Sous-commission Droits de l'homme (DROI) - Parlement européen

Durée de la vidéo : 90'

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

Five members of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) were in Bangladesh from 16 to 18 September 2025. The mission took place at a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s democratic transition following the July protests of 2024, which led to the fall of Seikh’s Hassina’s administration. Elections are scheduled to take place in February 2026.

The mission also came at a crucial moment for EU-Bangladesh relations amidst the ongoing negotiations for a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the dispatching of an exploratory mission to assess the deployment of an EU Election Observation Mission in the upcoming general elections.

The Members met with government officials, representatives of civil society, Bangladeshi youth and international organisations. Additionally, the DROI delegation visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar at a critical juncture for the international organisations that are operating on the ground, as the recent decision of the US administration to proceed with major cuts in USAID has significantly diminished the ability of these organisations to continue delivering essential resources, including food, and services to the refugees residing in the camps.

Press release
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Durée de la vidéo : 120'

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

Durée de la vidéo : 105'

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

Durée de la vidéo : 105'

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

The nominees for this year’s Prize were presented by the political groups in a joint meeting of the Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and on Development (DEVE) and the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) in Brussels on 23 September. Each year, the Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to honour exceptional individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In 2024, the Prize was awarded to María Corina Machado, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia.

The AFET and DEVE Committees will vote on a shortlist of three finalists on 16 October and the Conference of Presidents will take a decision on the final laureate on 22 October.
Sakharov Prize - Presentation of the nominees - Webstreaming link
Sakharov Prize website
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The next ordinary meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights is scheduled to take place on 24 September (9:00-12:30 and 15:00-18:30) and 25 September 2025 (9:00-11:30).
Meeting room: SPAAK 5B001 (Brussels)
DROI meetings - 2025
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Mardi, les groupes politiques du Parlement et les députés présenteront leurs candidats pour le Prix Sakharov pour la liberté de l’esprit 2025.
Commission des affaires étrangères
Commission du développement
Sous-commission "Droits de l'homme"

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

On 19-20 May, DROI Subcommittee travelled to Geneva for meetings with the United Nations Human Rights Council, other UN bodies active in the field of human rights, relevant Geneva-based international organisations, and civil society organisations.
Location : Geneva
Press release
Mission report
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 24 September (15.00-17.00) the DROI Subcommittee and the FEMM Committee are organising a public hearing on ‘The EU strategy to promote and to protect human rights of women worldwide (notably in Afghanistan & Iran, with a focus on fighting gender apartheid)’. Representatives of the EU, the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and Amnesty International will participate in the exchange while human rights defenders and journalists will share their personal testimonies.

This public hearing will assess the current global trends, examine the global human rights situation for women, especially in Iran and Afghanistan, and discuss the overall EU strategy to protect women's rights worldwide. It aims to put forward concrete proposals to complement currently implemented strategies in support of persecuted women. Additionally, the hearing aims to assess how international legal mechanisms could recognise gender apartheid in order to bring perpetrators to justice.

This discussion is particularly pertinent in the current geopolitical environment, where a regress of gender equality is becoming globally apparent.

Members of the Iran and Afghanistan Parliamentary Delegations and of DEVE Committee have been also invited. The hearing is public and will be webstreamed.
Location : Brussels, Room: SPAAK 5B1
Draft programme
Live streaming
Accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5): Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls
Women's rights in Afghanistan: An ongoing battle
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

At its meeting on 25 of September the Subcommittee on Human Rights presents a study on Environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) to highlight their courageous work in an increasing difficult environment.

The study "Environmental human rights defenders: New developments and their implications for the European Union and the European Parliament" reports on recent vital breakthroughs, driven partly by EHRDs, including recognition of the right to a healthy environment by the United Nations, as well as progress from voluntary guidelines to binding provisions on human rights and sustainability due diligence. Nevertheless, at the meeting MEPs will discuss how current initiatives as the revision of the Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence Directive could threaten these advancements. Recommendations are provided for the EU to strengthen the realisation of EHRDs' rights and their role as custodians of the right to a healthy environment, not only for themselves but also for others who cannot raise their voices.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 24 September (15.00-17.00) the DROI Subcommittee and the FEMM Committee are organising a public hearing on ‘The EU strategy to promote and to protect human rights of women worldwide (notably in Afghanistan & Iran, with a focus on fighting gender apartheid)’. Representatives of the EU, the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and Amnesty International will participate in the exchange while human rights defenders and journalists will share their personal testimonies.

This public hearing will assess the current global trends, examine the global human rights situation for women, especially in Iran and Afghanistan, and discuss the overall EU strategy to protect women's rights worldwide. It aims to put forward concrete proposals to complement currently implemented strategies in support of persecuted women. Additionally, the hearing aims to assess how international legal mechanisms could recognise gender apartheid in order to bring perpetrators to justice.

This discussion is particularly pertinent in the current geopolitical environment, where a regress of gender equality is becoming globally apparent.

Members of the Iran and Afghanistan Parliamentary Delegations and of DEVE Committee have been also invited. The hearing is public and will be webstreamed.
Location : Brussels
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 24 September, at 15.00-17.00 (Brussels) the DROI Subcommittee and the FEMM Committee are organising a public hearing on ‘The EU strategy to promote and to protect human rights of women worldwide (notably in Afghanistan & Iran, with a focus on fighting gender apartheid)’.
Representatives of the European Union, the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and Amnesty International will participate in the exchange, while human rights defenders and journalists will share their personal testimonies. Members of the Iran and Afghanistan Parliamentary Delegations and of DEVE Committee have been also invited.

This public hearing will assess the current global trends, examine the global human rights situation for women, especially in Iran and Afghanistan, and discuss the overall EU strategy to protect women's rights worldwide. It aims to put forward concrete proposals to complement currently implemented strategies in support of persecuted women. Additionally, the hearing aims to assess how international legal mechanisms could recognise gender apartheid in order to bring perpetrators to justice.

This discussion is particularly pertinent in the current geopolitical environment, where a regress of gender equality is becoming globally apparent.
Public hearing page
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 24 September, during the DROI meeting, Prof. Richard Youngs will present the study "EU strategy to face narratives against democracy - with a focus on the external dimension." This exchange of views will take place jointly with the Special Committee on European Democracy Shield (EUDS). An autocratic surge has intensified globally over the past two decades, threatening democratic norms. This autocratic wave continues to evolve, becoming more complex and diverse as it unfolds.

The study draws on historical and contemporary writings that present various arguments against democracy. After breaking down the elements of the current autocratic surge and the narratives behind, it evaluates the EU's responses to support democracy in its external actions in recent years. The paper concludes that although many policy areas have been strengthened, effectively countering this rise in authoritarianism continues to be a significant challenge. It follows up with some recommendations for European institutions and Member States for adapting their democracy support strategy accordingly.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Detention of EU citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus
Case of Victoire Ingabire in Rwanda
Case of Abdoul Aziz Goma, arbitrarily detained in Togo
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Jeudi, le Parlement a adopté trois résolutions d’urgence sur Chypre, le Rwanda et le Togo.
Sous-commission "Droits de l'homme"

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © Union européenne, 2025 - PE