HUMAN RIGHTS.
We are pleased to share with you the 2020 Fundamental Rights Report published today by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights on its website:
| https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2020/fundamental-rights-report-2020?fbclid=IwAR2X8F_LzxLhxHnn22SdsctJhnDFxr4g9uQIcnrTe4ZbfF-Jx7hv8qJptgc |
With regard to the period under review, the report also looks at developments in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. For the first time, it also covers two EU candidate countries, the Republic of Northern Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia.
The Fundamental Rights Report 2020 also presents the FRA’s views on the developments outlined. Available in all EU languages, these opinions suggest a number of factual, timely and practical measures that EU bodies and national governments can consider.
COVID-19 emphasizes the importance of strong protection of fundamental rights
Growing intolerance and attacks on people’s fundamental rights continue to undermine significant progress over the years, the FRA’s 2020 Fundamental Rights Report finds. As Europe begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing an increase in existing inequalities and threats to social cohesion.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have a profound impact on the fundamental rights of everyone in the EU. Persistent inequalities, harassment and prejudice are likely to worsen further, ”said Michael O’Flaherty, director of the FRA. "Governments must provide plans for a 'new normal' that will lead to a just and just society that respects everyone's dignity and ensures that no one is left behind."
The FRA 2020 Fundamental Rights Report reflects the developments and shortcomings in the protection of human rights in the EU over the past year. The focus section highlights how the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights has become visible and has given rise to a new culture of fundamental rights at EU level. But nationally, knowledge and use of the Charter remains limited, despite being legally binding for 10 years. The insight will hopefully encourage others, including governments, to take on this great tool - and give it the full force to make a real contribution to transforming people’s lives.
Other key issues identified include:
· Respect for fundamental rights at borders remains one of the most important human rights challenges in the EU. Migrants died at sea and faced violence and reflections at land borders. Some Member States have endangered humanitarian lifeboats. In others, immigrants continued to experience overcrowding and homelessness. Detention of children also increased, including unaccompanied children who were without a guardian.
Member States must urgently put an end to violations of such fundamental rights and develop effective measures to protect the rights of children, especially unaccompanied children.
Child poverty rates in the EU have improved slightly. But in 1 in 4, the child is in poverty. This means that children still lie down hungry and live in poor conditions, with health and education problems. Children of foreign parents are in a worse situation, with 4 out of 10 at risk. For children in single-parent households, this is 1/3.
The EU must adopt a child guarantee initiative with clear objectives and adequate funding in order to reduce child poverty.
Governments and companies are rapidly seizing the potential benefits of artificial intelligence. Ethical and fundamental rights considerations are beginning to take shape when the European Commission and the Council of Europe formulate guidelines and laws.
The EU and its Member States must ensure that future regulations include comprehensive and transparent fundamental rights impact assessments on the use of AI, together with independent supervisory bodies.
The report summarizes and analyzes the main human rights developments in the EU in 2019
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