With more than 16 member leagues in the countries of the former USSR and the Balkans, the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region has been a core focus of FIDH activities since the collapse of the Soviet Union, as is shown by the fact that the last FIDH World
Congress was held in Armenia in April 2010. In these countries, the transition to a society with respect for democratic values and human rights is difficult. Governments in Eastern European and Central Asian countries generally feature (ultra) presidential or dictatorial regimes for whom respect for human rights and the combating of impunity is not a priority. FIDH priorities for action include the situation of
human rights defenders, respect for human rights in the fight against
terrorism,
migrants’ rights and
economic and social rights.