HRDN advocates for placing human rights and democracy at the heart of the European Union’s (EU) policy agenda, both internally and externally. It is also recognized by the EU and the network is routinely invited to brief and advise policymakers on a range of issues. The HRDN works primarily at headquarters level in Brussels, and with EU Member States to improve both their mainstreaming and their specific actions, which aim to promote, protect, and fulfil the rights of individuals both within and outside the EU.
Recently, HRDN worked on advocating for a Directive on the Protection and Mobility of Human Rights Defenders and for the EU to strengthen its commitment to promoting peace, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and equality globally. Humanists International will be joining organizations like the Amnesty International European Institutions Office, Human Rights Watch, ILGA-Europe, and Reporters Without Borders.
Humanists International’s membership in HRDN marks a significant milestone in its EU advocacy, further building on its recent work highlighting “manufactured polarization” in Europe, protecting civic space and ensuring equal public participation, as well as strengthening bodily autonomy. Membership of the HRDN will add to the work of Humanists International at the EU and Council of Europe which includes, among other things, being a dialogue partner of the Article 17 Dialogue, and work with the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU.
Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash
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