EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2027

This Action Plan defines principles, objectives and priorities for promoting human rights and democracy relevant for all actors implementing EU’s foreign policies. Other guidelines and policies build on and refer to this Action Plan. Initially adopted for 2020-2024, it was extended to 2027.

The Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020-2027) is the third of its kind and serves to implement the Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy adopted in 2012, which lays out the key principles, objectives and priorities for EU external policies. The EU’s determination to promote human rights and democracy through all its external actions is based on Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union.  

The Action Plan was originally adopted for 2020-2024 but was extended by the Council to 2027 with the aim to align it with the EU budget cycle. The EU monitors the implementation of the Action Plan annually in the form of the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World. It is implemented at global, regional and country level by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Commission, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the European External Action Service, EU Delegations and Offices, CSDP missions and operations and the contributions from Member States and civil society partners. The EU Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR) plays a central role in guiding its implementation.  

13 EU Guidelines on Human Rights have translated the political priorities into concrete tools. Many of these are relevant for civilian CSDP missions, such as the guidelines on torture and ill treatment, children in armed conflict, violence against women and girls and compliance with international humanitarian law. 

Reference: European External Action Service (2020). EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2027. 

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