Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2015-2019): Keeping human rights at the heart of the EU agenda

Today's world is unstable and fast changing one, a world in which human rights and democratic values are often questioned and in many places ignored. Human rights violations have increased in volume and intensity, civil society sees its action curtailed, conflicts have become multi-faceted and authoritarian regimes have become bolder. Globalisation entails new challenges which make the protection of human rights even more complex.

In these circumstances, international attention is naturally focused on stability. However, lasting stability cannot be achieved through security and economic prosperity alone. Citizens' loyalty towards their state and their reliance on peaceful means depend on whether they feel that they are protected against arbitrary decisions and that their views can influence political decision making. This can only be achieved in a democratic society, based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, in which the government is not corrupt and is accountable, the parliament is able to reflect the variety of views and interests of its population, civil society is vibrant, the media is free and the justice system is independent.

This is why the Union must keep human rights at the heart of its external action. Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) guides the Union's action externally and reaffirms the EU's role in promoting, inter alia, democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is binding on the EU institutions and on the Member States when they implement Union law. In addition, the EU is a party to some instruments of the United Nations and the Council of Europe, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Union's credibility as a global advocate of human rights rests on these pillars.

The purpose of the present Joint Communication by the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is to contribute to the elaboration of a new Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for the period 2015-2019.

ESO: Background information: EU proposes new Joint Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-proposes-new-joint-action-plan-on-human-rights-and-democracy/

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