EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2015

The EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2015 underlines that 2015 has been a year of challenges for the EU and the international community at large, it describes the EU human rights approach to conflicts and crisis, how the EU addresses the main human rights and democracy challenges worldwide, and how human rights are mainstreamed throughout EU external policies, including trade and development cooperation.

The report states that the EU had been particularly active to mark 2015 as the landmark year for gender equality and women's empowerment and for this reason, initiatives against gender-based violence and harmful practices, including female genital mutilation, child, early and forced marriage, were among the areas prioritised by the EU during the reporting period.