European Union’s Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Due Diligence Policy on Security Sector Support to Third Parties (EU HRDDP)

This is the first EU policy on human rights and international humanitarian law due diligence policy (HRDDP) outlining the procedures and standards to evaluate and mitigate risks, ensure compliance, and make informed decisions before engaging in activities. It was adopted in October 2023 and serves specifically as a comprehensive risk management framework for the EU’s security sector support to third parties, ensuring its compliance with international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL) in line with the Treaty on the EU. The implementation of the policy is also intended to protect EU’s credibility and legitimacy as a normative stakeholder and actor. It applies to all CSDP missions and operations and to the European Peace Facility (EPF) assistance measures.

Both the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence (2022) and the Civilian CSDP Compact (2023) include references to the need for compliance with IHL and IHRL and the need to develop and implement a due diligence policy in this regard. Deliverable 10 of the Compact states that “in order to ensure the respect, promotion and protection of human rights, as well as human rights due diligence, in 2024, the EEAS will include human rights impact and risk analysis in all planning documents of civilian CSDP missions and ensure conflict sensitivity and the do-no-harm approach throughout the conduct of missions.”

The policy reiterates EU’s foundational values – the respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and respect for human rights – and mentions multiple crosscutting principles such as the WPS agenda and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) as a brutal tactic of warfare. 

The policy is relevant for all staff working in civilian CSDP missions, especially those who are planning projects in host countries. 

Reference: European External Action Service (EEAS) (2023). European Union’s human rights and international humanitarian law due diligence policy on security sector support to third parties (EU HRDDP).