WEEK 1: Lecture by Dr. Eva Maria Lassen
CHALLENGES AND FACTORS AFFECTING HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION AND PROMOTION BY THE EU
The EU is deeply committed to human rights and has an impressive set of instruments and policies to
further this commitment. There are a number of factors that can either enable or hinder the EU’s human
rights agenda at home or abroad.
Historical factors
- The history of Europe has placed human rights at the centre of the EU identity
- As a result of different histories, human rights are interpreted differently within the EU
Political factors
- Human rights are political
- Political factors affect the implementation of the EU’s human rights policies
Legal factors
- Within the EU, human rights obligations legally bind the EU and its Member States when
implementing EU law
- Outside of the EU, it is not always clear whether or not the EU has the same legally binding
obligations
Economic factors
- Economic factors are crucial to the EU human rights policies
- The 2008 financial crisis resulted, for instance, in a deterioration of adequate living standards and
employment
Social factors
- Social factors can cause discrimination, e.g. on grounds of gender, religion or disability
- The social context influences the individual’s rights and social position
Ethnic factors
- Problems related to ethnicity are linked to social factors, often cultural and religious ones
- Ethnic minorities might, for instance, be subject to hate crimes
Cultural and religious factors
- Human rights are interpreted differently due to cultural and religious factors
- Culture and religion both promote and challenge the protection of human rights
Technological factors
- The use of information and communication technology (ICT) challenges human rights in new ways
- For instance, some do not enjoy full citizen rights due to discriminatory access to the Internet
The above factors are difficult to measure. They are often intertwined in different ways, varying
enormously depending on the country and region. This makes it complicated to construct and implement
EU human rights policies.