Support for human rights systems and defenders  Inter-governmental human rights systems National human rights systems and bodies

When 20 April 2023 - 21 April 2023

Where Lund, Sweden

Organised By Swedish EU Presidency / FRA

Joint event

A high-level conference on institutional protection of fundamental rights in times of crises will take place in Lund from 20 to 21 April. It will provide a forum to discuss how structures to protect fundamental rights in the European Union can be made more robust and resilient in times of crises. The event to explore what can we learn from crises, past and present, and how can we best move forward.

VISIT EVENT SITE

The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.

Member States have undertaken to guarantee the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union for all people within their jurisdiction and to ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.

Unpredictable crises and developments, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as events related to climate change, can severely affect the lives of people and communities in the European Union and worldwide.

Member States must anticipate and be prepared to address such crises. In this context, robust and resilient structures for the protection of fundamental rights are key. There is clear evidence that countries where human rights are respected and protected are less prone to conflict or crises and have increased resilience to withstand unexpected crises.

The event is organised by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in cooperation with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).