2025 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World
“Human rights and democracy are in retreat worldwide,” says HRVP Kaja Kallas in the report forward. “The EU is not retreating with them. Throughout 2025, the EU continued to defend human dignity, justice and accountability, working with partners and civil society around the world.”
This year’s EU Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World is looking back at a year that has been remarkable for the persistence and variety of conflicts, and for widespread shifts away from an international rules-based order to one based on autocratic power, where self-interest takes precedence over solidarity.
“Amid these challenges, and as this report makes clear, the European Union remains a steady force for good in the world, not least because our interests and values – grounded in universal norms – are one and the same. That is why we are still the partner of choice for those who want to foster cooperation for human rights and democracy globally. This report contains many examples of our positive work that I hope can serve as inspiration to others.”
EU high Representative Kaja Kallas
Learn more
Read the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World․
Read the 2025 EU Human Rights and Democracy country reports.
