EU-AU Rights at Summit: A Turning Point for Africa-EU Cooperation
Ahead of the Europe-Africa Summit in Nairobi on November 21, 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) calls for a clear, action-oriented commitment to human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) in the partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). The seventh summit offers a prime opportunity to align political, economic, and security cooperation with rigorous respect for rights protections, ensuring that the partnership benefits people on both continents rather than governments alone.
Why Rights Must Be at the Center
Human rights principles and IHL are not abstract ideals—they are practical tools that protect civilians, support sustainable development, and reduce conflict. In recent years, African and European leaders have pursued ambitious economic arrangements, climate and health collaboration, and peacekeeping efforts. HRW argues that these advances will be more durable and legitimate when human rights safeguards are embedded in negotiation texts, implementation mechanisms, and accountability processes.
Key concerns include civilian protection in conflict zones, freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and access to timely humanitarian aid. The AU and EU should also address governance gaps, corruption, migration challenges, and the disproportionate impact of conflicts and crises on women, children, and marginalized communities. A rights-centered framework helps safeguard those most at risk while creating predictable rules for business, development, and security cooperation.
Core Principles to Uphold
- Respect for international humanitarian law in all security and stabilization initiatives.
- Protection of civilians, including documenting and addressing abuses and ensuring accountability.
- Freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly as non-negotiable rights in dialogue and policy.
- Non-discrimination in implementation of trade, aid, and investment programs.
- Participation of civil society, with safe, inclusive spaces for monitoring and feedback.
Practical Steps for the Nairobi Summit
HRW recommends concrete, time-bound actions that the EU and AU can commit to during and after the summit:
- Rights Benchmarks in Agreements. Integrate explicit human rights and IHL commitments into trade, development, and security agreements, with independent monitoring and consequences for violations.
- Human Rights Impact Assessments. Require impact assessments for major projects and missions, with public reporting and grievance mechanisms for affected communities.
- Civil Society Inclusion. Create formal channels for civil society, including women’s groups, youth networks, and defenders at risk, to participate in negotiations and review processes.
- Protection and Assistance for Migrants. Ensure humane treatment and access to protection, particularly for vulnerable migrants and asylum-seekers, within EU-AU policies.
- Accountability Mechanisms. Establish joint international investigations and credible, independent oversight to address abuses and ensure redress for victims.
Accountability as a Pillar
Accountability must accompany commitments. The summit should set up a transparent framework that tracks progress, discloses challenges, and holds authorities to account. This includes openly publishing progress reports, independent evaluations, and clear timelines for meeting rights-based targets. Without visible accountability, even well-meaning agreements risk being circumvented by political expediency.
What This Means for People on the Ground
When the EU and AU prioritize human rights, the benefits reach ordinary people: better protection in conflict, improved access to essential services, and fairer economic opportunities. Rights-respecting policies can attract responsible investment, foster stable governance, and support resilient communities across Africa and Europe. The Nairobi summit offers a chance to demonstrate that partnerships are built not only on trade or security interests but on shared humanity and mutual accountability.
Looking Ahead
As Africa and Europe chart their future together, HRW emphasizes that human rights protection should not be an afterthought but a central, measurable objective. By anchoring commitments in rights protections, the AU-EU partnership can set a standard for cross-regional cooperation that respects dignity, sustains peace, and fosters inclusive development for all people on both continents.
