The EU-NGO Human Rights Forum held in Brussels on 4-5 December, brought together 300 participants from over 107 countries, including more than 130 young human rights defenders (HRDs) from all around the world to exchange ideas and best practices with EU officials, UN experts and international NGOs. Several participants were members of EU Youth Sounding boards.

The Forum comprised two plenary discussions, and many interactive sessions and workshops where participants could identify specific recommendations to the EU institutions. As in previous years, the Forum was co-organised by the EEAS, DG INTPA (European Commission), and the Human Rights and Democracy Network.

European Union 2023

An event with youth, by youth, for youth

In the framework of the year-long celebration of the 75^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, young human rights defenders from more 80 countries shared insights from their struggles for climate justice, gender equality and LGBTI rights, and their fight against racial discrimination, online censorship, autocracy and corruption, environmental degradation. Throughout vibrant discussions, both EU representatives and young human rights defenders emphasised their commitment to uphold and advance human rights and to defend their universality and indivisibility.

The EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore spoke at the opening of the Forum alongside the European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, and Gina Wharton from Oxfam International. Eamon Gilmore recalled some key EU actions including the ProtectDefenders.eu mechanism through which 66.500 human rights defenders have been supported since 2015 including 4,200 since early 2023. He recalled EU’s commitment to systematically consult youth in policy making including through the establishment of the EU youth sounding boards. He also noted EU initiatives to enhance the visibility of young activists, notably the campaign #OurVoiceOurFuture.

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell delivered a keynote speech recalling the importance of the Universal Declaration, the UN Declaration on Human Defenders and of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.  He emphasised the need to respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and recalled that the protection of human rights defenders is one the key objectives of the European Union.

European Union 2023

Other key guests were the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, MEP Hannah Neumann, as well as human rights defenders Nana Millers from Uganda, Mariia Sulialina from Ukraine and Assala Mansour from Israel. The youth activists explained some of their current activities, shedding  light on the situation of LGBTI rights in Uganda, rights of the child in Ukraine, and IHL violations in Gaza and the West Bank.

Discussions were rich, and oriented towards policy recommendations

Across the two days of discussions, the participants underscored the shrinking space for civil society across the world, and the need for the EU to enhance its focus on the situation of young human rights defenders. Some of the key requests made by youth were: increased funds for training young activists, including on digital issues; improved access to visas for individuals at risk; more flexible funding mechanisms, as well as effective international action to regulate the digital sphere in particular social media.

Young HRDs made a strong plea to decision-makers across the world to consult them systematically and to include them in policy-making processes, paying special attention to those in remote and rural areas, as well as to those suffering from inter-sectional discrimination. They highlighted their commitment to foster intergenerational perspectives in their human rights work. EU representatives acknowledged the challenges ahead and highlighted the EU’s commitment to continue to fund human rights defenders protection programmes, to continue to work for a human-centric and human rights based approach to the digital sphere, and to take into account young activists’ views in policy-making and programming.

In addition, the co-organisers held workshop and information sessions on EU funding mechanisms, human rights advocacy, EU human rights defenders protection programmes, and how to fight disinformation.

At the end of the Forum, the organisers highlighted that discussions at the EU NGO Forum will not be a “one-off”, but rather the Forum should serve to continue enhancing the network of youth human rights defenders amongst each other and with the EU institutions. Participants were encouraged to engage and liaise with the network of 140 EU Delegations across the world.  The co-organisers will carefully examine the recommendations from the sessions, and a public report will be made available in early 2024.

Some of the Forum participants are also members of the UN Youth Advisory group and participated in the Human Rights 75 anniversary event in Geneva on 11-12 December and presented a Youth Declaration, highlighting their vision of human rights for the next decades.