Human Rights at the Heart of EU-AU Cooperation
As the European Union and African Union prepare for their seventh Europe-Africa Summit, human rights advocates are urging that respect for international humanitarian law and basic freedoms be placed at the center of the partnership. In Nairobi on November 21, 2025, Human Rights Watch emphasized that enduring security, development, and stability in both continents depend on safeguarding rights for all people—rather than prioritizing political or economic concessions alone.
Why Rights Matter for Both Continents
The EU and AU face common challenges: irregular migration, conflict and insecurity, climate impacts, governance gaps, and human rights abuses that undermine local communities. A rights-centered approach would ensure accountability for abuses, protect vulnerable groups, and foster policies that promote dignity, due process, and participation. HRW argues that international humanitarian law provides a blueprint for humane conduct in conflict zones, while human rights norms help prevent abuses during counterterrorism, policing, and border management operations.
Practical Steps for a Rights-First Agenda
Experts outline concrete measures the two blocs can adopt to anchor the summit’s outcomes in rights protections:
- Binding human rights benchmarks: Tie trade and development agreements to measurable protections for civil liberties, freedom of expression, and political participation.
- Independent monitoring: Establish civilian oversight bodies to monitor how aid, security assistance, and peacekeeping funds are used, with transparent reporting to both publics.
- Refugee and displacement safeguards: Create robust protection mechanisms for people fleeing conflict, including access to asylum procedures and non-refoulement guarantees.
- Justice and accountability: Support investigations, prosecutions, and remedies for human rights abuses, including crimes under international law, with credible, impartial processes.
- Inclusive governance: Promote participation of civil society, women’s rights groups, and marginalized communities in policy design and monitoring.
Countering Misuse of Power
HRW stresses that rights protections are not a distraction from security or development goals. Instead, they are prerequisites for sustainable outcomes. When rights are respected, policy gaps shrink, trust in institutions grows, and cross-border cooperation—whether on climate adaptation, vaccines, or economic diversification—becomes more effective. Conversely, neglecting rights can heighten grievances, fuel insecurity, and erode the legitimacy of both blocs’ agendas.
What to Expect at the Nairobi Summit
Analysts anticipate high-level commitments from EU and AU leaders on human rights in armed conflict zones, border policies, and trade arrangements. Delegations are likely to discuss how to align security assistance with humanitarian protections and how to ensure that development aid does not inadvertently empower abuses. Civil society groups hope for a pledge to strengthen democratic governance and to publish regular, independent assessments of human rights impacts tied to EU-AU initiatives.
A Shared Responsibility
Ultimately, rights protection should be viewed as a shared responsibility that strengthens the partnership. The AU and EU have the potential to set global standards for how major regional blocs cooperate—models that safeguard dignity while delivering concrete benefits to people on the ground. If the summit foregrounds rights, it can advance a more stable, prosperous, and just future for both continents.
