Subcommittee on Human Rights

To mark the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Security and Defence, the Committee on Development, and the Subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a joint meeting on 4 November to reflect on eight decades of multilateralism and to discuss the challenges and hopes for the future. Speakers will include representatives from the United Nations and the European Union, as well as a young political leader.

On 20 October 2025, DROI and JURI jointly held an extraordinary meeting on the protection of lawyers worldwide, with a focus on the recently adopted Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. Speakers included representatives of the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, as well as a testimony by Ramla Dahmani on Tunisian lawyer Sonia Dahmani.

On the occasion of the upcoming World Food Day DROI welcomes on 13th October an exchange of views on the Right to Food. The Right to food is a basic human right. It aims to guarantee everyone's access to sufficient, accessible and appropriate food and ensure that no one, nowhere, should ever suffer from hunger, food insecurity or malnutrition. It is a matter of justice and respect for human rights.

At its meeting on 13 October the Subcommittee on Human Rights hosted an exchange of views on the International Day to End Impunity against Journalists

On 23 September, the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Development, together with the Subcommittee on Human Rights, presented the candidates for this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, one of the most important events of the European Parliament. On 16 October, the AFET and DEVE committees will meet again to narrow down the list of nominees to a three-candidate shortlist, via a secret vote.

At its meeting on 25 of September the Subcommittee on Human Rights presented a study on Environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) to highlight their courageous work in an increasing difficult environment.

The nominees for this year’s Prize were presented by the political groups in a joint meeting of the Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and on Development (DEVE) and the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) in Brussels on 23 September. Each year, the Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to honour exceptional individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.