Eurochild joins launch of Community of Practice on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Europe
On 26 March, Eurochild joined the launch meeting of this initiative with defenders from across Europe who all continue to face a range of pressures, including harassment, criminalisation, surveillance, threats and reprisals.
Civic space, including child rights civic space, is under strain in various ways across the region. As Christina Meinecke, Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated, the role of human rights defenders remains fundamental. The EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) co-led the exchanges between the human rights defenders and is playing a key role in supporting human rights Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in an increasingly shrinking space.
They stressed the need for digital and legal protection as well as financial support for human rights defenders. At the meeting, the importance of the recently adopted EU Strategy for civil society was stressed, as it provides a framework for action and protection. It is now time for this strategy to be implemented, a contribution that Eurochild has also made. At the meeting, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency announced a forthcoming report it would publish on 31 March.
The report ‘Civic Space Updates: enabling civil society to uphold EU values and strengthen democracy’, presents FRA opinions on how EU Member States can better protect civic space and support civil society organisations in safeguarding fundamental rights. The findings are based on data and information, including consultations with CSOs. It covers all EU Member States, as well as Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia.
Eurochild looks forward to boosting collaboration with CSOs, institutional partners and donors to improve responses to threats and attacks and to strengthen the protection ecosystem in Europe.
Many of Eurochild's members face threats to their work for children's rights. In a recent blog by Szilvia Gyurkó from our member Hintalovon Alapítvány she explains what it means to defend children’s rights when the space for independent action is shrinking. In Hungary, organisations working to protect children are increasingly operating in a climate of pressure and hostility.
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