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REPORT (2024/2081(INI))

On human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024

A-10-2025-0012

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Isabel WiselerLima

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This resolution on human rights and democracy in the world in 2024 sets out Parliament's position on the EU's external human rights policy, covering challenges, tools, and specific rights. It calls for stronger EU action to counter authoritarianism, uphold international law, support human rights defenders, and integrate human rights across all external policies. It addresses specific rights issues, including torture, freedom of assembly, food, water, climate, children, women, refugees, LGBTIQ+, persons with disabilities, elderly, equality, death penalty, religion, expression, indigenous peoples, and digital technologies.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes that Parliament adopt this resolution, which sets out its annual assessment and recommendations on EU human rights and democracy policy.

Key points

  1. Reasserts the universality of human rights and calls on the EU and member states to lead by example in promoting and protecting them worldwide.
  2. Condemns human rights violations, including executions, torture, gender-based violence, clampdowns on civil society, and calls for the EU to counter authoritarianism and uphold international law.
  3. Welcomes the extension of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy to 2027 and calls for its full implementation.
  4. Calls for increased resources and visibility for the EU Special Representative for Human Rights and for Parliament's involvement in his selection.
  5. Calls for human rights assessments and robust clauses in international agreements, with suspension as a last resort for persistent breaches.
  6. Calls for stronger use of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and for qualified majority voting on sanctions decisions.
  7. Calls for enhanced support for human rights defenders, including flexible funding, visa facilitation, and a strategy against transnational repression.
  8. Calls for EU support for the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, and for member states to implement their decisions.
  9. Calls for the EU to lead the fight against extremism and terrorism, and to uphold international humanitarian law in conflicts.
  10. Calls for gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights to be prioritized in humanitarian aid and refugee response.
  11. Calls for the universal abolition of the death penalty and for the abolition of apostasy and blasphemy laws.
  12. Calls for measures to protect journalists, academic freedom, and to address the risks of artificial intelligence to human rights.

Who is affected

  • Human rights defenders and civil society organizations worldwide, who are to receive increased EU support and protection.
  • Women and girls, who are to benefit from strengthened EU efforts to combat gender-based violence and promote gender equality.
  • Refugees and asylum seekers, whose rights the EU is called to uphold in its migration and asylum policies.
  • LGBTIQ+ persons, who are to be protected from discrimination and violence, including through EU policies.
  • Journalists and media workers, who are to be supported and protected from censorship and attacks.

Figures and deadlines

  • 47 journalists and media workers killed and 573 imprisoned since 1 January 2024, according to Reporters Without Borders.
  • 251 million children and young people are out of school, according to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024.
  • At least one million people are unjustly imprisoned for political reasons.
  • Journalists killed in conflict situations in 2023 increased by 85% since 2022, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
  • MSMEs account for 90% of businesses, 60 to 70% of employment, and 50% of gross domestic product worldwide.

Legal basis: Articles 2, 3, 8, 21 and 23 of the Treaty on European Union and Articles 17 and 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.