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

TA-10-2025-0059 · P10_TA(2025)0059 · PE763.138

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This resolution is Parliament's annual report on human rights and democracy worldwide and the EU's policy on the matter for 2024. It condemns human rights violations, supports human rights defenders, and calls for stronger EU action. It urges the EU to uphold human rights in external policies, use sanctions, support multilateral institutions, and address specific rights issues including women's rights, children's rights, and freedom of expression.

Key points

  1. Reasserts the universality and indivisibility of human rights and calls on the EU and member states to lead by example in promoting and protecting them.
  2. Condemns human rights violations worldwide, including executions, torture, gender-based violence, and shrinking civic space, and calls for action against them.
  3. Calls for integrating human rights assessments and robust clauses in EU agreements with non-EU countries, with benchmarks and procedures for violations, including possible suspension.
  4. Welcomes the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime but calls for stronger use, including qualified majority voting for decisions, and for anti-corruption sanctions.
  5. Calls for comprehensive revision of EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and for flexible, sustained funding to support defenders facing increasing threats.
  6. Supports the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, calls for member states to implement ICC arrest warrants, and urges activation of the Blocking Statute against sanctions on the ICC.
  7. Condemns attacks on civilians in conflicts, calls for humanitarian corridors and unhindered aid access, and urges parties to respect international humanitarian law.
  8. Calls for gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights to be prioritized in humanitarian aid and refugee response, and for the right to legal and safe abortion to be enshrined in the EU Charter.
  9. Condemns human rights violations against LGBTIQ+ persons, including conversion practices, and calls for EU-wide policies to illegalize such practices.
  10. Reiterates opposition to the death penalty and calls for its universal abolition or an immediate moratorium.
  11. Condemns restrictions on freedom of expression, including foreign agents laws and SLAPPs, and calls for EU support for independent media and fact-checkers.
  12. Calls for the EU to address threats from artificial intelligence and digital surveillance, and to combat internet shutdowns.

Who is affected

  • Human rights defenders and civil society organizations worldwide, who are to receive increased support and protection.
  • Women and girls, particularly in conflict zones, who are to benefit from prioritized gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  • LGBTIQ+ persons, who are to be protected from discrimination and violence, with conversion practices illegalized.
  • Journalists and media workers, who are to receive EU support and protection against censorship and attacks.
  • Refugees and asylum seekers, whose rights are to be upheld in EU asylum and migration policies.

Figures and deadlines

  • 54 journalists and media workers were killed in 2024, 550 detained, 55 held hostage, and 95 missing.
  • 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.
  • MSMEs account for 90% of businesses, 60-70% of employment, and 50% of GDP 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.