thanks to the use of new technologies. It continued holding 
virtual consultations with civil society, in particular human rights NGOs and human rights 
defenders in Brussels and in non-EU countries. Consultations were held before human rights 
dialogues and other high-level political dialogues, before the launching of calls for proposals, and 
for the purpose of discussing cross-thematic human rights issues, such as the new EU Action Plan 
on Human Rights and Democracy. Consultations on the next multiannual EU budget and 
programming also brought human rights and development CSOs around the table, as did global and 
regional virtual meetings of the Policy Forum on Development. 
CSOs contributed to safeguarding the space for human rights policy in political and trade 
agreements by including essential political clauses on human rights. During 2020, provisions 
continued to be made for social partners and civil society involvement on the sustainable 
development chapter of new agreements.  
Civil society representatives regularly engage with the Council Working Party on Human Rights 
(COHOM) and are systematically debriefed on its conclusions. In addition, together with the 
Brussels-based Human Rights and Democracy Network of civil society organisations, the EU 
organised the 22nd annual EU-NGO Forum on 9-10 December, focusing on digital technologies and 
human rights.  
In the margins of the official EU human rights dialogues with partner countries, CSOs were invited 
to participate in civil society seminars. Virtual civil society seminars with Mexican, Colombian and 
Brazilian NGOs were organised throughout the year. 
 
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The EU further intensified its efforts to promote NGO involvement in the work of the HRC 
and other multilateral human rights fora, including by defending NGOs’ right to speak and by 
promoting the open participation of civil society in high-level events held by the General Assembly, 
such as the 75th anniversary of the UN and the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and 
Platform for Action. The EU ensured that its events at the UN included and promoted the voice of 
civil society. A key example was the side event on the situation of political prisoners in Belarus 
held in the margins of the Third Committee, which provided a platform for grassroots activists to 
share their analysis and recommendations with UN actors. Moreover, in 2019 the EU and Member 
States supported a successful referral of decisions on NGO applications to a vote of the Economic 
and Social Council (ECOSOC), which overturned repeated deferrals of NGO applications by the 
UN NGO Committee. The EU also cooperated actively with the Geneva-based Task Force on Civil 
Society.  
EU support to the role of civil society in the peace process in Syria 
The EU has supported the Office of Special Envoy’s (OSE) Civil Society Support Room (CSSR), 
a forum in which Syrian civil society can discuss and formulate messages to influence key 
stakeholders. The main objective of the CSSR is to render the UN-facilitated political process in 
Geneva more accessible, inclusive and consultative. CSSR provides a unique space within the 
peacebuilding architecture for dialogue among Syrian civil society actors across the political, 
social and geographic divides, and the CSSR itself remains one of the biggest fora for pan-Syrian 
civil society consultations.  
Before the pandemic-related lockdowns started in 2020, the CSSR managed regional 
consultations in Beirut and Erbil between OSE representatives and Syrian civil society actors. 
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the project resumed its activities online. It helped organising a 
regional consultation in May engaging Syrian civil society representatives in Jordan, and in June 
with representatives in Turkey. During the Brussels IV conference in June 2020, the OSE 
convened a virtual CSSR side event in collaboration with the EEAS that engaged 34 Syrian 
participants. The participants also recorded a short video with advocacy messages which were 
played during the opening session of the ministerial conference. 
 
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CSOs remained the main recipients of support from the EIDHR and the Civil Society 
Organisations-Local Authorities (CSO-LA) thematic programme, as well as being a major 
implementing partner for the EU’s bilateral development funding. The 25 framework partnership 
agreements (FPAs) under the CSO-LA programme supported CSOs’ role as key contributors to 
policymaking at regional and global level. Some of the FPAs (including with the International 
Federation for Human Rights, CIVICUS and Forum Asia) directly promote an environment 
supportive to civil society and address the issue of shrinking space. In addition, the priorities of the 
CSO-LA programme and the EU’s work on civil and political rights and governance under the 
EIDHR both support the promotion of an environment conducive to CSOs’ work in partner 
countries. 
Building on its key strength - the ability to operate without the need for host government consent - 
the EIDHR has for over two decades been able to focus on sensitive issues and innovative 
approaches, and to cooperate directly with isolated or marginalised CSOs. In particular, the 
exceptional conditions of the EIDHR Human Rights Crises Facility allow the EU to allocate direct 
grants to CSOs operating in particularly difficult conditions in terms of human rights and 
democracy. In 2020, this support was adapted to address the global human rights crisis resulting 
from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the EIDHR found ways to direct planned spending on priorities 
such as journalists and child protection towards specific needs created by the crisis. Additionally, a 
number of specific initiatives were implemented to promote civic and democratic space (e.g. 
Supporting Democracy, Media4Democracy and Civic Tech 4 Democracy).  
The EU also provided financial support to the UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of association 
and peaceful assembly and on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and 
expression, rights that are fundamental for creating an environment conducive to civil society 
participation. The EU also promoted this environment by applying methodologies such as gender 
mainstreaming and the rights-based approach to development cooperation, where participation is a 
key principle, thus empowering and requiring EU delegations to act on human rights in all sectors 
of their work. This multifaceted support helped to combat restrictive laws and practices that impede 
the work of independent civil society actors, and contributed to the long-term, strategic 
development of an environment conducive to civil society participation.  
 
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EU supporting Syrian women in decision-making in Syria 
The aim of the EU-supported project ‘Enhancing women´s participation in decision-making and 
peacebuilding processes in Syria’, implemented by the Euromed Feminist Initiative, is to develop 
a common agenda on combating violence against women and girls which is a major barrier to 
women’s participation in decision-making and peacebuilding processes in Syria.  
Participants from over 80 Syrian organisations and grassroots initiatives operating in Syria, 
Lebanon, Turkey and Europe took part in six rounds of consultations. The organisations worked 
collectively to produce recommendations related to prevention, protection and response; to 
strategically work on engaging men and boys around gender-based violence and societal norms, 
and to increase networking and alliances among Syrian organisations.  
This common agenda is a tool for the Syrian activists to advocate international and national 
decision-makers for including women and women´s rights defenders in all peace negotiation 
processes linked to the future of Syria, from local to international level. It is also a tool to raise 
public awareness on the devastating effects of violence against women and girls for women first, 
but also on the communities and society as a whole. 
National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) remained essential actors in promoting and 
protecting human rights worldwide. The EU is aware that NHRIs are affected by the shrinking of 
the democratic and civic space for independent human rights action. This is why the EU, as part of 
its external action, promotes independent NHRIs and the essential role they play in ensuring the 
protection of human rights around the world. 
In most of its human rights dialogues in 2020, the EU called on non-EU countries to ensure that 
NHRIs are independent, receive the necessary human and financial resources, and are 
systematically consulted in all relevant policymaking and legislative processes. Emphasis was 
placed on ensuring that NHRIs and their staff are protected from threats, harassment and attacks. 
 
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To promote the role of NHRIs, the EU worked closely with the European Network of NHRIs 
(ENNHRI) on developing a guide for EU delegations on how to promote engagement with NHRIs. 
Training for EU delegations was provided in November. The EU continued to engage with the 
ENNHRI throughout 2020, including during the ENNHRI annual conference, and worked on 
developing ways of identifying opportunities for NHRIs stemming from new EU external policies 
designed to promote the rule of law, democracy and human rights.  
The EU supported and engaged with NHRIs in a large number of countries by providing financial 
assistance. The EU’s political commitment to NHRIs is complemented by financial support. 
Throughout 2020, the EIDHR funded targeted strategic programmes to support NHRIs. 
The second phase of the NHRI.EU project, which is due to run for 3 years from its adoption in 
2019, and which benefits from an EU contribution of EUR 3.75 million, continued its operations. It 
aims to develop NHRIs’ capacity in core areas of their mandate, including education, 
communication and awareness raising on human rights, complaints handling, documentation, 
monitoring and reporting. Another objective of the project is to strengthen cooperation between 
NHRIs and global and regional networks, in particular the Global Alliance of NHRIs, the Asia 
Pacific Forum, the Network of African NHRIs, the Network of NHRIs in the Americas and the 
European Network of NHRIs. The project also aims to strengthen the Global Alliance of NHRIs 
and the regional networks and to support member NHRIs during the accreditation process. Global 
and regional networks also developed action plans to protect human rights defenders, with the aim 
of implementing the Marrakesh Declaration. As lead applicant, the Danish Institute for Human 
Rights provided technical assistance to other NHRIs so that they could carry out the activities 
planned within the project, thus increasing the digital literacy of NHRIs, a particularly important 
competence in view of the pandemic. 
 
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Another targeted programme, which included EUR 1 million of funding for the ENNHRI, was 
completed in 2020, and led to an increase in the capacity of and cooperation between European 
NHRIs in their role as promoters and protectors of human rights in conflict or post-conflict 
situations. An online Guide80 on NHRIs’ role in this area was published, and their work in non-
government controlled territories has seen ground-breaking developments. The project also 
increased awareness and engagement among intergovernmental and civil society actors at national, 
regional and international level with respect to the work of NHRIs in situations of conflict. It 
included cooperation with NHRIs beyond Europe. Finally, the project helped increase the ability of 
the ENNHRI’s network and secretariat to support NHRIs operating in conflict situations.  
Another example of EU support to NHRI networks is the agreement signed in 2020 with the Asia 
Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions for a period of 2 years, which includes a 
EUR 750 000 funding contribution by the EU. The purpose of this agreement is to increase the 
capacity of NHRIs to address, in collaboration and partnership with intergovernmental mechanisms, 
key identified human rights issues in South-East Asia and the Pacific, including through training 
courses, small grants programmes and the creation of platforms for dialogue. 
In the Western Balkans, the EU helped increase the capacity of independent human rights bodies in 
the Republic of Serbia, such as the Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Equality, to combat 
discrimination and hate speech and to protect the rights of national minorities and LGBTI persons, 
in accordance with the CoE standards. In the Republic of North Macedonia, the EU has 
systematically discussed the human rights situation with the Ombudsman’s office during meetings 
held under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. In 2020, the EU called for the members of 
the Commission for the Prevention and Protection against Discrimination (Equality body) to be 
elected swiftly through a transparent and inclusive process. 
 
                                                 
80 
Human Rights in (Post-)Conflict Situations The Role of National Human Rights Institutions 
- Guide and Resources: http://ennhri.org/nhris-post-conflict/ 
 
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3.5  BUSINESS SECTOR 
The EU continued to make progress in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and 
Human Rights (UNGPs) within the EU and through its engagement with non-EU countries. It 
committed to support global efforts to implement the UNGPs, including through fostering the 
development and implementation of national action plans, advancing relevant due diligence 
standards and working on a comprehensive EU framework for the implementation of UNGPs. The 
EU worked to improve its smart mix of voluntary and mandatory actions in order to promote 
responsible business conduct (RBC) policies, including analytical and consultative work in policy 
areas such as environmental and human rights due diligence, non-financial reporting and access to 
remedy for victims.  
The EU published studies on human rights and environmental due diligence requirements in the 
supply chain and on directors’ duties and sustainable corporate governance. The European 
Commission’s work programme for 2021 published on 19 October 2020 includes a legislative 
initiative on sustainable corporate governance, to be launched in the second quarter of 2021, the 
stated aim of which is ‘to foster long-term sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour’. The 
inception impact assessment for the initiative was published in July, and in October, the EU 
launched a public consultation to collect stakeholders’ feedback on the initiative. Furthermore, in 
June 2020, the EU adopted a new Victims’ Rights Strategy and the European Parliament and the 
Council recently reached an agreement on a new Collective Redress Directive focused on 
consumers.  
The EU continued its work on the revision of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive, which 
requires large listed companies, banks and insurance companies with more than 500 employees to 
report information on the environment, social and employee issues, human rights, and bribery and 
corruption. The public consultation on the Directive’s revision ran from February to June 2020. A 
multi-stakeholder task force was created within the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group 
to carry out preparatory work on possible EU non-financial reporting standards. 
 
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Ahead of the full entry into force of the Conflict Minerals Regulation on 1 January 2021, in June 
2020, the Commission adopted a delegated regulation laying down import volume thresholds that 
were missing for certain minerals subject to the obligations of the Regulation.  
As part of the implementation of the 2018 EU Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth, in 
June 2020, the EU adopted the Taxonomy Regulation, which requires lists of environmentally 
sustainable activities to be established by defining technical screening criteria for each 
environmental objective. Between April and July, the EU carried out a public consultation on a 
Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy to collect the views of interested parties on how to better 
integrate social and environmental risks in the management framework of financial institutions.  
In July 2020, the Commission published a collection of good practices on socially responsible 
public procurement that support initiatives to integrate social considerations into public 
procurement, including those related to human rights due diligence in the supply chain.  
In October 2020, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights published a study setting out the findings 
of its research on access to remedy mechanisms in EU Member States81. The study contains detailed 
data on Member States’ current practices relating to redress mechanisms (judicial and non-judicial, 
state based and non-state based), and identifies problems and gives opinions and recommendations 
for further initiatives in specific policy areas, with a view to implementing the UNGP’s third pillar 
effectively. To improve transparency and provide better information on existing redress 
mechanisms, in November 2020 the Commission activated the business and human rights 
information page on the EU’s e-Justice portal.82 Moreover, in the field of civil justice, an ongoing 
study on the application of the Rome II Regulation, which establishes the applicable law for tort 
cases, is also reflecting upon human rights infringements. 
15 EU Member States have developed national action plans on business and human rights to help 
implement the UNGPs at national level and several are undergoing base line assessment. In 
addition, several EU Member States have adopted or are preparing legislation establishing 
mandatory environmental and/or human rights due diligence obligations for companies.  
                                                 
81 
https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2020-business-human-rights_en.pdf  
82 
https://beta.e-justice.europa.eu/580/EN/business_and_human_rights   
 
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The German Council Presidency worked actively to advance the business and human rights agenda, 
including by organising several events with EU involvement. In July 2020, the Presidency and the 
UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights co-hosted an event to launch the UN project 
marking the 10th anniversary of the UNGPs, the aim of which was to take stock of achievements to 
date and prepare a roadmap for the next decade. In September 2020, the Presidency and UNICEF 
organised a briefing and discussion on children’s rights and business responsibility. 
The EU also used political dialogues, human rights dialogues, development cooperation and 
engagement under trade preference schemes with partner countries to promote responsible business 
practices. The subject of business and human rights has become a standard feature in most human 
rights dialogues. 
Outreach and capacity-building activities in close cooperation with international organisations and 
civil society are at the core of the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility/Responsible 
Business Conduct and business and human rights principles.  
The EU has created pilot partnerships with international organisations such as the ILO, the OECD 
and the OHCHR to provide technical support to develop national action plans in nine Latin 
American countries, through the Responsible Business Conduct in Latin America and Caribbean 
project that started in January 2019.  
The EU furthermore supported responsible supply chains in six Asian trading partners 
(China, Japan, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) through the ‘Responsible supply 
chains in Asia’ project. In January 2020 the EU, together with the UNDP, started a third project in 
Asia that has the objective to promote the up-take of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and 
Human Rights in six countries (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand). In 
Latin America, the EU supported the development of national action plans in nine countries 
(Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica) through the 
‘Responsible business conduct in Latin America and Caribbean’ project. 
 
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In the context of its cooperation with the ILO and the OECD, the EU enabled national contact 
points for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises to be trained on labour issues in RBC 
by the International Training Centre in September 2019. 
Under the EIDHR global call for proposals, the EU awarded EUR 5 million of grants to projects on 
business and human rights that aim to support and empower rights-holders in due diligence 
processes and to promote the engagement of civil society with business and state actors. 
The EU contributed to the work on business and human rights and responsible business conduct 
carried out by international organisations such as the UN, the OECD and the ILO. The EU 
contributed in particular to the work of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights 
through its involvement in the project to take stock of the first 10 years of implementation of the 
UNGPs and though its active participation in the ninth session of the UN Forum on Business and 
Human Rights held in November 2020.  
The EU also engaged at the sixth session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on transnational 
corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights in October 2020, where it 
continued to promote the development of a realistic approach to a legally binding instrument on 
business and human rights that could lead to globally accepted standards.  
The EU provided further support and guidance by creating a toolkit on business and human rights to 
raise awareness on these issues with relevant governments and businesses, to empower civil society 
to promote the UNGPs around the world and to ensure that business and human rights issues are 
systematically incorporated into development cooperation activities. 
 
 
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3.6  COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW  
The EU continued to advocate for and support initiatives designed to improve compliance with 
international humanitarian law (IHL) and safeguard humanitarian space, in particular reaffirming its 
strong commitment to the protection of civilians in armed conflict.  
In its conclusions on humanitarian assistance and international humanitarian law adopted on 25 
November 2019, the Council recalled the obligation to respect and ensure respect for IHL in all 
circumstances, and reaffirmed its commitment to the humanitarian principles and objectives of 
humanitarian action as enshrined in the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid.  
The EU has continued to be active in promoting respect for IHL across the various areas covered in 
the EU Guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law83. In June 
2020, the EU published the third report on the implementation of the guidelines, which highlights 
the activities that the EU carried out in support of IHL between January and December 2019. 
In December 2020, the EU endorsed the Franco-German-led Call for Action to strengthen respect 
for international humanitarian law and principled humanitarian action. This reaffirms the EU’s 
commitment to promoting compliance with IHL through a variety of measures. 
During its dialogues on human rights, political and humanitarian issues, the EU continued to 
encourage its partner countries to ratify and implement the main instruments of international 
humanitarian law. For example, an online ministerial meeting was held with Nigeria on 
18 November 2020 - the first meeting in 5 years. During the meeting, the EU raised a point on the 
lack of access to the most vulnerable people in northeast Nigeria and the importance of respecting 
IHL. A joint communiqué was adopted at the end of the meeting, which included a reference to 
IHL. 
                                                 
83 
EU guidelines on the promotion of compliance with international humanitarian law: 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Aah0004 
 
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The EU strongly emphasised IHL during a virtual ministerial roundtable on the humanitarian crisis 
in the Central Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) held on 20 October 2020, which the EU co-
organised with Denmark, Germany and the UN. The final communiqué from this roundtable 
emphasised the importance of all actors respecting IHL, refugee law and human rights law, and 
highlighted the need to strengthen reporting mechanisms and to ensure accountability for alleged 
violations of humanitarian principles.  
With regard to the situation in Yemen, the EU continued to play a leading role in coordinating the 
international response and in advocating for the respect of IHL and for a principled approach to the 
granting of aid. The EU and Sweden co-hosted two humanitarian senior officials’ meetings and a 
side event during the UN General Assembly ministerial week, which brought together the 
humanitarian community and defined a constructive approach that sought to increase humanitarian 
access and improve respect for humanitarian principles. 
The EU continued to be vocal on IHL matters as an active member or observer in a range of 
international organisations and bodies. For example, the EU took part in open debates of the UN 
Security Council, including the debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, where its 
statement underlined the EU’s commitment to IHL. In the margins of the 2020 Afghanistan 
conference, the EU also organised a high-level meeting on the role of humanitarian assistance, IHL 
and the protection of civilians as part of peace negotiations. 
The EU also paid particular attention to the protection of humanitarian workers and continued to 
advocate for the implementation or strengthening of context-specific measures to increase the 
physical safety of medical personnel and improve infrastructure in armed conflicts, including in the 
context of the COVID-19 pandemic.  
As a main humanitarian donor, the EU considers that strengthening compliance with IHL is an 
important factor when disbursing funds from the EU humanitarian aid budget.  
 
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The EU continued to support the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), one 
of the EU’s most trusted humanitarian partners, and a key partner in upholding respect for IHL and 
humanitarian principles. In 2020, the ICRC received approximately EUR 110 million in funding 
from the EU’s humanitarian aid budget. This included funding for advocacy actions on IHL and the 
protection of civilians. Its aim is to help bring about a change of attitude to IHL on the part of 
armed actors, to reduce the humanitarian consequences of conflicts, and to increase humanitarian 
access to areas affected by conflict. 
The EU also supported other humanitarian partners in a number of countries, such as DRC, Iraq, 
Libya, Syria, Palestine*84 and Yemen, and in their work on the promotion of respect for IHL. For 
example, in Libya, the EU supports ongoing work on creating an environment that offers greater 
protection for conflict-affected populations. This work takes the form of humanitarian dialogue, 
including with armed actors, on international humanitarian norms, training on IHL, and projects 
designed to increase the capacity of civil society to promote IHL. During the recent conflict in Iraq, 
the EU’s humanitarian aid budget helped to ensure regular and effective operational coordination 
with the authorities and with state and non-state armed groups, in order to support humanitarian 
access and assist with the processing of legacy caseloads relating to people in detention.  
In addition, the EU allocated humanitarian aid funds to global policy support designed to improve 
compliance with IHL. 
A key priority of the EU’s ongoing role as co-chair of the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative 
is to focus on the role of donors in promoting and ensuring respect for IHL. This includes ensuring 
humanitarian access and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid in the context of COVID-19. 
In the areas of international criminal justice and international humanitarian law, the EUSR for 
Human Rights continued to implement and voice the EU’s positions and to contribute to their 
coherence and consistency. 
                                                 
84
This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without 
prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue. 
 
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4. 
NEW TECHNOLOGIES: HARNESSING OPPORTUNITIES AND ADDRESSING CHALLENGES  
4.1  CAPACITY BUILDING AND EFFECTIVE MONITORING  
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic served as a stark reminder of the importance of new technologies 
in maintaining access to certain services. Over recent years, digital technologies have proven to be a 
great asset for civil society organisations, as well as for people across the globe, for example in 
documenting human rights violations. Digital technologies have allowed hundreds of millions of 
students and children to remain connected to their teachers, while also ensuring ongoing access to 
health services.  
Nonetheless, new technologies have also demonstrated how freedom of association and of 
expression can be curtailed online, with civil society actors and human rights defenders often 
arbitrarily targeted for surveillance. Hate speech, cyber harassment and disinformation are 
spreading on social media platforms, and can lead to hate crime and physical violence. In addition, 
mass and arbitrary surveillance are increasing and citizens’ personal data can be collected and 
misused. Major new challenges are also emerging with the development of artificial intelligence.  
This is why, in 2020, the EU took a stronger stance in favour of regulating the digital sphere, in 
order to ensure that human rights are respected both online and offline, in particular through the 
proposed Digital Services Act.  
With global policies and frameworks in the field of digital technologies and human rights still in the 
making, in December 2020, the EU organised the 22nd EU-NGO Human Rights Forum, which 
focused on digital and human rights.  
 
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The EU-NGO Human Rights Forum, held virtually in 2020, brought together human rights 
defenders, technology and human rights experts, representatives from civil society and social 
media platforms, UN experts and EU officials from over 110 countries to discuss the impact of 
new technologies on human rights. The Forum was co-organised by the EEAS, the European 
Commission and the Human Rights and Democracy Network. 
The Forum comprised both high-level plenaries and confidential interactive sessions, where 
human rights defenders could share their testimonies and recommendations. In his opening 
speech, HR/VP Borrell stated ‘It is about shaping a digital world where human rights are 
protected and respected. This is our joint endeavour’. 
The Forum addressed four main themes: 
• 
fundamental freedoms in the digital sphere; 
• 
engagement with the private sector; 
• 
combating online surveillance and protecting data privacy; 
• 
ensuring a human rights-based approach to artificial intelligence. 
In the opening session, Commissioner Urpilainen emphasised that ‘human rights are universal 
online and offline’ while UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet called for a global 
debate to ‘make the digital space work for everyone’. 
The Forum provided a platform for testimonies on how technology is being used by civil society 
to become more organised, and by individuals to document and share images of human rights 
violations. Long-term internet shutdowns were, however, also reported, with 213 incidents 
recorded in 33 countries last year, in addition to ‘digital crackdowns’ against civil society in 
China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Belarus, the Philippines, Mexico and India. 
Sharon Hom, Director of the NGO Human Rights in China, highlighted that there is a deep 
existential threat facing human rights defenders, in the form of two powerful black holes – a 
digital space that sucks a vast amount of data from us, and a space of mass disinformation, fake 
news and conspiracy theories. 
 
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In the separate interactive sessions, discussions centred on how to combat hate speech, 
misinformation, fake news and online abuse and surveillance, while protecting freedom of 
expression. 
There was consensus that a multi-stakeholder approach is essential, as is promoting digital rights in 
multilateral fora, in particular in the UN. The EU highlighted its commitment to promoting human 
rights in the digital sphere within the UN fora, in particular the HRC and the UNGA Third 
Committee, while supporting the work of the UN High Commissioner and the UN Special 
Procedures on these issues. 
Participants agreed that companies can and should do more to protect human rights online. They 
should provide safeguards for users of their platforms and should explore more creatively how 
to broaden the tools they have at their disposal for doing this. A critical aspect of this is informing 
the user and providing transparency on the algorithms used. Self-regulation and voluntary 
commitments by companies are important in addressing the consequences of the digital 
transformation, but are not sufficient. Voluntary action should be accompanied by regulation and 
strong governance mechanisms. Among the private sector participants, representatives from Twitter 
and Facebook contributed to the discussions.  
Many participants highlighted the normative power of the EU and the global influence it has on 
matters such as data privacy as a result of its legislation, including the GDPR, the Digital Service 
Act and legislation on AI. NGOs and UN experts called on the EU to continue championing human 
rights both online and offline.85 
                                                 
85 
See also information about the Forum, including the recording of all public sessions, 
https://eu-ngo-forum.b2match.io/, and the HR/VP keynote speech at the Forum: 
https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-199619 

 
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4.2  PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, 
INCLUDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 
As part of the European Digital Strategy, and in order to adapt to the latest trends, in 
December 2020, the European Commission published the proposal for the Digital Services Act,86 a 
package of measures designed to strengthen the single market for digital services, to promote 
innovation and to increase the competitiveness of the European online environment. The 
Commission is also preparing a new legislative proposal on artificial intelligence, with the aim of 
ensuring a human-rights-based approach to the use of AI and its development. The EU has already 
developed ambitious legislation and policies to safeguard human rights, in particular online. For 
example, the GDPR protects data coming from the EU, irrespective of where the data is processed.  
The GDPR has become a benchmark and has acted as a catalyst for many partners around the 
world, which have since modernised their privacy rules. These include Brazil, Chile, the Republic 
of Korea, Japan, Kenya, India, Tunisia, Indonesia, Taiwan and the state of California, to name but a 
few. International instruments, such as the Council of Europe’s modernised Convention 108, or the 
Data Free Flow with Trust initiative launched by Japan, are also based on principles found in the 
GDPR. This trend towards global convergence brings new opportunities for improving data 
protection worldwide.  
As part of the Joint Communication on the EU Cybersecurity Strategy, the Commission and 
the High Representative underlined the need for the EU to continue to lead on the promotion and 
protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms online. The Communication called for steps 
to be taken to provide further practical guidance, promote best practices and prevent the misuse of 
technologies, where necessary using the EU cyber diplomacy toolbox. 
The global reach of technologies makes multilateral and multi-stakeholder approaches 
essential. The EU engaged actively, in particular within UN fora, to share analysis and to identify 
best practices and recommendations on how to ensure a human-rights-compliant digital sphere. 
                                                 
86 
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-
services-act-ensuring-safe-and-accountable-online-environment_en 

 
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The EU contributed to the development of the UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap on Digital 
Cooperation, co-leading the work of the Roundtable on Digital Human Rights. The EU remains 
committed to implementing the Roadmap, and looks forward to working actively with the first-ever 
UN Technology Envoy in 2021.  
The EU also took part in consultations by the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee ahead of 
the upcoming HRC report on digital and human rights. The EU also contributed to ad hoc 
consultations with the UN Special Procedures and the Human Rights Council advisory bodies on a 
wide range of issues related to human rights and digital technologies.  
A number of EU delegations organised public events on human rights and digital technologies. For 
example, the EU Delegation to the United Nations in New York, in collaboration with UNICEF and 
Uruguay, hosted an event on children’s rights in the digital environment. The event took place 
following the release of the UN Secretary-General’s 2020 report on the rights of the child, and 
ahead of the publication of the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s General Comment on the 
topic, with the COVID-19 pandemic - during which millions of children are relying on online tools, 
systems and platforms, forming the context.  
At the International Telecommunications Union, the EU participated actively in discussions with 
experts to ensure that the facial recognition standards being developed comply with European data 
protection standards.  
The EU has closely followed the development of the new UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics 
of Artificial Intelligence. Given AI’s growing influence on society and sectors within UNESCO’s 
mandate (e.g. education, social media, human rights and privacy), the aim is for the 
Recommendation to become the first global standard-setting instrument on the ethics of AI. The EU 
and its Member States are therefore involved in the process, their aim being, in particular, to ensure 
that the Recommendation respects, protects and promotes human rights and fundamental freedoms, 
in compliance with international human rights law. The results of the intergovernmental 
negotiations will be presented at UNESCO’s 41st general conference, to be held at the end of 2021. 
The EU has also continued to cooperate closely with the Council of Europe in the field of regulating 
artificial intelligence, in particular in the CoE’s Ad Hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence. 
 
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Over the past 2 years, the EU has stepped up bilateral, regional and multilateral dialogue
promoting a global culture of respect for privacy and ensuring convergence between different 
privacy systems, to the benefit of individuals and businesses alike. The Commission is committed to 
continuing this work as part of its broader external action, for example, through the Africa-EU 
Partnership,87 and in its support for international initiatives, such as Data Free Flow with Trust. At a 
time when violations of privacy rules may affect large numbers of individuals simultaneously in 
several parts of the world, it is crucial that international cooperation between data protection 
enforcers be intensified.  
Further details of the EU’s work and vision in this area can be found in the Communication titled 
‘Data protection as a pillar of citizens’ empowerment and the EU’s approach to the digital transition 
- two years of application of the General Data Protection Regulation’.88 
The EU increasingly used its political dialogues, including its human rights dialogues, to raise 
concerns about the spread of internet shutdowns, online censorship and mass arbitrary surveillance.  
The EU is aware of the impact of digital technologies on civil society organisations and HRDs. The 
EU financed emergency measures in the field of digital security through the EU Human 
Rights Defenders Mechanism ProtectDefenders.eu. The measures included in this mechanism aim 
to address the most pressing threats and risks resulting from attacks on HRDs’ communications, 
hacking of personal and professional information, lack of adequate security equipment, and online 
surveillance. In 2020, more than 41 emergency grants for digital security were awarded, benefiting 
52 HRDs working in countries such as Egypt, Myanmar, Kenya and Brazil. In addition, the Protect 
Defenders mechanism mobilised at least 31 grants that were used to comprehensively strengthen the 
digital security structure of organisations operating in very hostile environments, such as in Russia, 
DRC and Mexico. In addition, more than 450 human rights defenders benefited from an extensive 
capacity-building programme, which provides tailor-made training for HRDs and organisations on a 
wide array of topics, including digital security and digital risk assessment.  
                                                 
87 
Africa-EU Partnership: https://africa-eu-partnership.org/en 
88 
Commission Communication (2020) 264 final of 24 June 2020: https://eur-
lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0264&from=EN 

 
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On Safer Internet Day (SID),89 the EU raised awareness of online risks for children and 
promoted the positive use of digital technology across the globe. SID 2020 was celebrated in 
more than 170 countries, with the Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and Rwanda taking part for the first 
time, through a variety of activities including awareness sessions, debates and exhibitions. The 
study90 on the implementation of the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children91 was 
presented at the Safer Internet Forum 2020, and highlighted how child online safety has become 
more mature and more firmly integrated into public policy, but also increasingly complex. All 30 
countries that took part in the study (EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom) 
have incorporated aspects of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Strategy in their public policies. The 
presentation at the Safer Internet Forum made it possible to hold a discussion with an international 
audience, identifying similarities and differences across continents, and between BIK policy models 
and trends. 
The rapid development and growing availability of technology has contributed to the increase of 
child sexual abuse online, and the number of reported cases has also increased during the pandemic. 
In July 2020, the EU adopted a strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse,92 
setting out concrete actions to tackle the growing threat of child sexual abuse by improving 
prevention, investigation, and assistance to victims.  
                                                 
89 
https://www.saferinternetday.org/ 
90 
Third Better Internet for Kids Policy Map report: 
https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/policy/bikmap.  
91 
Commission Communication on European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children 
(COM/2012/0196 Final): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2012%3A0196%3AFIN 

92 
EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse, 24 July 2020: 
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9977-2020-INIT/en/pdf  
 
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International cooperation is a key factor in combating child sexual abuse. In September 2020, the 
Commission adopted a legislative proposal allowing companies to continue detecting, reporting and 
removing child sexual abuse online. The EU continued to support the WePROTECT Global 
Alliance to end child sexual abuse online93 during 2020. Advanced countries are committed to 
supporting the Alliance in its work to develop both a more coordinated response to the global fight 
against child sexual abuse, based on global threat assessments, and a model national response. 
These objectives have helped to clarify the challenges and to assist member countries in setting 
goals.  
The EU also co-funds the European members of the INHOPE network of hotlines,94 which allow 
internet users from 42 countries to anonymously report child sexual abuse material online. The 
hotlines cooperate internationally with law enforcement agencies and hosting internet service 
providers for the quick removal of this type of illegal content. INHOPE has indicated that the 
number of online images of suspected child sexual abuse processed has almost doubled between 
2017 and 2019.95 Technology is increasingly being used by traffickers for the recruitment, 
exploitation and control of victims, children being at particular risk96. The internet and social media 
have been used in a number of Member States as one of the most predominant forms of recruitment 
of victims, children being at specific risk. Information and communication technology is also being 
used for the organisation of transport and accommodation of victims, the advertisement of services 
of victims, communication between perpetrators and transfer of criminal proceeds. The EU 
continued to provide funding to support anti-trafficking projects, including with the objective of 
making better use of technology to prevent and address trafficking in human beings. The 
Commission is developing a new strategy on combating trafficking in human beings in relation to 
the upcoming strategy on tackling organised crime. 
                                                 
93 
WePROTECT Global Alliance: https://www.weprotect.org/ 
94 
https://inhope.org/EN/the-facts 
95 
INHOPE Annual Report 2019 
96 
Commission Third report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human 
beings, COM(2020) 661 and SWD(2020) 226 final. 
 
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Digital technologies present both opportunities and challenges for mediation, and offer ways 
to narrow the digital gap and increase inclusivity. For example, women in Yemen can face 
severe restrictions as regards travel, they are often required to be accompanied by male companions 
when travelling. When holding meetings online, they can more easily be included in discussions. At 
the same time, narratives for or against peace are increasingly being shaped on social media. Leaks 
in social media may jeopardise the confidentiality of peace talks, and misinformation campaigns 
can disrupt the mediation process. In November 2020, the EEAS organised the first-ever 
multidisciplinary training on digital mediation, during which experts on cyber mediation, social 
media, knowledge production, and psychology explored how digital technologies could be used in 
peace processes.  
 
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5. 
DELIVERING BY WORKING TOGETHER  
5.1  PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION  
The EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for 2020-2024 was launched with an online 
event on 23 November 2020. Of the over 800 participants who registered, around 650 actually 
attended the webinar. Many more were able to follow it on social media as it was livestreamed on 
the EEAS Facebook page in English, French and Spanish. 
The purpose of the event was to present the strategic priorities of EU external action in the area of 
human rights and democracy to a wider audience. The event offered an opportunity to: 
• 
launch the Action Plan and outline its main objectives; 
• 
present the EU’s roadmap on human rights and democracy for the next 5 years; 
• 
encourage interested parties to make connections and to exchange ideas on how to 
implement the action plan effectively; 
• 
exchange ideas on the challenges and opportunities involved in coordinating work on 
the Action Plan’s priorities with actors at all levels; 
• 
discuss how the EU can use the instruments and tools at its disposal to effectively 
address current and future challenges. 
The EUSR for Human Rights delivered the opening address, placing the Action Plan in its 
geopolitical context, and highlighting key priorities.  
To increase the visibility and reach of EU human rights policy, the EUSR held regular, dedicated 
bilateral meetings, spoke at events, engaged in discussions within academic circles and attended 
international conferences. The EUSR focused on the key EU thematic priorities, which are reflected 
in the EU human rights guidelines.97  
                                                 
97 
EU Human Rights guidelines: https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-
homepage_en/6987/EU%20Human%20rights%20guidelines 
 
 
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In 2020, the Good Human Rights Stories98 high-level event took place on 24 February in Geneva, 
during the first day of the HRC. It was dedicated to celebrating women’s empowerment and gender 
equality to mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The 
Beijing+25 Agenda is the most progressive global blueprint for improving women’s rights ever 
agreed by governments at global level. The EU presented a story about work-related harassment 
and violence. The event was opened by the President of the HRC, Ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-
Fisslberger, who underlined the importance of introducing a fresh and positive narrative on human 
rights, stating ‘We need events such as the Good Human Rights Stories initiative to take stock of 
where we are. Real change happens on the ground.’ In her keynote speech, the High Commissioner 
for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, stressed the need to remember what has already been 
achieved on gender equality. 
The EU communicated on human rights and democracy on the relevant UN international days99. It 
published statements highlighting its commitment, provided information about related initiatives 
and activities, and organised awareness-raising campaigns. EU delegations played an active part in 
the communication drive on human rights, highlighting issues of particular importance in their host 
countries and initiating discussions on the challenges and opportunities involved in protecting and 
promoting human rights. 
                                                 
98 
https://goodhumanrightsstories.net/ 
99 
https://www.un.org/en/sections/observances/international-days/ 
 
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On Human Rights Day, marked on 10 December, EU delegations shared the Declaration by the 
High Representative on behalf of the EU100 and a web feature on their social media and web pages. 
A range of communication materials including web features, videos, social media campaigns, press 
releases, blogposts by High Representative Josep Borrell and the action plan booklet,101 were used 
to highlight the EU’s key achievements in promoting and protecting human rights in 2020. These 
included the adoption of the new Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy and the EU Global 
Human Rights Sanctions Regime. 
The adoption of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime in December was accompanied 
by a detailed set of ‘questions and answers’102 focusing on the key features of the regime. The 
European Commission also published guidance on how to implement specific provisions of Council 
Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 on restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and 
abuses. The guidance note103 includes information on the scope of the financial restrictions set out 
in the Regulation and their application. It also explains in detail the responsibilities of those who 
must comply with the Regulation, covering notions such as ownership and control, and the 
functioning of derogations. Shortly after the adoption of the guidance note, the EEAS organised 
information sessions with CSOs, international organisations and like-minded partners. 
 
                                                 
100 
Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on Human Rights Day, 
10 December 2020: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-
releases/2020/12/09/declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-human-
rights-day-10-december-2020/ 
 
101 
https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/eu_action_plan_on_human_rights_and_democracy_2020-
2024.pdf 

102 
EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime Questions and Answers: 
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/90013/questions-and-answers-
eu-global-human-rights-sanctions-regime_en 

103 
Guidance note on the implementation of Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 (EU global 
human rights sanctions regime): https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/201217-human-rights-
guidance-note_en 
 
 
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Document Outline