In 2023, ECNL and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC) kicked-off the EU-funded project Catalyst of Change. It supports CSOs and grassroot initiatives in Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia, who work in the areas of environmental justice, women's rights and anti-corruption.
Under the project, we provide grants to support initiatives on the ground and offer trainings and peer-to-peer exchange. In 2024 ECNL hosted 3 trainings (for over 170 participants in total) on topics related to AI and EU law, to help CSOs build resilience and prepare them to respond to various trends affecting civic space.
TELL ME WH(AI): Impact of AI on human rights – and what we can do about it
In the first webinar (May 2024), participants gained an understanding of key features of AI, including algorithmic decision making and biometric surveillance; and their impact on people's rights and freedoms. They also learned about ongoing developments in the regulation of AI and how civil society can get involved to ensure rights protection.
The second webinar (September 2024) provided an interactive deep dive into the implementation of the EU AI Act, with a discussion between representatives from the European Commission, European Digital Rights and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions. Representatives from the National Human Rights Institutions of Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia then provided their in-depth knowledge on the challenges and opportunities in their countries.
Curious to find out more about these topics? Explore ECNL's Learning Center on Tech & AI, as well as various publications:
- Towards an AI Act that serves people and society
- Human rights and justice must be at the heart of the upcoming Commission guidelines on the AI Act implementation
- Taking action against biometric surveillance: Civil society tactics and strategies
WHAT'S LAW GOT TO DO WITH IT? Tools and mechanisms of EU law that can be used to protect civic space
In May 2024, ECNL hosted a webinar answering questions such as: How can EU law be used to protect civic space from threats? How do the various EU reporting mechanisms work and how can you engage with the EU rule of law dialogue? The training included practical examples from ECNL's EU Law Handbook, as well as tips and tricks on EU-level advocacy.
Want to learn more about EU legal mechanisms that protect civil society?
The Catalyst of Change project is funded by the European Union, through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency under the CERV programme.