By HeapNews
The European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) have renewed their joint commitment to advancing human rights, democracy, and rule of law across both continents during the 20th EU-AU Human Rights Dialogue held in Brussels.
Co-chaired by H.E. Kajsa Ollongren, EU Special Representative for Human Rights, and H.E. Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the Dialogue brought together senior officials, human rights organs, and legal experts from both sides to assess progress and chart new areas of cooperation.
“The EU and AU share a long-standing partnership grounded in the universality and indivisibility of human rights,” said Ollongren. “As we mark 25 years of this partnership, our shared responsibility is to ensure that human rights remain central to peace, democracy, and sustainable development.”
Adeoye emphasized the Dialogue’s focus on strengthening human-rights institutions and implementing existing frameworks. “Our goal is to make human rights protection more effective on the ground,” he stated. “This includes advancing transitional justice, safeguarding civic space, promoting gender equality, and ensuring accountability in peace-support operations.”
This year’s session focused on key areas such as strengthening the effectiveness of human-rights organs, implementing human-rights legislation across both regions, and advancing the AU’s theme for 2025: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
Participants also discussed democracy, digital transformation, anti-discrimination efforts, and human rights in conflict and post-conflict settings. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on youth participation, election integrity, and protection of children in armed conflicts.
On business and human rights, the Dialogue noted Africa’s growing regulatory frameworks, highlighted by the 4th African Business and Human Rights Forum in Lusaka, and the EU’s work towards a comprehensive framework for responsible business conduct. “An effective regulatory environment is key to preventing business-related harms and ensuring accountability,” both sides stated in a joint communiqué.
The meeting also welcomed Africa’s growing momentum toward abolishing the death penalty and reaffirmed support for the draft additional protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on its abolition.
Both the EU and AU commended civil-society organizations for their contributions and expressed concern about the global shrinking of civic space. “Protecting human rights defenders, journalists, and civil-society actors is not optional, it is essential for democracy,” Ollongren said.
As part of their shared vision for the future, the two unions agreed to convene the 21st Human Rights Dialogue in 2026 in Africa, reaffirming their commitment to continuous collaboration.
“In reaffirming our Joint Vision 2030, we recognize that human rights are not just ideals to aspire to, they are obligations we must uphold for all,” Adeoye concluded.