What’s at stake
Democratic backsliding, authoritarian governments, threats & intimidation
Across the continent, authoritarian governments are controlling the media, swaying the courts and targeting civil society organisations. Despite this democratic backsliding, we – over 50 human rights defenders from 18 EU countries – are hopeful the Union will continue to protect and enforce rights at home. These are our stories.
Every day, we help people in the European Union whose fundamental rights – the freedom of thought, expression and assembly, and rights to a fair trial and asylum – are threatened or violated. Because of this work, some of us are targeted with unfounded lawsuits or bureaucratic hurdles. Others are threatened with fines and jail time for helping migrants at the EU’s external borders. And some even receive death threats. These threats take time and energy away from our mission – protecting and enforcing our clients’ human rights.
Our stories
What drives us
