Strasbourg, April 1, 2025 – In a powerful address to the European Parliament plenary session on the 2024 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World, High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas underscored the European Union’s unwavering commitment to defending human rights and democracy amid a turbulent global landscape. Delivered on April 1, 2025, in Strasbourg, the speech highlighted both the mounting threats to the rules-based international order and the EU’s proactive efforts to counter them.

Kallas opened her remarks by thanking Rapporteur Isabel Wiseler Lima and other contributors to the Parliament’s report, before drawing on her recent address to the United Nations Security Council. She emphasized that the principles enshrined in the UN Charter—peace, prosperity, human rights, dignity, and development—are under unprecedented strain. “Eighty years on, we see these principles under heavy fire,” she said, pointing to violations of international law, democratic backsliding, and assaults on gender equality and media freedom.

The High Representative singled out Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine as a stark example of this erosion, calling it “a direct challenge to the rules-based international order and an assault on sovereignty.” She also referenced the conflict between Israel and Gaza as a sobering reminder of the fragility of human rights in wartime. Closer to home, she noted the growing threat posed by authoritarian regimes, a concern echoed in the Parliament’s 2024 report.

Yet, amid these challenges, Kallas struck a note of cautious optimism. She cited the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024 as a historic turning point, ending 54 years of dictatorship. “There is hope, nonetheless,” she said, stressing that the EU must work to ensure the rights of all Syrians are protected during the country’s fragile transition.

A Steadfast Partner in Turbulent Times

Kallas outlined the EU’s robust response to global human rights crises, positioning the bloc as a reliable and predictable partner. In 2024 alone, the EU supported over 10,000 high-risk human rights defenders, adding to a total of 80,000 individuals aided since 2015. Just two weeks prior to her speech, the EU adopted a €349 million funding package to bolster human rights and democracy initiatives worldwide through 2027. This commitment, she said, extends to countering pushback against gender equality and the rights of women, girls, and LGBTIQ+ individuals.

The EU’s support for the United Nations human rights framework also took center stage. Kallas reaffirmed the bloc’s advocacy for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and its push for accountability through mechanisms like the International Criminal Court (ICC). “Respect for international humanitarian law by state and non-state actors, and accountability for violations committed, are the cornerstone for peace and security,” she declared. She revealed that she met with the ICC President in March 2025 to reinforce the EU’s backing, amid discussions on enhancing financial and diplomatic support for the Court.

The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, established in 2020, has proven a vital tool, with swift measures imposed in 2024 targeting human rights abusers in Russia, the Middle East, and North Korea. “This demonstrates our determination to strengthen our role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide,” Kallas said.

Democracy in Action

Reflecting on 2024 as a “super election year,” with over 75 countries holding elections, Kallas praised the role of EU Election Observation Missions in safeguarding electoral integrity and democratic governance. She pledged continued support for parliaments, independent media, and democratic actors operating in hostile environments, promising close collaboration with the European Parliament in these efforts.

In her closing remarks, Kallas framed the defense of human rights as inseparable from the pursuit of peace. “Peace is not simply the absence of war; it is active cultivation of justice,” she said, emphasizing that human dignity and rights are foundational to lasting stability. She called on the EU to leverage its values as a strategic asset, fostering partnerships with third countries based on sustainable progress and mutual benefit.

A Call to Unity

Kallas concluded with a rallying cry for unity, urging the Parliament to stand firm against the erosion of the EU’s core principles. “The European Union is founded on peace, democracy, and unity,” she said. “We must make very clear that we will not tolerate the erosion of these rights and freedoms that really define us.”

As the High Representative prepares to release her own 2024 human rights and democracy report, her speech served as both a sobering assessment of global challenges and a resolute affirmation of the EU’s leadership in confronting them. With the European Parliament as a key ally, Kallas signaled that the bloc’s commitment to human rights remains a cornerstone of its identity—and its future.