TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD BY HIGH REPRESENTATIVE 05

INTRODUCTION.07

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 10

01 PROTECTING AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS 16

1.1 Protecting people and empowering individuals 16

> The death penalty 16

> Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or

punishment 21

> Human rights defenders 23

> Tackling multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination 31

> Freedom of religion or belief 35

> Gender equality.38

> LGBTI .43

> Rights of the child.48

> Migration and forced displacement.54

> Environment and climate change.61

1.2 Empowering people.64

> Empowering women.64

> Empowering children and young people 67

> Rights of persons with disabilities 71

> Human rights of older persons 74

> Rights of indigenous peoples.75

1.3 Promoting fundamental freedoms and

strengthening civic and political space.77

> Freedom of expression and safety of journalists.77

> Freedom of peaceful assembly 79

> Freedom of association.81

> Academic freedom.82

1.4 Reinforcing Economic, Social, Cultural

and Labour Rights.85

> Economic and social rights.85

> Labour rights.86

> The right to the highest attainable standard of health.89

> The right to water and sanitation.91

> The right to education.93

> Cultural rights 97

1.5 Supporting the rule of law and the fair administration of justice.98

> Human rights and counterterrorism 102

> International Criminal Justice 105

> Closing the accountability gap, fighting

impunity and supporting transitional justice.108

02 BUILDING RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE AND

DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES 114

2.1 Enhancing democratic, accountable and

transparent institutions 116

> Strengthening parliamentary institutions and democratic

accountability 116

> Observing electoral processes to strengthen democratic institutions

and processes 119

> Providing electoral assistance in partner countries to strengthen

electoral integrity 122

> Strengthening the rule of law and

anti-corruption efforts 128

2.2 Promoting responsive, inclusive, participatory and

representative decision making 131

2.3 Supporting independent and pluralistic media, access to

information and the fight against disinformation.135

2.4 Reinforcing a human rights and participative

approach to conflict prevention and crisis resolution 140

03 PROMOTING A GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR

HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY 148

3.1 Multilateral cooperation 148

> UN80 initiative 148

> UNGA Third Committee 149

> UN Human Rights Council sessions in 2025 150

> The UN Office of the High Commissioner for

Human Rights (OHCHR) 153

3.2 Regional partnerships 154

> The EU and the Council of Europe 154

> The EU and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

(OSCE) 156

> Cooperation with the African Union (AU) 158

> Cooperation with ASEAN (the Association

of Southeast Asian Nations) 160

> Cooperation with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 162

3.3 Bilateral cooperation 162

> Human rights dialogues 162

> Trade instruments 164

> Civil Society.167

> National human rights institutions (NHRIs) 170

3.5 Business sector 172

3.6 Compliance with international human rights

and international humanitarian law 178

> International humanitarian law 178

> EU sanctions for human rights violations (EU global human rights

sanctions regime) .188

04 NEW TECHNOLOGIES: HARNESSING OPPORTUNITIES AND

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES.192

05 DELIVERING BY WORKING TOGETHER.197

5.1 Public diplomacy and strategic communication 197

> Working with youth 200

> Foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) 201

5.2 Implementation, monitoring and evaluation.204