2023 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World

29.05.2024 Strategic Communications

I have seen with my own eyes all too many war-torn regions since the beginning of my mandate – the suffering is simply too much. It is time to stop posturing and scoring points. It is an individual state obligation and a collective international responsibility to work together to realise the rights and standards we have set.

– High Representative, Josep Borrell

On the occasion of the publication of this year’s Annual Report, it is important to remind ourselves of the importance of these words, that show that the European Union remains committed to upholding human rights and democracy, addressing human rights violations and abuses, fighting democratic backsliding, and rising to the new challenges of our digitalised world. This is especially crucial in a time of multiple crises and conflicts, growing social inequalities, and increasing pressure on multilateralism and the rules-based order. This report gives insight into the EU's responses to these challenges striving for a world where human rights and democratic principles are respected, the dignity and freedom of all individuals are safeguarded, and justice and accountability are advanced.

The European Union remains steadfast in its commitment to the centrality of the United Nations Human Rights System. 2023 marked the 75^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a fundamental document that paved the way for the human rights law that the world knows today.

The EU’s work to promote and protect human rights and democracy across the world is guided by the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 which sets out five main lines of action:

protecting and empowering individuals
building resilient, inclusive and democratic societies
promoting a global system for human rights and democracy
harnessing opportunities and addressing challenges of new technologies, and
ensuring we deliver by working with our partners.

These priorities continue to be valid in the challenging international context.

On 27 May, the Council of the EU confirmed that the priorities of the Action Plan should continue to guide the EU action on human rights and democracy in its external relations, thereby extending the current Action Plan until 2027 aligning it with the Multi-annual Financial Framework 2021-2027.

A worldwide trend of democratic backsliding continues and is contributing to the deterioration of democratic processes and institutions. According to International IDEA, there has been a 'net decline' in democratic performance globally. The 2024 democracy report of V-Dem underlines the gravity of the situation, indicating that 71% of the global population live in autocracies, while only 13% enjoy the benefits of liberal democracies.

In 2023, the EU kept up its support for the strengthening of inclusive, representative and accountable institutions, and promoted a collaborative approach to democracy through the Team Europe Democracy initiative. The fight against information manipulation and interference continued to be a priority with initiatives such as EUvsDisinfo. Over the past year, the European Endowment for Democracy has provided a major contribution to the protection of democratic actors and independent media, not least in challenging contexts such as Belarus, and Ukraine.

The EU’s commitment to the universality of human rights will guide the EU’s action towards the UN Summit of the Future this September, a defining opportunity for the international community to reaffirm unwavering support for the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights while promoting a strong, effective, inclusive, and networked multilateral system.