In response to the on-going deterioration of people’s rights and liberties in Europe, the Civil Liberties Union for Europe was born on 17 January 2017 in Berlin, Germany. We are an independent, multi-purpose human rights organisation with a sharp focus on issues inside the European Union, partnering with 16 respected civil liberties NGOs from across Europe. We engage in dialogues with national politicians, MEPs and experts to raise our concerns during policy-making processes. We do all this to make sure that human rights concerns are kept in mind during the creation of laws and policies that affect our everyday life.
The quick deterioration of the rule of law in Poland and Hungary, the spreading populist hatred against migrants all across the continent, rising privacy and free speech concerns in the age of populism and viral fake news are just a few of the many issues we work on. Our European human rights radar is full of issues that keep us on alert: attempts to restrict abortion, government-captured state media, the reduction of the right to assemble and peacefully protest, and the misuse of our private data in the hands of digital companies and governments.
What did Liberties achieve in our first year?
- We successfully called for the European Parliament to request in its resolution the withdrawal of the Hungarian NGO law by the government
- We, together with our members, helped convince governments to discuss the rule of law situation in Poland in the Council of Ministers.
- Through our expert meetings and open letters, we publicised critical fundamental rights concerns regarding the Hungarian government’s attempts to close down Central European University, the passing of the “NGO foreign agent” law and the new asylum rules in Hungary.
- We initiated collaboration between 57 human rights and digital rights organisations to raise their voice against the censoring solution of the EU copyright directive: The EP’s LIBE committee voted down the mandatory upload filtering proposal.
Thankfully, human rights are well enshrined in the founding documents and laws of the European Union. Now the time has come to live up to these expectations. It is time to show strength and refuse governments’ attempts to ignore the rule of law and question the values upon which the EU was built.
Liberties, with its growing advocacy and communications teams, dares you to stand with us in support of our rights.
