The EU has adopted its long-awaited Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy this week.
The framework sets out principles, objectives and priorities designed to improve the effectiveness and consistency of European policy. The EU promises to place "human rights at the centre of its relations with all third countries" and to "promote human rights in all areas of its external action without exception".
It also agreed an Action Plan to implement the framework, which includes steps for improving the objectives of country strategies and benchmarks for evaluation of the impact of human rights policies.
