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Human Rights Watch

HRW

Human Rights Watch is a leading international nonprofit group that monitors and protects human rights.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Hannah Neumann (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Dec 2025 · Exchange of Views on Gender Apartheid

Meeting with Joachim Herrmann (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath) and Amnesty International Limited

11 Dec 2025 · debrief of Commissioner McGrath's visit to China

Meeting with Hilde Vautmans (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Nov 2025 · Gaza

Meeting with Jan Hoogmartens (Cabinet of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib), Lora Borissova (Cabinet of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib)

18 Nov 2025 · • Humanitarian crises • Human Rights

Meeting with Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (Member of the European Parliament) and Transport and Environment (European Federation for Transport and Environment) and

17 Nov 2025 · Sustainability omnibus - update for civil society

Meeting with Hildegard Bentele (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Nov 2025 · Migration

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Nov 2025 · EU Externalisation Policies in Mauritania

Meeting with Robert Biedroń (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Nov 2025 · Human rights violations in Mauritania

Meeting with Murielle Laurent (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Nov 2025 · Situation in Mauritania

Meeting with Francisco Assis (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Nov 2025 · General Elections in Honduras

Meeting with Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Transport and Environment (European Federation for Transport and Environment) and

3 Nov 2025 · Sustainability omnibus - update for civil society

Meeting with Simon Mordue (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen) and Amnesty International Limited and

22 Oct 2025 · Meeting ONGs on Middle East situation Trade with the Israeli settlements in West Bank SOTEU (Middle East) Package US Peace Plan for the Middle East

Meeting with Rima Hassan (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Oct 2025 · Situation in Democratic Republic of Congo

Meeting with Niels Geuking (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Oct 2025 · Human Rights

Meeting with Lora Borissova (Cabinet of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib)

14 Oct 2025 · • Humanitarian crisis • DRC • Africa

Meeting with Salvador Franca (Cabinet of High Representative/ Vice-President Kaja Kallas)

14 Oct 2025 · Human rights crisis in eastern DR Congo

Meeting with Mounir Satouri (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Oct 2025 · Situation en RDC

Meeting with Christine O'Dwyer (Cabinet of High Representative/ Vice-President Kaja Kallas)

3 Oct 2025 · Discussion on Human Rights situation in Gulf Countries

Meeting with Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Transport and Environment (European Federation for Transport and Environment) and

2 Oct 2025 · Sustainability omnibus - update for civil society

Meeting with Johannes Luchner (Deputy Director-General Migration and Home Affairs), Johannes Luchner (Deputy Director-General Migration and Home Affairs) and

9 Jul 2025 · Discussion on the Commission's proposals on the Return Regulation, the Safe Third Country Concept and on the Safe Countries of Origin

Meeting with Beate Gminder (Director-General Migration and Home Affairs) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and Médecins Sans Frontières International

24 Jun 2025 · Flash report: Meeting with Human Rights Watch, Oxfam, and Doctors Without Borders/MSF on the situation at PL-BY border

Meeting with Nicolo Brignoli (Cabinet of Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis) and ClientEarth AISBL and

18 Jun 2025 · Omnibus

Meeting with Bernard Guetta (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Jun 2025 · Briefing on China

Meeting with Tineke Strik (Member of the European Parliament)

22 May 2025 · developments in MENA region

Meeting with Alexandra Cupsan-Catalin (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen)

22 May 2025 · Media freedom in Greece

Meeting with Jördis Ferroli (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath), Simona Constantin (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath)

20 May 2025 · Media policy, situation of the media landscape in Greece

Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament)

20 May 2025 · HRW report Greece media freedom

Response to New comprehensive strategic approach towards India

8 May 2025

Full Human Rights Watch submission attached and available online at https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/05/07/recommendations-eu-new-strategic-eu-india-agenda Summary The EUs new strategic agenda for relations with India should highlight and address the decline in Indias human rights record, rule of law, as well as democratic and secular values. Ending the EUs silence on these matters and linking bilateral ties to clear and enforceable human rights benchmarks is key to a successful partnership. The EUs persistent failure to address authoritarian backsliding, or to support and protect human rights and democratic institutions, will further embolden the governments repressive and divisive agenda, weaken the rule of law, and ultimately be detrimental to the EUs pursuit of closer political, economic and security ties with India. Overview The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consolidated power over the last decade by systematically weakening institutions, and cracking down on peaceful dissent, media freedom, and civil society. It has adopted divisive policies, especially against religious and ethnic minorities, Dalits, and Adivasis. In Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Chhattisgarh, it has repressed rights and due process under the guise of national security. BJP leaders have used hate speech to incite discrimination, hostility, and at times violence against minorities, particularly Muslims, but also Christians and Sikhs. Instead of acting against those responsible for communal attacks, the government has summarily punished minority populations, especially Muslims, including by demolishing their property. Religion-based hate also appears to be a motive in the April attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which gunmen identified tourists as Hindu before shooting them. Federal law enforcement agencies arbitrarily target political opponents, businesses, and civil society groups with allegations of financial irregularities. Authorities have used a draconian anti-terrorism law against journalists, activists and academics. There is a general weakening of the rule of law, with state institutions, including law enforcement, becoming increasingly partisan, which raise serious concerns in ensuring trade partnerships, with investors at risk of unfounded state actions. India routinely shuts down the internet, disproportionately harming populations dependent on the internet to access the governments social protection measures, harming their rights to food and employment. Authorities also use technology in a crackdown on rights. Several foreign governments have accused the Indian government of exporting its repressive policies abroad to target critics in the Indian diaspora. India pushes back on international criticism of its human rights record and is thus also reluctant to act against atrocities committed abroad. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has raised concerns about India in his global updates. The UN-linked Global Alliance for National Human Rights Commissions has recommended that the India's National Human Rights Commission be downgraded. UN human rights experts have frequently warned against India's deteriorating human rights situation. Recommendations Human Rights Watch recommends that the shared democratic values underpinning its partnership with India are concretely operationalized. That means, in particular: 1. Publicly as well as privately raising concerns about rights violations in India; 2. Ensuring that any free trade agreement with India includes binding and enforceable trade and sustainable development provisions, linked to respect for human and labor rights obligations; 3. Linking progress on bilateral relations to concrete and measurable human rights progress and benchmarks, including the release of unlawfully detained human rights defenders, legal and policy reforms, the repeal of abusive laws, and a stop to the weaponization of laws to target minorities and critics
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Meeting with Lora Borissova (Cabinet of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib)

30 Apr 2025 · Sudan crisis

Meeting with Hannah Neumann (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Apr 2025 · Exchange of views on Transnational Repression in Iran

Meeting with Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

28 Apr 2025 · Exchange on Transnational Repression

Meeting with Thijs Reuten (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

22 Apr 2025 · Ukraine

Meeting with Tineke Strik (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Apr 2025 · developments in MENA region

Meeting with Chiara Adamo (Head of Unit Directorate-General for International Partnerships)

10 Apr 2025 · Exchange of views on efforts by DG INTPA to ensure stronger human rights safeguards in migration-related programs.

Meeting with Natividad Lorenzo (Cabinet of Commissioner Jozef Síkela)

10 Apr 2025 · Human rights situation in Vietnam

Meeting with Jörg Wojahn (Head of Unit Trade)

9 Apr 2025 · Free Trade Agreements and the GSP and the human rights situation in Vietnam, India, Thailand and the Philippines

Meeting with Bernard Guetta (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Apr 2025 · Controversy of Uyghur refugees in Thailand / the US' new approach to the protection of human rights in the world

Meeting with Majdouline Sbai (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Mar 2025 · CRM Rwanda

Meeting with Cristina Maestre (Member of the European Parliament) and Front Line Defenders

26 Mar 2025 · Human Rights in India

Meeting with Vincent Hurkens (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné)

20 Mar 2025 · Omnibus simplification, sustainability and human rights due diligence

Meeting with Hilde Vautmans (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited and

19 Mar 2025 · The situation in DRC

Meeting with Cristina-Adriana Vasile (Head of Unit Trade)

14 Mar 2025 · Implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation

Meeting with Geza Strammer (Head of Unit Directorate-General for International Partnerships)

5 Mar 2025 · Meeting with Human Rights Watch on Eastern DRC Discussion on latest findings and recommendations on the situation of human rights in Eastern DR Congo. More specifically, we would like to focus on its linkages with critical mineral supply chains.

Meeting with Sarah Nelen (Acting Director Environment) and WWF European Policy Programme and

5 Mar 2025 · EUDR Risk Benchmarking System

Meeting with Karin Karlsbro (Member of the European Parliament) and Fern and Earthsight

4 Mar 2025 · Avskogningsförordningen

Meeting with Salvador Franca (Cabinet of High Representative/ Vice-President Kaja Kallas)

24 Feb 2025 · Human rights situation in Africa

Meeting with Sibylle Bikar (Cabinet of High Representative/ Vice-President Kaja Kallas)

21 Feb 2025 · 58th HR Council

Meeting with Esther Pozo Vera (Head of Unit Migration and Home Affairs) and Amnesty International Limited and

19 Feb 2025 · Consultation with civil society organisations on the review of the safe third country (STC) concept

Meeting with Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and

18 Feb 2025 · Roundtable discussion on Financing for Development

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Feb 2025 · Situation in Poland/Belarus

Meeting with Viktoriya Petrikova-Voeten (Cabinet of Commissioner Marta Kos)

4 Feb 2025 · Exchange of views on latest developments concerning the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly in Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Meeting with Hannah Neumann (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Feb 2025 · Exchange of views

Meeting with Raphaël Glucksmann (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and International Federation for Human Rights and

31 Jan 2025 · Generalised system of preferences

Meeting with Vita Jukne (Cabinet of Commissioner Jessika Roswall) and ClientEarth AISBL and

29 Jan 2025 · Upcoming Omnibus proposal

Meeting with Kaja Kallas (High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President) and

24 Jan 2025 · State of play on various issues related to political developments in Türkiye

Meeting with Majdouline Sbai (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and International Federation for Human Rights and European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights

21 Jan 2025 · GSP review

Meeting with Alexandra Hild (Cabinet of Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva) and European Coalition for Corporate Justice and Clean Clothes Campaign / Stichting Schone Kleren Kampagne

21 Jan 2025 · Simplification, in particular the upcoming Omnibus proposal

Meeting with Mirzha De Manuel (Cabinet of Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis), Nicolo Brignoli (Cabinet of Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis) and

20 Jan 2025 · Exchange of views on the simplification policy

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Jan 2025 · Migration situation in Poland (Staff-level)

Meeting with Terhi Lehtonen (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera Rodríguez) and Friends of the Earth Europe and

14 Jan 2025 · Discussion on the CSRD and CSDDD frameworks

Meeting with Johannes Luchner (Deputy Director-General Migration and Home Affairs) and

13 Jan 2025 · Meeting on the right to asylum

Meeting with Esther Pozo Vera (Head of Unit Migration and Home Affairs)

13 Jan 2025 · Exchange of views on the situation at the PL-BY border

Meeting with Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Jan 2025 · Exchange on report on Belarusian border

Meeting with Fiona Knab-Lunny (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath) and Friends of the Earth Europe and

9 Jan 2025 · Meeting with a delegation of civil society organisations (CSOs) to discuss their concerns regarding the ‘omnibus’ initiative recently announced by President Von der Leyen.

Meeting with Thijs Reuten (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Dec 2024 · Ukraine collaborators legislation

Meeting with Arthur Corbin (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné) and WWF European Policy Programme and

12 Dec 2024 · Sustainable corporate reporting

Meeting with Nacho Sánchez Amor (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Dec 2024 · EU support to Ukraine

Meeting with Mounir Satouri (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

11 Dec 2024 · Droits humains

Meeting with Céline Imart (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Amnesty International Limited

11 Dec 2024 · MFA Egypt + MFA Jordan

Meeting with Laure Chapuis (Cabinet of High Representative/ Vice-President Kaja Kallas), Sibylle Bikar (Cabinet of High Representative/ Vice-President Kaja Kallas)

5 Dec 2024 · HRW findings in Gaza

Meeting with Hilde Vautmans (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Nov 2024 · Human rights in Africa

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Nov 2024 · Africa

Meeting with Angelika Niebler (Member of the European Parliament, Delegation chair)

13 Nov 2024 · EU India Relations, human rights in India

Meeting with Nacho Sánchez Amor (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Nov 2024 · Human rights situation in India

Meeting with Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Nov 2024 · Meeting with representative of HRW

Meeting with Raphaël Glucksmann (Member of the European Parliament) and European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights

29 Oct 2024 · Forced Labour regulation and Due Diligence directive

Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited and

16 Oct 2024 · Cooperation on LIBE related matters

Meeting with Tineke Strik (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited and

16 Oct 2024 · LIBE Civil Society Meeting

Meeting with Saskia Bricmont (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited and Danish Refugee Council Brussels

9 Oct 2024 · Migration policy

Meeting with Michael Bloss (Member of the European Parliament) and Climate Action Network Europe and Fossil Free Politics

1 Oct 2024 · Austausch COP29

Meeting with Maria Walsh (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2024 · Disability Report on the Rights of Children with Disabilities in Gaza

Meeting with Villy Søvndal (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2024 · Discussion on the situation in Palestine

Meeting with Lucia Annunziata (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2024 · Exchange of views on the situation in the Gaza strip

Response to Negotiations with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi-Arabia and United Arab Emirates

30 Sept 2024

Human Rights Watch (HRW) regrets that only 4000 characters are available for consultations on 6 different GCC countries and agreements, and stands ready to provide country-specific recommendations throughout the process. HRW has documented systematic human rights violations against migrant workers in all six GCC countries. Under the kafala (sponsorship) system throughout the region, migrant workers visas are tied to their employers, leaving workers vulnerable to wage abuse, employer exploitation, and situations that amount to forced labor. Systemic labor violations are effectively state policy in the Gulf countries and are deeply entrenched within the economies of the region. The increased trade promised by an agreement could facilitate the abuses even further. Repression of dissent has also been intensifying in some GCC countries. HRW continues to recommend to the EU a more for more approach for its relations with the Gulf, linking closer ties with GCC countries to concrete human rights progress. Such benchmarks could include: Dismantling the Kafala system and increasing essential protections for migrant workers; Amending personal status and other laws to guarantee womens rights, end male guardianship, and ensure that the rights of women are respected in practice. The release of human rights defenders, government critics, and progress in upholding civil and political rights. Amending abusive laws such as penal codes, cybercrime laws, and counter terrorism laws, which contain abusive provisions criminalizing freedom of speech, assembly association and other basic rights. All EU states should also ensure respect for those rights. Ending support for abusive forces operating beyond GCC borders and, when appropriate, taking effective action to stop the provision of weapons to warrying parties in Sudan in violation of the existing UN Security Council arms embargo on Darfur. EU states should likewise suspend all transfers of arms and military support to abusive forces operating beyond EU borders. Concerning the Agreements: 1) There should be an independent human rights impact assessment before any agreement is signed. It should consider how an agreement would affect people in both the Gulf countries and the EU, particularly those marginalized such as women, migrant workers, LGBT people and children, and the ability of both the EU and the Gulf countries to fulfill their human rights obligations. Relevant stakeholders should be consulted during the assessment, particularly marginalized people and groups. 2) Each agreement should require both parties, including EU states, to ratify and maintain ratification of core human rights, labor rights and environmental treaties 3) Each agreement should set up safe and formal platforms for dialogue between independent civil society groups and governments/institutions from both sides, including human rights groups and experts. Safeguards should be in place to protect them from, and react to, retaliation. The PAs should also aim to facilitate independent visits to GCC countries by independent rights monitors. 4) Human rights dialogues with GCC countries should be formalized and held annually. They should aim at securing concrete human rights progress and deliverables, such as the release of political prisoners, the end of abusive policies and the reform or repeal of abusive laws. The press releases at the end of the dialogues should not be a mere repetition of the agenda of discussions, but should identify specific concerns, calls formulated and commitments. Progress, or lack thereof, should inform the broader EU bilateral relations with the country concerned. Human rights talks should not be relegated to the dialogues. 5) Negotiations should aim at including specific and timebound obligations for concerned GCC countries to fully dismantle the Kafala system and fully guarantee rights to all worker, including migrant workers. More details in the submission attached.
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Meeting with Per Clausen (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Sept 2024 · Meeting on the upcoming intergroups

Meeting with Mounir Satouri (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

24 Sept 2024 · Droits humains et politique étrangère européenne

Meeting with Markéta Gregorová (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Sept 2024 · Meeting with Human Rights Watch

Meeting with Chloé Ridel (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Sept 2024 · Presentation of the organsation, human rights across the world

Meeting with Tineke Strik (Member of the European Parliament) and Parliamentarians for Global Action

18 Sept 2024 · International justice

Meeting with Hilde Vautmans (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Sept 2024 · Eastern DR Congo

Meeting with Javi López (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Sept 2024 · Haiti

Meeting with Leire Pajín (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Sept 2024 · Exchange of views on Haiti escalating crisis

Meeting with Charmaine Hili (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen) and European Institute of Peace and 11.11.11, Koepel van Internationale Solidariteit

10 Jul 2024 · Syrian refugees / Lebanon package

Meeting with Fiona Knab-Lunny (Cabinet of High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles), Philip Holzapfel (Cabinet of High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles)

5 Jun 2024 · Accountability/ICC

Meeting with Eglantine Cujo (Cabinet of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius)

30 May 2024 · To discuss the state of play of the EUDR’s implementation process, and more specifically the risk assessment benchmarking system.

Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič), Suvi Leinonen (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen)

30 May 2024 · Deforestation, human rights and EU Deforestation Regulation

Meeting with Roland Sourd (Cabinet of Commissioner Janez Lenarčič)

23 May 2024 · The humanitarian crisis in Sudan

Meeting with Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited

6 Mar 2024 · Developments in the Middle East

Meeting with Hannah Neumann (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Feb 2024 · Exchange of Views

Meeting with Marie Frenay (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová), Simona Constantin (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová) and Amnesty International Limited

21 Feb 2024 · Rule of Law, Media Freedom

Meeting with Moritz Körner (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited

20 Feb 2024 · Middle East

Meeting with Francisco Guerreiro (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

6 Feb 2024 · 2025 Budgetary Guidelines

Meeting with Hannah Neumann (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Dec 2023 · Exchange of Views

Meeting with Hannah Neumann (Member of the European Parliament, Delegation chair)

6 Dec 2023 · COP28

Meeting with César Luena (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Nov 2023 · The situation in the Korean Peninsula

Meeting with Isabel Santos (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Nov 2023 · Exchange of views on Ukraine´s accession path

Meeting with Fiona Knab-Lunny (Cabinet of High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles)

29 Nov 2023 · the situation of human rights in North Korea

Meeting with Younous Omarjee (Member of the European Parliament)

28 Nov 2023 · Droits du peuple Chagossien

Meeting with Joachim Herrmann (Cabinet of Commissioner Didier Reynders)

26 Oct 2023 · Rule of law developments in the EU

Meeting with Joachim Herrmann (Cabinet of Commissioner Didier Reynders)

26 Oct 2023 · Rule of Law

Meeting with Monique Pariat (Director-General Migration and Home Affairs)

24 Oct 2023 · EU migration policy search and rescue at sea migration management at land borders the role and responsibility of Frontex impact of migration on foreign policy

Meeting with Camilo Villarino (Cabinet of High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles)

23 Oct 2023 · They discussed global issues on human rights in Middle East and in Tunisia.

Meeting with Heidi Hautala (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Oct 2023 · Human rights situation in Sri Lanka

Meeting with Dino Toljan (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič), Dino Toljan (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

9 Oct 2023 · Upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai

Meeting with Sandra Bartelt (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen)

19 Sept 2023 · Presentation of a new report: its findings & recommendations.

Meeting with Karsten Lucke (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

18 Sept 2023 · Zentralasien

Meeting with Frances Fitzgerald (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Amnesty International Limited and

14 Sept 2023 · Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence

Meeting with Udo Bullmann (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

7 Sept 2023 · Strengthening of EU-at-large advocacy coordination, strategies and priorities

Meeting with Tineke Strik (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited

4 Sept 2023 · Memorandum of Understanding Tunisia

Meeting with Udo Bullmann (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair) and Amnesty International Limited and International Federation for Human Rights

31 Aug 2023 · European Parliament’s priorities at UN human rights forum

Meeting with Andrea Beltramello (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)

28 Aug 2023 · The Philippines in the Generalised Scheme of Preferences

Meeting with Heidi Hautala (Member of the European Parliament)

28 Aug 2023 · EU relations with the Philippines

Meeting with Andrea Beltramello (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis), Zaneta Vegnere (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)

11 Jul 2023 · forced labour product ban; corporate due diligence

Meeting with Pietro Bartolo (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Jul 2023 · Presentation of the results of HRW report on Croatia's mechanism of border control

Meeting with Udo Bullmann (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

4 Jul 2023 · Discussion about findings and calls on foreign policy topics

Meeting with Raphaël Glucksmann (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Networks Matter

9 Jun 2023 · APA level - GSP

Meeting with Alexandra Cupsan-Catalin (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson), Alice Brokelind (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson)

6 Jun 2023 · Meeting and discussion on findings of pushbacks and expulsions at Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina border report.

Meeting with Erik Marquardt (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Jun 2023 · Situation on the Balkan route and systematic pushbacks

Meeting with Raphaël Glucksmann (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Anti-Slavery International and

31 May 2023 · GSP

Meeting with Ramona Strugariu (Member of the European Parliament)

16 May 2023 · Access to reproductive health services in Romania

Meeting with Malin Björk (Member of the European Parliament) and Civil Rights Defenders

2 May 2023 · Migration

Meeting with David Lega (Member of the European Parliament) and Civil Rights Defenders

2 May 2023 · Mänskliga rättigheter

Meeting with Tineke Strik (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

25 Apr 2023 · negotiations on a Frontex Status Agreement with Mauritania

Meeting with Tineke Strik (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

23 Mar 2023 · negotiations on a Frontex Status Agreement with Mauritania

Meeting with Mounir Satouri (Member of the European Parliament)

28 Feb 2023 · Situation des droits humains - Politique Européenne de Voisinage du Sud

Meeting with Fiona Knab-Lunny (Cabinet of High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles), Rafael Tristan Daerr (Cabinet of High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles)

16 Feb 2023 · Antisemitism

Meeting with Javi López (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Feb 2023 · Latin america

Meeting with Nacho Sánchez Amor (Member of the European Parliament)

8 Feb 2023 · Human Rights situation in Latin America and the Caribbean

Meeting with Samira Rafaela (Member of the European Parliament)

8 Feb 2023 · Human Rights in Latin America

Meeting with Lora Borissova (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen)

17 Jan 2023 · Horn of Africa and Ethiopia

Meeting with Fiona Knab-Lunny (Cabinet of High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles)

6 Dec 2022 · Human rights situation in Great Lakes/eastern DRC, Ethiopia, India, OPTs and priorities for HRC-52

Meeting with Giulio Di Blasi (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson) and Amnesty International Limited

29 Nov 2022 · Amnesty International and HRW: Reports on Turkey

Meeting with Dietmar Köster (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited

29 Nov 2022 · Unlawful returns of Afghans from Turkey and Iran

Meeting with Jordi Solé (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Nov 2022 · Meeting with the Advocacy and Communications Director for Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division

Meeting with Heidi Hautala (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and International Federation for the Economy for the Common Good e. V.

15 Nov 2022 · Due Diligence

Meeting with Jordi Solé (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Nov 2022 · Making the Case for Irish Unity in the EU

Meeting with Mounir Satouri (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Nov 2022 · Situation des droits de l'Homme au Maroc

Meeting with Giulio Di Blasi (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson)

8 Nov 2022 · Poland / Belarus border

Meeting with Anthony Agotha (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

26 Oct 2022 · Discussing the nexus between human right and climate change

Meeting with Hannah Neumann (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Oct 2022 · Exchange of views on Afghanistan

Meeting with Lesia Radelicki (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli), Silvan Agius (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

4 Oct 2022 · Rule of law and fundamental rights in EU countries

Meeting with Simona Constantin (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová)

4 Oct 2022 · Rule of law and fundamental rights

Meeting with Cristina Rueda Catry (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)

13 Sept 2022 · The human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

Meeting with Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Amnesty International Limited and

7 Sept 2022 · Situation in Hungary

Meeting with Reinhard Bütikofer (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Sept 2022 · Exchange of views

Meeting with Alejandro Cainzos (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager)

5 Sept 2022 · EU policies.

Meeting with Andrea Beltramello (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis), Zaneta Vegnere (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)

5 Sept 2022 · due diligence, forced labour

Meeting with Alejandro Cainzos (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager), Christiane Canenbley (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager)

5 Sept 2022 · Relations with China.

Meeting with Simona Constantin (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová)

4 Sept 2022 · Rule of law and fundamental rights in EU countries, including Poland and Hungary

Meeting with Maria Arena (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Sept 2022 · HRW on Burundi and Rwanda

Meeting with Mounir Satouri (Member of the European Parliament) and Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

31 Aug 2022 · Situation des droits de l'Homme en Egypte

Meeting with Samira Rafaela (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Aug 2022 · Human Rights

Meeting with Erik Marquardt (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

29 Aug 2022 · EU visa liberalisation for Kuwait and Qatar

Meeting with Petras Auštrevičius (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Aug 2022 · Afghanistan

Meeting with Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Magyar Helsinki Bizottság and Mérték Médiaelemző Műhely Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft

16 May 2022 · Situation in Hungary

Meeting with Sara Matthieu (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Zero Waste Europe and

12 May 2022 · Waste Shipment Regulation

Meeting with Helena Dalli (Commissioner) and Amnesty International Limited and

6 Apr 2022 · Cabinet Dalli invited Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to discuss concerns equality and non-discrimination CSOs are raising regarding the situation of people fleeing from the Ukraine

Meeting with Manu Pineda (Member of the European Parliament, Delegation chair)

21 Mar 2022 · Exchange of views on the labelling and trade of products from settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with Ms. Sarah Saadoun, and Ms Nele Eichhorn

Meeting with David Cormand (Member of the European Parliament) and Irish Council for Civil Liberties

10 Mar 2022 · IA

Meeting with David Cormand (Member of the European Parliament) and Access Now Europe

3 Mar 2022 · AI

Meeting with Raül Hernández Sagrera (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson)

23 Nov 2021 · Situation at ‘EU external border with Belarus’.

Meeting with Sira Rego (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Nov 2021 · Rule of law. Human rights.

Meeting with Cornelia Ernst (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Nov 2021 · Migration Poland/Belarus border

Meeting with Asa Webber (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson) and Amnesty International Limited and

10 Nov 2021 · Preparation of mission to Egypt

Meeting with Caroline Boeshertz (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis) and Médecins Sans Frontières International and Stichting Health Action International

7 Oct 2021 · COVID Vaccines

Meeting with Raül Hernández Sagrera (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson)

30 Sept 2021 · Situation in Afghanistan

Meeting with Caroline Boeshertz (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis), Cristina Rueda Catry (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis) and

3 Jun 2021 · Trade in relation to COVID-related technologies

Meeting with Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Mar 2021 · Uyghurs and Human Rights violations in China

Meeting with Katrin Langensiepen (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Feb 2021 · Austausch Politik für/mit Menschen mit Behinderung

Meeting with Helena Dalli (Commissioner) and Amnesty International Limited and

8 Dec 2020 · CCIF and the situation for civil society organisations in France.

Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

11 Nov 2020 · Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

Meeting with Johannes Noack (Cabinet of Commissioner Johannes Hahn)

4 Nov 2020 · MFF/rule of law conditionality.

Meeting with Alexandra Cupsan-Catalin (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson), Raül Hernández Sagrera (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson)

21 Oct 2020 · VTC: Follow-up on VTC on 12/10

Meeting with Alexandra Cupsan-Catalin (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson), Raül Hernández Sagrera (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson)

12 Oct 2020 · VTC: Situation on Migration

Meeting with Elina Melngaile (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)

1 Oct 2020 · Human rights and environmental protection issues in the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement

Human Rights Watch urges EU to end unlawful border pushbacks

25 Aug 2020
Topic — EU consultation on establishing a sustainable framework for asylum and migration management.
Message — Human Rights Watch calls for an end to illegal border pushbacks and the protection of humanitarian workers. They urge the EU to resume naval rescue missions and ensure fair responsibility-sharing between member states.12
Why — Adopting these recommendations would fulfill the organization's goal of ensuring principled European migration policies.3
Impact — Governments favoring border closures would lose the discretion to block or bypass asylum seekers.4
Read full response

Meeting with Cristina Rueda Catry (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

20 Jul 2020 · The letter that Human Rights Watch sent to EU MFAs and MEPs regarding Brazil and the EU-Mercosur trade deal

Response to Authorisation to open negotiations and negotiate an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Tajikistan

12 Jun 2020

Human Rights Watch is concerned that the government of Tajikistan has failed to honor the stated commitment in the 2009 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU of the “paramount importance of the rule of law and respect for human rights, particularly those of persons belonging to minorities, the establishment of a multiparty system with free and democratic elections.” Prior to authorizing the opening of negotiations on an EPCA, the European Union should require concrete measures from the Tajik government that demonstrate its commitment to address and redress the most egregious human rights violations in the country, including in particular: • Ending the widespread practice of arbitrary detention of critics on politically motivated grounds, and the release of critics, lawyers, and others detained on such grounds; • Effectively and impartially investigating allegations of torture and cases of deaths in detention, as part of addressing the problem of widespread torture and the abysmal prison conditions in the country; • Ending the practice of harassment of exiled activists or their families in Tajikistan, including by ending politically motivated extradition requests made via INTERPOL to forcibly return political opponents from abroad. Since 2014, Tajik authorities have jailed many government critics, including opposition political figures and activists, lawyers, journalists, and relatives of peaceful dissidents abroad, for lengthy prison terms on politically motivated grounds, including life imprisonment, merely for peacefully exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression. Human Rights Watch estimates that since 2014 over 150 persons have been imprisoned on politically motivated grounds in Tajikistan. The crackdown on the freedoms of expression, association, assembly, and religion has extended to virtually any manifestation of dissent—even to social media users who express mild criticism of government policy and have received prison terms ranging from five to 10 years. Disturbingly, Tajik authorities have also regularly, since 2015, mounted state-orchestrated retaliation against the relatives of peaceful dissidents living abroad, in the form of mob violence, threats of rape, arbitrary detention, confiscation of passports and bans on travel outside of the country. They have also regularly abused the Interpol system of “red notices” to seek to detain, extradite, and force the return to Tajikistan of peaceful political dissidents abroad, including numerous individuals from Russia, Turkey, Belarus, Greece, and elsewhere. In the following sections, we provide an overview of our findings and recommendations with regards to the following areas: prison conditions and torture, politically motivated imprisonments, harassment of dissidents abroad and their families in Tajikistan, freedom of religion and belief, freedom of expression, domestic violence, homophobia and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The attached submission provides you with additional background information on the situation of human rights in Tajikistan and with additional recommendations that we hope that be reflected by the European Commission and European Council when considering the opening of negotiations on an EPCA.
Read full response

Meeting with Nereo Penalver Garcia (Cabinet of High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles)

20 Feb 2020 · Human Rights in Asian countries

Meeting with Per Haugaard (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

19 Feb 2020 · Trade, deforestation in Brazil

Meeting with Johannes Noack (Cabinet of Vice-President Johannes Hahn)

8 Nov 2019 · Relations with Turkey

Meeting with Isabelle Magne (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström), Pedro Velasco Martins (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

13 Sept 2019 · Reporting on human rights in ASEAN

Meeting with Alvaro De Elera (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and Amnesty International Limited and

6 Mar 2019 · Rule of Law

Meeting with Pedro Velasco Martins (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

10 Jan 2019 · HR conserns in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar

Meeting with Igor Driesmans (Cabinet of High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini) and Amnesty International Limited and International Federation for Human Rights

24 May 2018 · Meeting ahead of EU-China Strategic Dialogue

Meeting with Thomas Zerdick (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

26 Oct 2017 · Exchange of views on the Rule of Law state in Europe

Meeting with Davinia Wood (Cabinet of Commissioner Christos Stylianides), Themis Christophidou (Cabinet of Commissioner Christos Stylianides), Zacharias Giakoumis (Cabinet of Commissioner Christos Stylianides) and

28 Jun 2017 · Taking into account the needs of people with disabilities in humanitarian action

Meeting with Nele Eichhorn (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

26 Jun 2017 · Report on Forced and Child Labor Linked to World Bank Group Investments in Uzbekistan

Meeting with Iwona Piorko Bermig (Cabinet of High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini)

1 Jun 2017 · Human rights situation in Russia

Meeting with Thomas Zerdick (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

28 Mar 2017 · Data Protection

Meeting with Laure Chapuis-Kombos (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

28 Mar 2017 · Privacy Shield and encryption

Meeting with Kevin O'Connell (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová)

28 Mar 2017 · Privacy Shield and encryption

Meeting with Olivier Bergeau (Cabinet of Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos)

22 Mar 2017 · Migration in Poland and Hungary

Meeting with Anna-Maria Elleni Boura (Cabinet of High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini)

9 Mar 2017 · EU Relations with Turkey

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President)

18 Feb 2017 · Migration and asylum policies

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President) and

26 Jan 2017 · Protection of fundamental rights and rule of law

Meeting with Anna Vezyroglou (Cabinet of High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini)

29 Nov 2016 · Media freedom in the Western Balcans

Meeting with Bernd Martenczuk (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

23 Nov 2016 · Rule of Law and infrigments

Meeting with Michael Shotter (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

22 Nov 2016 · Migration

Meeting with Michael Shotter (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

22 Nov 2016 · European Migration Policy

Meeting with Iwona Piorko Bermig (Cabinet of High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini)

18 Nov 2016 · Human rights situation in Russia

Meeting with Liene Balta (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

17 Nov 2016 · Human Rights situation in Turkey

Meeting with Michael Karnitschnig (Cabinet of Vice-President Johannes Hahn)

12 Jul 2016 · Situation of refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President)

17 Feb 2016 · Roundtable Fundamental Rights

Meeting with Fabrizia Panzetti (Cabinet of High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini), Felix Fernandez-Shaw (Cabinet of High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini)

25 Jan 2016 · Human rights Ethiopia

Meeting with Cecile Billaux (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström), Miguel Ceballos Baron (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

3 Dec 2015 · Human rights situation in Asian countries

Meeting with Liene Balta (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

15 Sept 2015 · Human rights in the context of migration crisis

Meeting with Federica Mogherini (High Representative / Vice-President)

22 Jul 2015 · Human rights

Meeting with Liene Balta (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

3 Jun 2015 · Fundamental rights situation in Hungary

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President) and Amnesty International Limited and

5 May 2015 · Upcoming migration agenda

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President) and ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE and

15 Jan 2015 · Better regulation and European affairs in general

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President) and Amnesty International Limited and

9 Jan 2015 · Roundtable with NGO's on fundamental rights

Meeting with Věra Jourová (Commissioner) and European Youth Forum and

9 Jan 2015 · Roundtable with NGOs on fundamental rights and non-discrimination

Meeting with Carlo Zadra (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

11 Dec 2014 · EU policy related issues

Meeting with Hanna Jahns (Cabinet of Vice-President Johannes Hahn)

9 Dec 2014 · Human rights situation in the neighbourhood

Meeting with Iwona Piorko Bermig (Cabinet of High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini)

8 Dec 2014 · EU’s role in advancing concrete rights improvements