Tag Archives: Fundamental rights

Fundamental rights are a generally regarded set of legal protections in the context of a legal system, where in such system is itself based upon this same set of basic, fundamental, or inalienable rights. These rights shall be guaranteed to all persons without presumption or cost of privilege. The concept of human rights has been promoted as a legal concept that transcends all jurisdiction, but are typically reinforced in different ways and with different emphasis within different legal systems. Fundamental rights are traditionally divided between the rights of first and second generation: the first are political and civil rights (such as freedom of thought, or the right to a fair trial); the second social and economic (such as the right to work), a distinction that reflects the historical events and political evolutions during the XXth Century. A third generation of rights has emerged. These are collective rights, such as a right to a clean environment, which reflect the ideas of international solidarity. “Enjoyment of these rights entails responsibilities and duties with regard to other persons, to the human community and to future generations” (Preamble of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights). In the European context, fundamental rights are now guaranteed in the EUCFR (Article 6 TEU), itself finding its inspiration in the ECHR and constitutional tradition of its Member States.

SOLIDAR and Volonteurope statement “Empower Civil Society to Monitor Fundamental Rights”

Empower_civil_societyIn line with the European Parliament study ‘The impact of the crisis on fundamental rights across Member States of the EU’, in their new statement SOLIDAR and Volonteurope call upon the European Institutions to empower civil society organisations to monitor applications of fundamental rights in Member States. In accordance with the Lisbon Treaty and the International Covenants, they are supposed to report back to the Commission’s Vice-President for fundamental rights to the ensure that every Commission proposal or initiative complies with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. According to SOLIDAR and Volonteurope, a right-based approach to structural reforms and social investment measures is needed, in order to prevent negative social consequences and to create conditions for the full respect and promotion of fundamental rights.