Fundamental rights - Newsroom
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30-05-2012 - Fundamental rights
Missing Children conference: Closing the gaps - 116 000 hotlines and child abduction alert systems
To mark this year’s International Missing Children Day, the European Commission, with the support of Missing Children Europe, the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children, will organise a high level conference in Brussels on 30 May.
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25-05-2012 - Fundamental rights
Statement by Vice-Presidents Viviane Reding and Neelie Kroes on International Missing Children's Day
MEMO/12/378 Brussels, 25 May 2012 European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner said: "The International Day of Missing Children is essential to draw attention to the plight of all missing children and their loved ones. ...
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22-05-2012 - Fundamental rights
Video message by Vice-President Viviane Reding on the occassion of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
Homophobia is a blatant violation of human dignity that goes against all the founding values of the European Union.
As EU Justice Commissioner, I will continue to do my utmost to uphold the fundamental rights upon which the European Union is founded. Not only on International Day against homophobia but on all days of the year.
Homophobia has no place in Europe.
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16-05-2012 - Fundamental rights
Homophobia: European leaders tell young people It Gets Better
In Europe, growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender can be challenging: difference often leads to bullying, self-harm, and sometimes suicide attempts. Studies consistently point to higher physical and mental health risks for LGBT young people.
For the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2012, over 50 European politicians and leaders from all EU institutions join forces telling LGBT teenagers they are working to make things better, and put an end to homophobia and transphobia.
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26-04-2012 - Fundamental rights
Viviane Reding Vice-President of the European Commission: "The binding EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: Key trends two years later" Centre for European Studies Brussels, 16 April 2012
SPEECH/12/266 Ladies and Gentleman, I am very pleased to be here in the Centre for European Policy Studies to present the 2011 Annual Report on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. I am convinced that we need the fresh ideas of people ...
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16-04-2012 - Fundamental rights
European Commission makes fundamental rights a reality for citizens
European Commission - Press release Brussels, 16 April 2012 – The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights – now in force and legally binding for more than two years – has guided EU law-making from the very first draft all the way through to the statute book....
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16-04-2012 - Fundamental rights
European Commission makes fundamental rights a reality for citizens
Brussels, 16 April 2012 – The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights – now in force and legally binding for more than two years – has guided EU law-making from the very first draft all the way through to the statute book. The Charter sets out fundamental rights – such as freedom of expression and the protection of personal data – that reflect Europe’s common values and its constitutional heritage. The European Commission's second annual report on the Charter
[91 KB] finds that fundamental rights concerns are increasingly embedded in EU policy-making.Download the brochure: 2011 Report on the Application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
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19-03-2012 - Fundamental rights
19-20 March 2012: Conference on child poverty and children's social rights and the meeting of the Group Europe de l'Enfance
The Danish Presidency of the European Council 2012, in cooperation with the Intergovernmental Group Europe de l'Enfance and the European Commission organised a Conference on child poverty and children's social rights followed by the meeting of the Group Europe de l'Enfance. The Conference and the meeting were held on 19 and 20 March 2012 in Copenhagen.
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15-03-2012 - Fundamental rights
15-16 March 2012: Bringing the Charter to life – FRA/Danish Presidency seminar
The FRA, together with the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, organised a seminar on the practical application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on 15-16 March 2012 in Copenhagen. This seminar explored the challenges and opportunities of applying the Charter in practice, both at EU and national level, with a view to identifying promising practices and finding ways to improve cooperation between responsible authorities, European and national institutions, and civil society.
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17-01-2012 - Fundamental rights
European Commission launches accelerated infringement proceedings against Hungary
The European Commission has started legal action against Hungary over new legislation that came into force at the beginning of the year under Hungary's new constitution.
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13-01-2012 - Fundamental rights
Statement of the European Commission on the situation in Hungary on 11 January 2012
Following developments in 2011 related to the new Hungarian Constitution and the commitments taken by the Commission at that time to closely monitor the situation, the Commission has been working with the Hungarian authorities over recent months during the preparation of the draft cardinal laws implementing the new Constitution. The Commission has raised concerns on the compatibility of these laws with European Union law.
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04-01-2012 - Fundamental rights
The Kids' Corner
The European Union easily explained: Commission launches website dedicated to children that includes information about children's rights.
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13-12-2011 - Fundamental rights
Statement by Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Justice Commissioner, on Child Abduction
MEMO/11/905 Strasbourg, 13 December 2011 "Preventing child abduction is an essential part of the EU’s policy to promote the rights of the child. I welcome the initiative of the European Parliament Mediator for International parental child abduction....
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23-11-2011 - Fundamental rights
Viviane Reding Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Not Child's Play: Working together to better promote and protect the ...
SPEECH/11/793 Dear Vice-President Angelilli, Dear Ambassador Frøysnes, Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to welcome you to the 6 th European Forum on the Rights of the Child. To improve, promote and protect children's rights is one of my priorities. ...
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23-11-2011 - Fundamental rights
6th European Forum on the Rights of the Child
The European Forum on the Rights of the Child is an annual conference organised by the European Commission.
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21-11-2011 - Fundamental rights
Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography
The directive will harmonise around twenty relevant criminal offences, at the same time setting high level of penalties.
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17-11-2011 - Fundamental rights
EU Platform for Roma Inclusion: Frequently asked questions
MEMO/11/795 Brussels, 17 November 2011 Who are the Roma? There are around 10-12 million Roma people in Europe. They have been part of Europe for centuries and are integral to its society and economy, but frequently face prejudice, intolerance, discrimination ...
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15-11-2011 - Fundamental rights
Commission strengthens the justice and fundamental rights dimension of future EU budgets
European Commission - Press release Brussels, 15 November 2011 – People in Europe need to feel at ease when they live, travel, or shop in a Member State other than their own. They should be able to rely on access to justice no matter where they are in ...
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15-11-2011 - Fundamental rights
The Fifth annual Seminar between the European Commission and the Government of the State of Israel on the fight against racism, xenophobia and antisemitism
The Fifth annual Seminar between the European Commission and the Government of the State of Israel on the fight against racism, xenophobia and antisemitism took place on 26 and 27 October in Brussels and Mechelen.
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10-10-2011 - Fundamental rights
European and World Day against the Death Penalty
Joint declaration by Catherine Ashton, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, on the European and World Day against the Death Penalty.
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10-10-2011 - Fundamental rights
EU committed to achieving universal abolition of the death penalty
10 October marks the World and European Day against the Death Penalty. The abolition of the death penalty worldwide is one of the main objectives of the EU’s human rights policy. The EU considers the death penalty inhumane and a violation of human dignity.
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24-06-2011 - Fundamental rights
EU leaders endorse Commission's plan for Roma integration
European Commission - Press release Brussels, 24 June 2011 – The European Commission's EU framework for national Roma integration strategies ( IP11/400, MEMO/11/216 ) was endorsed at the highest political level....
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21-06-2011 - Fundamental rights
Children and families to benefit from new EU rules on maintenance payments
European Commission - Press release Brussels, 21 June 2011 - Under new EU-wide rules which apply as of this week, children across the EU will benefit from speedier maintenance payments when families split up....
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15-06-2011 - Fundamental rights
Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Catherine Ashton, Vice-President Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Development Andris Pie
MEMO/11/403 Brussels, 12 June 2011 “Today we commemorate World Day against Child Labour. The EU welcomes a steady decline in child labour since 2006 when the International Labour Organisation (ILO) set a visionary target to eliminate the worst forms of ...
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15-06-2011 - Fundamental rights
Future funding activities
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14-06-2011 - Fundamental rights
European Commission seeks views on detention in the EU's area of justice
European Commission - Press release Brussels, 14 June 2011 – Europeans must have confidence that they will be treated to similar standards of protection no matter where they are in the European Union. EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding presented a ...
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25-05-2011 - Fundamental rights
European responses to missing children and the need for child-friendly justice - Brussels, 25 and 26 May 2011
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20-05-2011 - Fundamental rights
Statement by Vice President Viviane Reding, EU Justice Commissioner, on Japan's move to sign the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
MEMO/11/317 Brussels, 20 May 2011 “Today’s news that Japan is taking steps to sign the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is a very positive development,” said EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding....
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06-04-2011 - Fundamental rights
Children in EU to benefit from speedier maintenance payments from abroad
IP/11/441 Brussels, 6 April 2011 The pain of a divorce or separation is all too often made worse by financial and emotional pressure when one parent lives abroad and refuses to provide financial help. With an estimated 16 million international couples ...
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31-03-2011 - Fundamental rights
European Commission report tracks progress in enforcing fundamental rights in the EU
IP/11/386 Brussels, 31 March 2011 The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights has now been legally binding for over a year – primarily on the EU institutions (European Parliament, Council and the European Commission) when preparing new European laws, but also ...
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31-03-2011 - Fundamental rights
Annual report on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights – frequently asked questions
MEMO/11/207 Brussels, 31 March 2011 What are fundamental rights? The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights sets out a series of individual rights and freedoms. It entrenches the rights developed in the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU, found in the ...
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05-01-2011 - Fundamental rights
EU ratifies UN Convention on disability rights
IP/11/4 Brussels, 5 January 2011 Following formal ratification, it is the first time in history the EU has become a party to an international human rights treaty – the United Nation's (UN) Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities....
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17-11-2010 - Fundamental rights
European Commission makes final call to 14 Member States to activate missing children hotline 116 000
IP/10/1513 Brussels, 17 November 2010 The European Commission today made a final call to 14 EU Member States to make the Europe-wide 116 000 hotline for missing children operational as soon as possible....
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08-11-2010 - Fundamental rights
Justice and Home Affairs Council: 8-9 November 2010
MEMO/10/550 Brussels, 8 November 2010 European Union Justice and Home Affairs ministers will meet in Brussels on 8 and 9 November 2010. The European Commission will be represented by Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship ...
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14-10-2010 - Fundamental rights
Viviane Reding Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship A renewed commitment to c
SPEECH/10/550 Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very pleased to welcome you to the 5th European Forum on the Rights of the Child. This meeting is particularly important because it is the first after the Lisbon Treaty introduced historic changes to the European ...
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20-08-2010 - Fundamental rights
Consultation on the Communication on the Rights of the Child (2011-2014)
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20-07-2010 - Fundamental rights
Right to information in criminal proceedings – frequently asked questions
MEMO/10/351 Brussels, 20 July 2010 Why is action at European level needed on the right to information for suspects? This right to information about basic fair trial rights is a necessary step to all other fair trial rights....
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07-07-2010 - Fundamental rights
European Commission and Council of Europe kick off joint talks on EU's accession to the Convention on Human Rights
IP/10/906 Strasbourg, 7 July 2010 Official talks started today on the European Union's accession to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Viviane Reding, Vice-President of ...