The European Parliament today adopted an unprecedented resolution—the first of its kind—establishing a formal framework to define transnational repression and proposing measures to counter it, under reference P10_TA(2025)0258.
The resolution is based on a comprehensive study published in June titled:
“Transnational repression of human rights defenders: The impacts on civic space and the responsibility of host states,” which highlighted Egypt as one of the most prominent countries engaging in this form of repression for over a decade.
The report relied primarily on the case of Egyptian journalist Basma Mostafa, Program Director at the Law and Democracy Support Foundation, as well as on reports from international mechanisms issued following the Foundation’s advocacy efforts, including the UN complaint signed by five Special Rapporteurs in December 2024, in addition to joint mobilization efforts with human rights organizations before the European Parliament.
The Law and Democracy Support Foundation welcomes the adoption of this resolution, which formally recognizes transnational repression and affirms that such practices pose a global threat to human rights and democracy.
The Foundation calls on the European Union and its Member States to ensure the effective implementation of the resolution’s recommendations, including incorporating transnational repression into the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, providing comprehensive protection for human rights defenders in exile through streamlined residency and asylum procedures, strengthening digital security, and preventing the misuse of tools such as Interpol.
The Foundation reiterates its commitment to continuing documentation efforts, engaging with UN and EU mechanisms, and mobilizing international support to guarantee a safe environment for human rights defenders in exile—enabling them to carry out their vital work in defending rights and freedoms without fear of cross-border retaliation.
