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

Post-election killings and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu
Escalating repression of the Baha'is in Iran
Rule of law and human rights situation in Tunisia, particularly the case of Sonia Dahmani
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The fight against impunity remains a key challenge for the international community, as efforts to hold perpetrators of serious international crimes accountable are increasingly strained by geopolitical rivalries, fragmented enforcement and weak political will. This paper examines three accountability mechanisms – international criminal tribunals, universal jurisdiction and transitional justice – through comparative analysis and case studies. International criminal tribunals, from ad hoc tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda to the International Criminal Court, have advanced legal norms and secured landmark convictions. Yet, their legitimacy is weakened by high costs, slow trials, selective enforcement and limited cooperation from states. Universal jurisdiction allows national courts to prosecute atrocities irrespective of territorial or personal links. Its growing use in Europe, especially in cases linked to Syria and Ukraine, demonstrates potential, although inconsistent application and political frictions limit its effectiveness. Transitional justice, through truth commissions, reparations and institutional reforms, offers societies pathways to reconciliation and peace, but faces recurring challenges of political interference, resource scarcity and insufficient victim participation. Case studies from the Balkans, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia, Syria and Israel-Palestine highlight that no single mechanism is sufficient. Instead, effective accountability requires context-sensitive and context-specific combinations of tools. The paper concludes with recommendations for strengthening the European Union’s global role.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 21 October 2025, the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen's second mandate adopted its work programme for 2026 (2026 CWP). In line with the Commission President's political guidelines and letter of intent and highlighting the need for full implementation of Mario Draghi's competitiveness report, the 2026 CWP places a strong emphasis on competitiveness, innovation and collective security. In parallel, the Commission commits to advancing simplification, implementation, and this year, also to strengthening enforcement. These three areas will remain key horizontal priorities for the entire Commission mandate. Just like last year's CWP, the 2026 CWP adheres to the seven headline ambitions put forward in the political guidelines. It is accompanied by a report on implementation, simplification and enforcement, the first of its kind. This new annual report is set to replace the annual burden survey. Annex I of the 2026 CWP puts forward 70 major new legislative and non-legislative initiatives, 44 % of which fall under the competitiveness headline ambition. (Up to) 48 of the new initiatives are legislative, including three sector-specific omnibus packages (on energy product legislation, taxation and citizens). Of the forthcoming legislative initiatives, 67 % are likely revisions of existing legislation, while more than half have a strong simplification dimension. Unlike previous CWPs, the 2026 CWP does not indicate whether a legislative initiative will be accompanied by an impact assessment; this lack of transparency runs counter to the spirit of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making. Information on the Commission's 'Have your say' portal shows that, at the time of writing, two thirds of the up to 48 legislative initiatives were expected to be accompanied by an impact assessment (though the final number may be higher). The annual evaluation plan presented in Annex II of the CWP, comprising 20 evaluations, does not appear exhaustive. Finally, the communication on Better Regulation, expected in Q2 2026, may entail a revision of the Better Regulation Guidelines, the first since 2021.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

La cérémonie de remise du Prix Sakharov 2025 pour la liberté de l’esprit aux lauréats Andrzej Poczobut et Mzia Amaglobeli se tiendra le mardi 16 décembre.
Commission des affaires étrangères
Commission du développement
Sous-commission "Droits de l'homme"

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

The Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) will hold a workshop on the Human rights dimension of EU-Latin America relations in the context of the EU-CELAC Summit on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, from 15:00 to17:30.

Organised with the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, in the aftermath of the recent summit where EU-27 and CELAC-33 leaders committed to further enhance cooperation, the meeting aims to turn the focus to human rights.

It will open with a testimonial from Sakharov Prize Laureate 1992 Asociación Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. Prof. Par Engstrom, from University College London will set the scene for each panel - providing first an overview of the situation of human rights in Latin America and then turning to human rights accountability mechanisms, seeking the best ways for the EU to engage - and Prof. Maria Garcia, from Bath university, will speak in the forward-looking panel.

Discussions will further bring together representatives from the International Federation for Human Rights and Human Rights Watch, as well as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the European External Action Service and the European Commission.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP