Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. Own-initiative report First reading
Human Rights and Democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands: Parliament adopted the text on 21 January 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- ✓ Referred to committee 11 September 2025
- ✓ Committee work Report adopted 2 December 2025
- ✓ Tabled for plenary 8 January 2026
- ✓ Plenary vote Adopted 21 January 2026
- ✓ Parliament’s position Final
How a file moves through Parliament
A file is referred to one lead committee (others may give an opinion). Its rapporteur writes a draft report, committee members table amendments, and the committee votes to adopt the report. The report is then tabled for all MEPs; political groups can table further amendments, which are voted on before the final vote in plenary. The adopted resolution is Parliament’s final position; it is not itself law.
Who is working on it
- Lead committee
- AFET — Foreign Affairs
- Rapporteur
- Francisco ASSIS S&D
- Shadow rapporteurs
- Isabel WISELER-LIMA PPEBernard GUETTA RenewRima HASSAN The LeftCatarina VIEIRA Verts/ALETomasz FROELICH ESN
- For opinion
- FEMM — Women’s Rights and Gender Equality · rapporteur Lina GÁLVEZ S&D
The rapporteur drafts and negotiates the text for the lead committee; each other political group names a shadow rapporteur to follow the file.
The text, version by version
Adopted by Parliament · latest Adopted text TA10-0014/2026 21 January 2026 ✦ This resolution on the EU's annual human rights report condemns global democratic backsliding and human rights abuses, and calls for stronger EU action to defend human rights, democracy, and multilateralism worldwide.⇄ what changed Tabled for plenary Report A10-0262/2025 8 January 2026 ✦ This resolution on human rights and democracy in the world and the EU's policy on the matter assesses global challenges and the EU's toolbox, and makes recommendations for action.⇄ what changed Committee draft Draft report (AFET) 9 September 2025 ✦ This draft report on human rights and democracy in the world and the EU's policy on the matter for 2025 notes the global deterioration of human rights and democratic backsliding, and assesses the EU's toolbox for promoting human rights.
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament: Adds provisions on Christian persecution in the Middle East and globally, including a call for a coordinator against Christianophobia. Adds paragraphs on protecting pregnant women's rights and combating sexual exploitation and prostitution. The other change is wording: renumbers a paragraph and removes a word. see the changes →
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary: The report expands significantly, adding many new recitals and paragraphs on topics like funding cuts, UN financial crisis, gender equality, and digital surveillance. It strengthens language on multilateralism, international justice, and support for the ICC and UN, with new calls for EU unity and reform. It adds many new calls on specific human rights issues, including freedom of religion, corporate accountability, and protection of HRDs. The other changes are mostly wording and formal updates, such as rephrasing and adding references to Articles 2 and 21 TEU. see the changes →
Committee opinions: Opinion (FEMM),Draft opinion (FEMM)
Newest version first. Open a version to read it in full. “What changed” shows the differences paragraph by paragraph; ✦ lines are AI-written from the texts themselves.
Timeline
- Plenary stage
- 21 January 2026 Plenary voteAdopted Adopted by a large majorityFor 421 Against 120 Abstained 108
Final vote — text as a whole at 13:45 · 65% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →
Show all 109 ballots in voting order
1. Separate vote on paragraph 1AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded2. Separate vote on paragraph 1AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded3. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 1RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded4. Amendment 19, adding text after paragraph 2 13:30 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 2 – Am 19Rejected5. Separate vote on paragraph 3AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded6. Separate vote on paragraph 3AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded7. Separate vote on paragraph 5AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded8. Separate vote on paragraph 5AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded9. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 5Adoptedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded10. Amendment 21, adding text after paragraph 5 13:31 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 5 – Am 21Adopted11. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 7RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded12. Separate vote on paragraph 8RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded13. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 8RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded14. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 9Rejectedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded15. Amendment 3, adding text after paragraph 10 13:33 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 10 – Am 3Rejected16. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 16RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded17. Separate vote on paragraph 17AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded18. Separate vote on paragraph 17AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedAdoptedAdopted21. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 17RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded22. Separate vote on paragraph 18RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded23. Amendment 11, adding text after paragraph 18 13:34 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 18 – Am 11Rejected24. Separate vote on paragraph 19Adoptedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded25. Separate vote on paragraph 19Adoptedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recordedRejected27. Separate vote on paragraph 20AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded28. Separate vote on paragraph 20AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded29. Separate vote on paragraph 20AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejected31. Separate vote on paragraph 21AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedAdopted33. Amendment 36, adding text after paragraph 22 13:36 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 22 – Am 36Rejected34. Amendment 37, adding text after paragraph 22 13:36 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 22 – Am 37Rejected35. Amendment 38, adding text after paragraph 22 13:36 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 22 – Am 38Rejected36. Amendment 39, adding text after paragraph 22 13:37 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 22 – Am 39Rejected37. Separate vote on paragraph 25RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded38. Separate vote on paragraph 25AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded39. Separate vote on paragraph 25AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejectedRejected42. Separate vote on paragraph 29RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded43. Amendment 28, adding text after paragraph 29 13:37 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 29 – Am 28Rejected44. Amendment 42, adding text after paragraph 29 13:38 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 29 – Am 42Rejected45. Separate vote on paragraph 33RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded46. Separate vote on paragraph 33AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded47. Separate vote on paragraph 33AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejected49. Separate vote on paragraph 43AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedAdopted51. Separate vote on paragraph 43AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded52. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 44RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded53. Separate vote on paragraph 51RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded54. Separate vote on paragraph 51AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded55. Separate vote on paragraph 51AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded56. Separate vote on paragraph 51AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded57. Separate vote on paragraph 51AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded58. Separate vote on paragraph 53AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded59. Separate vote on paragraph 53AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded60. Separate vote on paragraph 53AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded61. Separate vote on paragraph 53AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded62. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 53RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded63. Amendment 15, adding text after paragraph 53 13:39 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 53 – Am 15Rejected64. Amendment 6, adding text after paragraph 56 13:40 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 56 – Am 6RejectedRejected66. Separate vote on paragraph 57AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded67. Separate vote on paragraph 57AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded68. Separate vote on paragraph 57AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded69. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 57RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded70. Amendment 45, adding text after paragraph 57 13:40 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 57 – Am 45Rejected71. Separate vote on paragraph 58AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejected73. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 65RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejected75. Separate vote on paragraph 66AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedAdopted77. Separate vote on paragraph 71AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded78. 74AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded79. 74AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded80. 74AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejected82. Separate vote on paragraph 78AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded83. Separate vote on paragraph 78AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded84. Separate vote on paragraph 78Adoptedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded85. Separate vote on paragraph 78AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded86. Separate vote on paragraph 78Rejectedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded87. Separate vote on paragraph 78AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded88. Separate vote on paragraph 78Adoptedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded89. Separate vote on paragraph 78AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded90. Separate vote on paragraph 81AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded91. Separate vote on paragraph 81AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded92. Amendment 32, adding text after paragraph 81 13:43 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 81 – Am 32Adopted93. Amendment 46, adding text after paragraph 83 13:43 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 83 – Am 46Rejected94. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 83RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded95. Amendment 48, adding text after paragraph 83 13:44 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After § 83 – Am 48Rejected96. Separate vote on citation 31AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded97. Separate vote on recital CAdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded98. Separate vote on recital CAdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded99. Amendment 1, adding text after recital M 13:44 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After recital M – Am 1Rejected100. Amendment 2, adding text after recital M 13:44 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – After recital M – Am 2Rejected101. Vote on text inserted after recital MAdoptedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded102. Separate vote on recital OAdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedAdopted104. Separate vote on recital PRejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded105. Separate vote on recital PAdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded106. Separate vote on recital PAdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded107. Separate vote on recital RAdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded108. Vote on text inserted after recital VRejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded109. Final vote — text as a whole 13:45 A10-0262/2025 – Francisco Assis – Motion for a resolution (as a whole)Adopted - 20 January 2026 Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
- 13 January – 14 January 2026 48 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
- 8 January 2026 Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
- Committee stage
- 2 December 2025 Committee vote: report adopted
AFET (Foreign Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
- 5 November 2025 FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
- 8 October 2025 Amendments tabled in committee
Members of AFET (Foreign Affairs) proposed changes to the draft.
- 17 September 2025 Draft opinion from FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
- 11 September 2025 Referred to the AFET (Foreign Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) gives an opinion.
- 9 September 2025 Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in AFET (Foreign Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.