ABSTRACT
Global human rights norms can reach local communities and organizations in different ways. The European Union (EU) has various mechanisms and activities that attempt to reach the rights-holders. In order for human rights protection to be effective it must be grounded in the local needs and struggles of individuals and groups. In other words, human rights laws and policies need to be locally relevant otherwise they are of little value for the individual. In 2012, the EU itself admitted that 'the EU has adopted a top-down approach to its human rights strategy, agreeing worldwide priorities in Brussels and then seeking to apply these through political dialogues and meetings with third countries'. An important, national based, mechanism that merits further attention in this context is the EU delegations in partner countries. These delegations are diplomatic missions and have a key role in designing, programming and implementing EU development cooperation programmes.
