Human Rights and Democracy Network


The Human Rights and Democracy Network is an informal grouping of 43 NGOs operating at the EU-level in the broader areas of human rights, democracy and peacebuilding. It was created in 2004 and mainly operates in Brussels.

Purpose

HRDN aims at influencing the EU and its Member States’s policies and funding instruments to promote democracy, human rights and peace:
‘HRDN’s vision is that human rights and democracy are placed at the heart of the EU's internal and external policy agenda. This vision should manifest itself in an EU which effectively protects human rights at home and is a force for positive change in the world.’

Activities

HRDN members gather once every six weeks in Brussels to exchange information and discuss potential joint advocacy activities, for instance the preparation and publication of common positions and recommendations. Activities are coordinated by a troika, whose representatives are elected among the member organisations during the annual meetings of the network.
To draft common positions or organise joint events, informal working groups are temporarily established. All member organisations of the network can join these working groups. Current policy working groups are focused on the following issues:
European Peacebuilding Liaison Office
Front Line Defenders
Harm Reduction International
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Without Frontiers
ILGA-Europe
International Centre for Transitional Justice
International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture
International Federation of Human Rights
International Partnership for Human Rights
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
International Rescue Committee
La Strada International Association
Light for the World
Minority Rights Group International
Open Society Foundations
Partners for Democratic Change International
Peace Brigades International
Penal Reform International
Plan EU Office
Protection International
Quaker Council for European Affairs
Reporters Without Borders
Save the Children
Search for Common Ground
Terre des Hommes International Foundation
World Coalition Against the Death Penalty
World Organisation Against Torture
World Vision International