Respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights is essential for fostering justice and accountability, and to end impunity. This is one of the founding values and principles of the EU. Promoting universal respect for human rights is also a key priority of EU external action, on which we are steadfastly committed. The EU will also continue to condemn human rights violations and abuses, breaches of international humanitarian law, discrimination, shrinking civic space and attacks on democracy and media freedom wherever they occur.

Human rights transcend borders and cultures. They are inherent to every individual human being without distinction. It is our collective duty to uphold and advance the human rights of each and every person around the globe. - EU High Representative Josep Borrell

During the “Human Rights 75 High Level Event” organized by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) on 11 and 12 December 2023 in Geneva,  the EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore delivered a statement pledging the EU’s commitment to the global realisation of human rights and its support for the work of the United Nations human rights fora and the OHCHR.

During the event, the EU announced the following pledges:

Continuation of EU core un-earmarked funding to OHCHR: In order to uphold its commitment to the role and independence of the OHCHR, the EU pledges to sustain its level of un-earmarked support to OHCHR in the coming years to allow for OHCHR to comply with its mandate and to pursue its efforts to mainstream human rights in all UN action.

EU support for OHCHR on digital and human rights: The EU commits to promote and protect digital rights. To that effect, it will keep supporting OHCHR’s work to enhance the governance of the digital ecosystem, provide guidance to ensure due diligence to digital rights by States and tech companies, foster digital civic space and responsible technology development and use. It will collaborate within the United Nations and engage with States and companies in regulating digital technologies, with standard-setting bodies, and with civil society. A EUR 4 million EU contribution to OHCHR was signed for the “Promotion and protection of digital rights: a pathway to the digital future”.

Continued EU support for human rights defenders: The EU is fully committed to protecting Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). Through ProtectDefenders.eu and the EU Emergency Fund, the EU has provided assistance to around 66,000 HRDs and their families since 2015, of which over 50% of the HRDs supported are women human rights defenders and gender or sexual minorities. Its activities range from direct support for individuals, groups and organisations, temporary relocation programmes and shelter initiatives, training, capacity development and outreach to the most vulnerable and marginalised, to advocacy at global, regional and local levels. In 2023, the EU has already assisted 4,200 defenders all over the world.

Launch of Global Initiative on Impunity: To uphold its commitment to fight against impunity for serious human rights violations worldwide, the EU will sign this week a new 20 million euro project “Global initiative to fight against impunity for international crimes: make justice work!”. Supporting civil society in contributing to the primacy of international law and fighting impunity for the most serious crimes are the objectives of this four-year project spearheaded by 8 leading civil society organisations. This will complement EU support to the independent accountability mechanisms established by the Human Rights Council, and under international criminal law. 

The abolition of the Death Penalty and the eradication of Torture: The EU remains committed to the abolition of the death penalty worldwide. We pledge to strengthen partnerships to achieve this goal, both politically and through programming, namely with the CSO-led Global Consortium for Death Penalty Abolition - active in over 40 countries (EUR 3 million 2024-2026). Funded by the European Union, #UnitedAgainstTorture is a CSO partnership backed by a EUR 8 million project to catalyse a worldwide movement against torture. It resources advocacy, monitoring, research and capacity building as well as support to torture survivors, strengthening collaborations from local to global levels to implement treaty obligations and improve practices.

On the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the EU reaffirms its commitment to the global realisation of all human rights, working with the UN human rights fora and supporting the independence of the Office of the High Commissioner. - EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore