To mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this milestone, the Un Human Rights Regional Office for Europe launched "Making a Difference: An Introduction to Human Rights", a user-friendly guidebook that explains the basics of human rights in an easy-to-understand manner and format. It equips the reader with a concise explanation of human rights and the international human rights framework and mechanisms.

Advocacy Brief on Roma Inclusion Policies (PDF)

The aim of this paper is to provide an advocacy tool for reorienting the current approach of Roma policies followed by many international, national and local institutions, including the European Union, in order to improve their effectiveness and achieve substantive results.

Práva ohrožených detí mladších trí let Ukoncení jejich umístování do ústavní péce (PDF)

This study (in Czech) highlights one of the most serious human rights challenges in Europe, namely that many young children, including those under three years of age, continue to be placed in long-term institutional care. The study reviews available scientific evidence on the negative effects of insitutionalization on very young children and provides a normative background illustrating the growing emphasis of the relevant human rights framework on overcoming the institutional mode of care for children.

The role of the United Nations in advancing Roma inclusion (PDF)

This Joint Position Paper was produced by the Roma Regional Working Group of the United Nations Development Group and examines different contributions to advancing Roma inclusion.

The Rights of Vulnerable Children under the Age of Three - ending their placement in institutional care (PDF)

This study highlights one of the most serious human rights challenges in Europe, namely that many young children, including those under three years of age, continue to be placed in long-term institutional care. The study reviews available scientific evidence on the negative effects of insitutionalization on very young children and provides a normative background illustrating the growing emphasis of the relevant human rights framework on overcoming the institutional mode of care for children.

A Russian language version of the publication can be downloaded here:

Judicial Implementation of Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Europe - the case of migrant children including unaccompanied children (PDF)

This study examines how the principle of the best interests of the child (Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child) is applied by national and regional courts in Europe in the case of migrant children, in particular children with an irregular immigration status and unaccompanied or separated children.

APPLICATION JUDICIAIRE DE L'ARTICLE 3 DE LA CONVENTION RELATIF AUX DROITS DE L’ENFANT EN EUROPE - Le cas des enfants migrants, y compris les enfants migrants non accompagnés (PDF)

Getting a Life - Living Independently and Being Included in the Community (PDF)

This study examines the legal implications of Article 19 of the CRPD on the use of European Union Structural Funds.

The EU and International Human Rights Law (PDF)

This study discusses the legal implications for the EU of ratification of International Human Rights Instruments by its Member States, in areas which have become part of EU competence.

Forgotten Europeans - Forgotten Rights, the human rights of persons placed in institutions

This study highlights one of the most significant human rights challenges in Europe today, namely that many children, persons with disabilities and older persons continue to be placed in long-stay residential institutional care in countries across Europe, often for life. Its purpose is to draw attention to the situation of persons in institutions but also to the responsibility of Governments to develop community-based alternatives to institutional care.

Rights of Migrant Workers in Europe

This study intends to identify and analyze the challenges and opportunities for ratification by European Union countries of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW). The study, which deals only with the rights of third-country nationals, covers developments at the European Union level, in EU Member States and other countries in Europe such as Norway.

Rights of Domestic Migrant Workers in Europe

The Regional Office for Europe of the OHCHR has commissioned a study that aims to provide an overview of the main challenges faced by migrant domestic workers, in particular women, in Europe, as identified by existing international human rights mechanisms. The study also highlights the relevant provisions in international human rights standards which provide a framework for protection of the rights of migrant domestic workers, as well as factors requiring particular attention in the process that aims to secure better protection of the rights of migrant domestic workers and in particular women .

Protection against racial discrimination in Europe - The work of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The Regional Office for Europe of the OHCHR has compiled a Reader based on the latest concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which have been addressed to the 27 EU Member States. As the last reports of these States Parties were submitted and examined in different years, the concluding observations do not – and cannot – provide a snapshot of all the EU Member States at a given date. However, they represent an overview of the most up-to-date examination of the situation in all Member States by the Committee.