EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the context of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR75), the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the adoption of the Youth Action Plan in External Action and the 2022 European Year of Youth - the 25th EU-NGO Forum on Human Rights took place on 4th and 5th December 2023, in Brussels, Belgium under the theme “Youth as actors of change for human rights”. It focused on the role of young human rights defenders (HRDs), the global threats and challenges they face, and explored meaningful ways for them to actively contribute to shaping their future and the future of human rights.
The two-day event brought together 300 in-person participants from over 100 countries, including 140 HRDs and activists and representatives from the European Union institutions, the United Nations, civil society organizations, and EU Member States.
This year‘s Forum prioritized interactivity and featured breakout sessions allowing participants to share experiences and engage in constructive intergenerational exchanges. The full agenda, concept note, resources shared and after movie of the event are available for participants on the Forum’s online platform.