Promoting Fundamental Rights through Charter Use in Society (FOCUS)

FOCUS aims to raise public awareness of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFREU) and help young people, experts and the general public to use it more effectively.

What is the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union?

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFREU) is a document that outlines the fundamental rights and freedoms that all citizens and residents in the EU are entitled to. These rights include dignity, freedoms, equality, solidarity, citizens’ rights, and justice. The Charter ensures that both EU institutions and its member states uphold and protect these rights.

Despite the charter’s importance, many citizens are still unaware of the full scope of their rights and how they can be applied in real-life situations. That’s where the FOCUS project comes in: its mission is to raise public awareness of the Charter’s value and empower the general public and  key stakeholders such as journalists, academics and local authorities  to make its principles more widely known and applied.

The European Youth Parliament, along with four other European organisations, will carry out a transnational project focusing on four main areas:

  • Media Capacity Building: Strengthening media’s ability to highlight the Charter’s impact.

  • Expert Discourse: Facilitating expert discussions on how the Charter is applied in practice.

  • Sub-national Application: Promoting the use of the Charter at the regional and local levels.

  • Youth Engagement: Involving young people in actively engaging with the Charter, which is the focus of EYP.

Future Activities

  • Youth Rights Dialogue

    The YouthRights Dialogue is an opportunity for National Committees of the European Youth Parliament to engage young people in discussions and activities centred around the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFREU). By organising a YouthRights Dialogue event, you can provide a platform for youth to explore, discuss, and advocate for fundamental rights issues relevant to the National Committee. These activities are supported by the NC Project Fund.

    Calls for Application are currently closed, but stay tuned for a new round in early 2025!

  • VisionLab

    This activity will engage EYPers in the  practice of  policymaking and expresssing their opinions on the applicability of the CFREU by developing a Vision Booklet on how to advocate and apply Fundamental Rights within EYP.

    Coming in 2025.

  • Understanding Europe

    Understanding Europe, a European network for Peer Education, will collaborate with the FOCUS project to build youth capacity and awareness around the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Through a course manual, a series of training events and workshops, Understanding Europe aims to empower young people to engage more effectively in local, national, and European democratic participation.

    Coming in 2025.

  • Capacity Building

    FOCUS workshops at selected Capacity Building events will provide participants with a practical understanding of the CFREU and allow them to develop new perspectives, personal relationships and a stronger connection to democracy, active citizenship and human rights.

Partners

Contact persons

  • Nadja Brandt

    FOCUS Project and Capacity Building
    n.brandt@eyp.org