Sous-commission Droits de l'homme (DROI) - Parlement européen

At its meeting on 25 of September the Subcommittee on Human Rights presents a study on Environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) to highlight their courageous work in an increasing difficult environment.

The study "Environmental human rights defenders: New developments and their implications for the European Union and the European Parliament" reports on recent vital breakthroughs, driven partly by EHRDs, including recognition of the right to a healthy environment by the United Nations, as well as progress from voluntary guidelines to binding provisions on human rights and sustainability due diligence. Nevertheless, at the meeting MEPs will discuss how current initiatives as the revision of the Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence Directive could threaten these advancements. Recommendations are provided for the EU to strengthen the realisation of EHRDs' rights and their role as custodians of the right to a healthy environment, not only for themselves but also for others who cannot raise their voices.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 24 September (15.00-17.00) the DROI Subcommittee and the FEMM Committee are organising a public hearing on ‘The EU strategy to promote and to protect human rights of women worldwide (notably in Afghanistan & Iran, with a focus on fighting gender apartheid)’. Representatives of the EU, the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and Amnesty International will participate in the exchange while human rights defenders and journalists will share their personal testimonies.

This public hearing will assess the current global trends, examine the global human rights situation for women, especially in Iran and Afghanistan, and discuss the overall EU strategy to protect women's rights worldwide. It aims to put forward concrete proposals to complement currently implemented strategies in support of persecuted women. Additionally, the hearing aims to assess how international legal mechanisms could recognise gender apartheid in order to bring perpetrators to justice.

This discussion is particularly pertinent in the current geopolitical environment, where a regress of gender equality is becoming globally apparent.

Members of the Iran and Afghanistan Parliamentary Delegations and of DEVE Committee have been also invited. The hearing is public and will be webstreamed.
Location : Brussels
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 24 September, at 15.00-17.00 (Brussels) the DROI Subcommittee and the FEMM Committee are organising a public hearing on ‘The EU strategy to promote and to protect human rights of women worldwide (notably in Afghanistan & Iran, with a focus on fighting gender apartheid)’.
Representatives of the European Union, the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and Amnesty International will participate in the exchange, while human rights defenders and journalists will share their personal testimonies. Members of the Iran and Afghanistan Parliamentary Delegations and of DEVE Committee have been also invited.

This public hearing will assess the current global trends, examine the global human rights situation for women, especially in Iran and Afghanistan, and discuss the overall EU strategy to protect women's rights worldwide. It aims to put forward concrete proposals to complement currently implemented strategies in support of persecuted women. Additionally, the hearing aims to assess how international legal mechanisms could recognise gender apartheid in order to bring perpetrators to justice.

This discussion is particularly pertinent in the current geopolitical environment, where a regress of gender equality is becoming globally apparent.
Public hearing page
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 24 September, during the DROI meeting, Prof. Richard Youngs will present the study "EU strategy to face narratives against democracy - with a focus on the external dimension." This exchange of views will take place jointly with the Special Committee on European Democracy Shield (EUDS). An autocratic surge has intensified globally over the past two decades, threatening democratic norms. This autocratic wave continues to evolve, becoming more complex and diverse as it unfolds.

The study draws on historical and contemporary writings that present various arguments against democracy. After breaking down the elements of the current autocratic surge and the narratives behind, it evaluates the EU's responses to support democracy in its external actions in recent years. The paper concludes that although many policy areas have been strengthened, effectively countering this rise in authoritarianism continues to be a significant challenge. It follows up with some recommendations for European institutions and Member States for adapting their democracy support strategy accordingly.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Detention of EU citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus
Case of Victoire Ingabire in Rwanda
Case of Abdoul Aziz Goma, arbitrarily detained in Togo
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Jeudi, le Parlement a adopté trois résolutions d’urgence sur Chypre, le Rwanda et le Togo.
Sous-commission "Droits de l'homme"

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

MISSION REPORT following the DROI ad hoc delegation Georgia, 26-28 May 2025
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

The next meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights is scheduled to take place on 24 and 25 September 2025 in Brussels.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 16 July, during the Human Rights subcommittee meeting, Prof. Clara Portela and Associate Professor Nathanael Tilahun presented the study “Effectiveness of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime”. The work examines the implementation of the EU's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime since its adoption in 2020, assessing its use and impact.
The session was followed by the presentation of the draft report on "Addressing impunity through EU sanctions, including the EU Global Human Rights sanctions regime - so called EU Magnitsky Act."
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Durée de la vidéo : 210'

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

Ahead of the upcoming EU-China Summit in Brussels, the DROI meeting on 16 July featured an exchange of views on the human rights situation in China. Civil society representatives with extensive expertise on the country joined the panel to assess the current state of affairs and shared their input on the road ahead concerning the human rights dimension of the EU-China relationship.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Durée de la vidéo : 75'

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

On 25 June 2025, DROI Subcommittee organised a public hearing on "The Human Rights dimension of the EU memoranda of Understanding in its Southern Neighbourhood (Mauritania, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, with a focus on the use of EU funds)". It allowed to reflect upon the EU cooperation policy in the region from a human rights perspective and discuss solutions for the monitoring of the informal agreements and related funding and improving the human rights conditionality in the EU policy tools.

Civil society voices shared testimonies and analysis of situations on the ground after the conclusion of those informal agreements, which include but are not limited to migration and asylum-related measures. Representatives of the EU Commission, the European External Action Service and the European Court of Accounts explained EU action in the field, also against the background of the upcoming EU Pact for the Mediterranean. Each panel was followed by a Q&A session with MEPs.

Location : Spinelli 3E2
Programme
ECA presentation on the EU Trust Fund for Africa
Background documents (e-meeting)
Webstreaming
Intervention of Andreina De Leo
intervention of Nour Khalil
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai
Arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic
Urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria following the recent terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

Jeudi, le Parlement a adopté trois résolutions d’urgence sur Dubaï, la République centrafricaine et la Syrie.
Sous-commission "Droits de l'homme"

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE