What does it mean to ‘marginalize’ someone, and how do dominant groups do it? It’s happening in Europe, and we’re all worse off because of it.

Nowadays, we seem to take many of our freedoms for granted. We could no longer imagine Germany without fundamental liberties such as freedom of assembly or freedom of association. In some EU countries, however, these are increasingly being restricted.

One of liberal democracy’s most coveted tenets, freedom of assembly and its protection is at the forefront of civil rights movements worldwide. However, like many others, this civil right is not always fully supported or guaranteed by our governments.

Liberties Rule of Law Report 2023

Qatargate at the European Parliament, continued deep corruption in Hungary, unprotected whistleblowers everywhere. Liberties’ annual EU-wide rule of law report found rules created by governments were too weak to stop or reduce corruption in 2022.

In response to a crisis, the state can grant itself special powers to protect citizens from danger. However, as the Covid-19 pandemic showed, this increases the opportunities for abuses of power as many democratic checks and balances are weakened.

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, one of the country's leading human rights watchdogs, spoke out against the extension of emergency powers, stating that the move will threaten fundamental rights.

Hungarian teachers have been protesting against low wages, exhausting working hours, and their general working conditions that they believe are not conducive to educating the next generations.

A monthly round-up of Liberties' work: media freedom in decline, EU ‘Foreign Agents’ law targeting NGOs, and why public surveillance is harmful.

The latest update to an annual transgender rights index puts Lithuania near the bottom for respect of transgender rights in Europe, with people's rights significantly under protected in numerous areas.