Interregional Human Rights Cooperation Between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the complex and multifaceted nature of relations, the European Union (EU) and Latin America/Caribbean (LAC) share an aligned framework of values including democracy, rule of law, and a preference for multilateralism that demonstrates strong potential for an impactful partnership to promote human rights globally. However, strengthening collaboration on human rights issues is not yet a strategic priority.

There is immense, untapped potential for cooperation between the EU and LAC on human rights advocacy and policy at the multilateral level. Enhancing the existing partnership significantly could maximize influence on the world stage.

This policy brief aims to identify specific opportunities and structural challenges to improving EU-LAC human rights cooperation, with an emphasis on ties between the EU and Brazil.

Through systematically reviewing existing literature and interviewing diplomats and civil society members, it provides targeted recommendations on how to bolster the EU-LAC human rights partnership moving forward.