news - EU agency sees advances and setbacks for fundamental rights in 2017

The eighth report released by the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency says 2017 brought both progress and setbacks in rights protection, with the European Pillar of Social Rights representing a step toward a ‘social Europe’, while immigrants and minority ethnic groups continued to face widespread discrimination, harassment and discriminatory profiling. The authors also note little progress toward reducing immigration detention of children, while child poverty rates remain high.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was seen to have generated significant achievements, although more needs to be done on accessibility and independent living. The agency said technological developments facilitating use of big data and artificial intelligence offer great opportunities, but also significant risks.

Sources: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights