Fundamental Rights Report 2023: analyzing challenges and developments in the European Union.
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has recently published the European Union Fundamental Rights Report 2023. This document reviews the achievements in this field during 2022 and identifies the main areas of concern. Thus, the report focuses mainly on the problems arising from the war in Ukraine and provides a comprehensive analysis of the situation of fundamental rights on the continent. In this report, various issues related to the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by member states, the role of civil society organizations and the importance of raising awareness of the rights enshrined in the Charter are examined. It also highlights the FRA’s views on how to strengthen equality and non-discrimination.
Summarizing the main findings and recommendations, the report addresses a number of challenges in relation to fundamental rights in the European Union. One of the main issues analyzed is the situation of people displaced due to the war in Ukraine. It examines the obstacles faced by stateless persons who cannot prove their legal residence in Ukraine and the difficulties they encounter when seeking asylum or protection of their human rights.
The various responses of EU Member States bordering Ukraine to the influx of displaced persons are also analyzed, where some countries such as Sweden offer specific housing support to temporary protection beneficiaries, but concerns about housing availability and prices have been reported in countries such as Hungary and Poland. Cases of discrimination, mostly towards Ukrainians of Roma descent, have also been documented in the Czech Republic and Germany. Even in some countries, in order to ensure housing security, verification systems have been implemented, as in the case of Belgium where authorities check the criminal record and housing quality of host families.
In this area, the report highlights the importance of providing them with support and ensuring the protection of their rights and their inclusion in society.
The report also addresses the issue of employment and social security for displaced persons. Although many of them manage to find employment, they face barriers such as language differences and gender stereotypes, which limit their employment opportunities. To address these challenges, it is essential to expand childcare capacities and establish local authorities and agencies to provide information and support to displaced persons. In addition, it is recommended that labor inclusion policies be strengthened, and that training and language learning be promoted as tools to facilitate the labor and social integration of displaced persons.
Protecting the rights of displaced children and combating exploitation are also highlighted in the report. Emphasis is placed on the need to ensure the rapid integration of these children into schools and childcare centers, as well as their access to social security systems and adequate employment conditions. In addition, it highlights the importance of preventing sexual and labor exploitation of displaced persons, especially in situations of vulnerability, and recommends strengthening cooperation between the competent authorities, civil society organizations and international institutions.
It also analyzes the progress and challenges in the protection of the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in different countries of the European Union. Specific cases of countries such as Poland, where laws restricting the rights of this community have been passed, are mentioned, and the importance of combating discrimination and promoting equality in all member states is highlighted. Therefore, governments are urged to adopt concrete measures to protect and promote the rights of LGBTIQ+ people and to work closely with the FRA and other relevant organizations to effectively address this problem. ns to effectively address these challenges.
In conclusion, the European Union Fundamental Rights Report 2023 provides a detailed overview of the challenges and progress in the protection of fundamental rights on the continent. It highlights the importance of addressing the issues of stateless and displaced persons, as well as the need to promote equality and combat discrimination, especially in the case of LGBTIQ+ persons. The report offers concrete recommendations to strengthen the protection of fundamental rights in the European Union and serves as a call to action for Member States and relevant organizations to work together to build a more just, inclusive and human rights-respecting society.
Irene Herrero, FIBGAR collaborator
Madrid, 13 of june, 2023
