Key EU terms: H

22 February 2010
by Ina Dimireva -- last modified 22 February 2010

A list of key EU legal terminology: H

High Commissioner for Human Rights

The Representative of the United Nations Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, responsible for monitoring and promoting human rights worldwide. The EU cooperates with the OHCHR.

High-Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration

Set up to prepare action plans for the countries of origin and transit of asylum-seekers and migrants. The action plans carry out an assessment of the political, economic and human rights situation in countries of origin and provide a joint analysis of the causes and consequences of migration.

High-tech crime

Crime that makes use of the new electronic and digitally based technology, a priority in the fight against crime at EU level.

Hooliganism

The phenomenon of violence, often organised, that can accompany sporting events. The Commission plays a role in supporting the coordination of national customs and police forces in combating hooliganism and preventing known troublemakers from travelling.

Human health

A Commission proposal of 1999 sets out minimum standards for ensuring that victims of crime have access to medical and psychological healthcare.

Human rights

The case-law of the European Court of Justice recognises the principles laid down in the Council of Europes Convention on Human Rights. This respect for human rights is incorporated into Article 6 of the EU Treaty. Action is outlined for cases where a Member State seriously and persistently breaches the principles.

Human trafficking

A form of organised crime, including acts that are coercive, threatening, fraudulent or abusing a person's vulnerability and done for the purposes of sexual exploitation, in particular of women and children, or labour exploitation (see framework decision on combating trafficking in human beings). To be distinguished from the "smuggling" of human beings (see directive defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence). Prevention, protection and assistance to victims, legal approximation, law enforcement, judicial cooperation and funding programmes such as AGIS, are components of a comprehensive EU policy combating human trafficking.

Hippokrates

A Commission programme for stimulating and enhancing relations among public and private bodies involved in crime prevention throughout the EU, by providing a framework for the exchange, training and cooperation among them.

Source: European Commission - Justice and Home Affairs