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

The next ordinary meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights is scheduled to take place on 15 July 9:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:30, in Brussels.

Meeting room: SPINELLI (1G-2).

DROI meetings - 2026
DROI meetings - 2025
DROI Coordinators
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On 15 July 2026 the Subcommittee on Human Rights will discuss the impact of the ongoing conflict in Lebanon from the perspective of the human rights and of the protection of civilians in the framework of international Humanitarian Law.

The situation in Lebanon remains a matter of significant international concern. Recent developments have heightened tensions and underscored the fragility of the situation, with the conflict continuing to affect the country and the wider region. Against this background, it is essential to address the human rights implications of the conflict, including the protection of civilians and the application of international humanitarian law.

The event will provide an opportunity for an informed exchange on the legal and human rights dimensions of the current situation featuring a panel including representatives from the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the EEAS.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On 15 July, the DROI Subcommittee will hold a workshop on Human control and AI-enabled military systems: human rights risks, accountability and policy options for the European Union. The discussion will examine the human rights implications of the growing use of artificial intelligence in military systems, focusing on meaningful human control, accountability, transparency and possible policy responses at EU level.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into military systems, including intelligence, surveillance, command and control, decision-support and targeting functions. These developments raise important questions about human oversight, accountability and the protection of fundamental rights, particularly where AI-enabled systems influence decisions with potentially significant human rights consequences.

The workshop will present the findings of a study commissioned by the DROI Subcommittee and discuss the challenges posed by AI-enabled military systems, including algorithmic opacity, automation bias and the allocation of responsibility across public authorities and private actors. It will also explore possible policy options for the European Union and the role of the European Parliament in promoting meaningful human control, democratic oversight and respect for fundamental rights in this rapidly evolving field.

Workshop page
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Jeudi, le Parlement a adopté trois résolutions d’urgence sur le Soudan, le Nigeria et le Pakistan.
Sous-commission "Droits de l'homme"

Source : © Union européenne, 2026 - PE

As the European Union prepares to redefine its external financing framework for the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the proposed Global Europe Instrument raises key questions about the future place of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in EU external action. While intended to enhance coherence, flexibility and geopolitical responsiveness, the new framework must also ensure that values-based commitments remain visible, adequately funded and operationally effective. The workshop held on 23 February 2026, organised on behalf of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), examined how the proposed instrument may affect the EU’s capacity to support democratic governance, accountability, civil society, human-rights defenders and fundamental rights worldwide. Against a background of democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space and growing geopolitical competition, participants discussed the risks and opportunities of moving from dedicated funding structures towards a more integrated external financing instrument. The discussion also addressed the balance between strategic interests and values-based external action, and the role of the European Parliament in ensuring democratic oversight, policy coherence and sustained support for human rights and democracy. This publication brings together the workshop proceedings, including exchanges with Members, academics, civil society experts and EU representatives, with a briefing on the same topic.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The next ordinary meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights is scheduled to take place on 15 July in Brussels.

DROI meetings - 2026
DROI meetings - 2025
DROI Coordinators
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This briefing examines how the European Union can protect its sovereignty in external action on human rights, international law and international justice. It understands EU sovereignty as the Union’s capacity to preserve policy space, legal autonomy and implementation capacity under conditions of deep interdependence. The analysis shows that this capacity is increasingly constrained by extraterritorial measures, weaponised interdependence, transnational repression, digital surveillance, strategic dependencies, Common Foreign and Security Policy decision-making limits and fragmented implementation. Financial and digital sovereignty are treated as implementation conditions for external action, since EU support for civil society, human rights defenders, sanctions enforcement and international justice depends on reliable payment channels, secure data environments and resilient infrastructures. The briefing maps key EU instruments, including the Blocking Statute, Anti-Coercion Instrument, financial and digital resilience frameworks, the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, human rights clauses and external-facing regulatory instruments. It concludes with recommendations for a comprehensive EU strategy linking legal shielding, normative enforcement, institutional agility and material resilience.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Thursday 25 June, the AFET Committee, jointly with its Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), held an exchange of views with Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to discuss global human rights challenges and efforts to ensure their promotion and protection worldwide.
Live streaming
Photos
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Source : © Union européenne, 2026 - PE

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, 2026 - PE

Durée de la vidéo : 60'

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, 2026 - 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, 2026 - PE

Durée de la vidéo : 150'

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, 2026 - PE

Political prisoners in Nicaragua – the cases of Carlos Brenes, Salvadora del Socorro Martínez Aburto and Brooklyn Rivera
Deteriorating situation of political prisoners in Belarus, in particular the case of Aliaksandra Pulinovich
Continued crackdown on civic space and fundamental freedoms in Burkina Faso
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, from 10.15 to 12.00, the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the EU External Action Service, will host a joint conference on Safeguarding the absolute prohibition of torture in the current global context.

Despite the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international law, notably art. 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such practices continue to occur in various forms and contexts worldwide.

This event will provide a platform for a debate, with relevant contributions including the voice of prominent survivors' testimonies, institutional and civil society interventions, as the UN Special Rapporteur on torture Alice Jill Edwards, and Lorent Saleh, awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament in 2017.

Location : SPINELLI 1G2, Brussels
Draft agenda
Live streaming
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On 22 June the Subcommittee on Human Rights, in association with the Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly, will examine the human rights situation in Tanzania. The discussion will take place while Tanzanian authorities have repeatedly rejected requests for a DROI mission to the country and as the European Parliament just adopted a resolution to object the draft Commission implementing decision on the financing of the 2026 annual action plan for Tanzania.

The European Parliament had previously expressed concerns regarding developments in Tanzania in two resolutions addressing the post-election killings and the imprisonment of the political opponent Tundu Lissu, and in an earlier resolution objecting the 2025 Annual Action Plan proposed by the European Commission.

The discussion will feature a panel including human right defenders as well as representatives from the Commission and the EEAS.
Press Release - MEPs object to Commission funding plan for Tanzania
European Parliament resolution of 18 June 2026 on the draft Commission implementing decision on the financing of the annual action plan in favour of the United Republic of Tanzania for 2026
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, the Subcommittee on Human Rights, will hold an exchange of views on the human rights situation in the Sahel against the background of the latest regional developments. This discussion will be the opportunity to follow-up on last year's exchange on human rights in Sahel, and to shade the light on recent developments that have significantly undermined security and accelerated the deterioration of human rights across the region.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP