RIGHTS
DEFENDERS
Governments across Europe are narrowing the space for NGOs and rights defenders criticizing policies or infringements of rights.
Intrusive legislation, legal harassment, and smear campaigns are challenging their ability to operate, access funding, and eventually citizens' trust in human rights and its defenders.
RECLAIM works to strengthen civil society’s ability to fulfil its role as watchdog and protect freedom of speech and association.
WHAT
WE DO
Monitor trends and analyse their legal implications
Bring the voices of targeted rights defenders into European politics and media
Find EU-law-based solutions to emerging tactics used to silence civic rights activism
Build cross-European alliances between civil society and policy-makers
Produce policy recommendations to European decision-makers
OUR FEATURED POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
Go to Court.
The EU should sanction Member States adoption and failure to repeal foreign agents anti-NGO laws.
Read more
Monitor trials.
Member States’ ambassadors should be present at court hearings against recognized European human rights defenders, journalists, and judges.
Read more
Ban frivolous lawsuits.
The EU should protect human rights defenders, anti-corruption and environmental activists and journalists against lawsuits aimed at silencing them.
Read more
Support grassroots.
The EU should support human rights work at the local level with flexible funding and diplomatic support.
Read more
Address criminalization.
The EU should end Member States’ criminalisation of Search and Rescue NGOs and ordinary citizens support for those in need.
Read more
Address de-risking.
The Commission should safeguard NGOs against rights violations stemming from the misapplication of anti-money laundering laws and EU and US restrictive measures.
Read more
Enforce human rights sanctions.
The EU should deploy the new human rights sanction regime against government officials responsible for grave civil rights violations in third countries.
Read more
Invest in CSR.
European companies should provide more financial and in-kind support to civil society groups working to protect human rights and the rule of law.
Read more
Stop Orbán's new
MUZZLE LAW
Hungary has adopted a turbocharged foreign agents law, aimed at discrediting and harassing civil society, independent journalism, and opposition parties under the pretext of safeguarding Hungary's sovereignty from foreign interference. Among others, the law has created a Sovereign Protection Authority, headed by a propagandist for the ruling Fidesz party.
The SPO is lashing out at virtually everyone who threatens the country’s leadership grip on power. It's scrutinizing former opposition MEPs' voting behaviors, Orbán's main opposition challenger, and the country's leading anti-corruption NGOs.
The European Commission has launched an infringement procedure against Hungary but stopped short of referring the issue to the EU's top court. Without this step, the office's actions cannot be suspended. This leaves the door open for further intimidation.
Help us stop this law - ask the Commission to act
FEATURED
PUBLICATIONS
