The European Union has failed to live up to its promises of protecting human rights, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2024. While the organization praised some of the EU’s efforts, it also criticized its failure to address human rights abuses in its own member states, its complicity in abuses in Libya, and its silence on human rights violations in other countries.

“The EU has a clear commitment to human rights, but it has not consistently translated those words into action,” said Benjamin Ward, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The EU needs to prioritize human rights in practice, not just on paper.”

The EU’s migration policies have been particularly harmful, Human Rights Watch said. The organization documented numerous cases of EU member states pushing migrants back into Libya, where they have been subjected to torture, abuse, and extortion. The EU has also failed to take action against member states that have imposed unjustified restrictions on civil society, including Greece, France, and Italy.

The EU’s foreign policy has also been tarnished by double standards, the organization said. The EU has been quick to condemn human rights abuses in Russia and other countries, but it has been more hesitant to speak out against abuses in Gaza and Israel.

“The EU has the potential to be a leader in promoting human rights, but it has not lived up to that potential in recent years,” Ward said. “The EU needs to urgently address these shortcomings if it wants to be a credible defender of human rights.”

The EU’s human rights record is a cause for concern, Human Rights Watch said. Despite its commitment to uphold human rights, the EU has fallen short in protecting those most in need. The EU must take concrete steps to address the issues highlighted in the World Report 2024, including reforming its migration policies, tackling human rights abuses by member states, and upholding human rights in its foreign policy.