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

A vision for human rights defenders in Europe, Zsofia Banuta, Unhack Democracy, Belgium

Márta Pardavi, Hungarian Helsinki Committee

Rethinking the EU’s NGO sector, Domen Savič, Citizen D, Slovenia

Promoting the rule of law and democracy, Viktória Alžbeta Sutórisová, VIA IURIS, Slovakia

How the EU can support human rights defenders, Kirsten Meijer, Netherlands Helsinki Committee

Advancing human rights in the EU, Georgiana Gheorghe, APADOR-CH, Romania

The politicization and accessibility of public spaces, Minos Mouzourakis, Refugee Support Aegean, Greece

Combating violence as a structural issue, Ditte Marie Bjerregard, Center for the Analysis of Power Relation, Denmark

Advocating for better European electoral processes, Armin Rabitsch, Election-Watch.EU, Austria

How the EU can partner with cities to promote human rights, Frédérique Hanotier, HRCN, Belgium

Civil society – the immune system of democracy, Thomas Lohninger, epicenter.works, Austria