The world is in a state of flux, and the wellbeing of humanity is challenged by old and new conflicts, climate change and a general threat to the rule of law and democracy. These challenges require novel and innovative approaches in relation to the interpretation of existing human rights frameworks if the impact of these new threats is to be mitigated.

Focusing on rethinking human rights, the European Yearbook brings together renowned scholars, practitioners and emerging voices to the discussion on the importance of changing our understanding of human rights and their fulfilment for the collective benefit of humanity in this time of constant change.

Human rights are at risk. Issues such as the climate crisis, ongoing conflicts in Europe and beyond, attacks on and the suppression of minorities, rapid technological changes, a war on information and the regression of democracy and the rule of law, just to name a few, challenge and question the effect of human rights. The European Yearbook on Human Rights 2022 aims to identify and address a variety of the most pressing human rights issues in Europe and beyond.

Renowned scholars, emerging voices and practitioners, in a careful selection of chapters, contribute to critical and important discussions related to, for example, climate change litigation, human rights and artificial intelligence and the right to open science. Thereby, the Yearbook stimulates necessary discussions, critical thinking and further research in the field and thus contributes to upholding human rights as guiding standards and principles in these tumultuous times.

The European Yearbook on Human Rights brings together renowned scholars, emerging voices and practitioners, comprising contributions which engage with some of the most important human rights issues and developments in Europe. The Yearbook helps to better understand the rich landscape of the European regional human rights system and is intended to stimulate discussions, critical thinking and further research in this field.

In light of the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2019, the twelfth edition of the European Yearbook on Human Rights is dedicated to the rights of the child. In their contributions, renowned scholars, emerging voices and practitioners provide a cross-section of the progress and gaps with regard to the protection of children. Topics include children deprived of their liberty, compulsory adoption and children's rights to participate in public debates on climate change, to name but a few. Besides the thematic focus on the rights of the child, this edition includes valuable insights from the European Court of Human Rights and the OSCE on the current challenges for the protection of human rights in Europe. Contributions focusing on the human rights implications of artificial intelligence, state sovereignty and gender identities raise awareness of the complexities of human rights protection and stimulate debate and further research in the field. At a time of an unprecedented global health crisis which has had widespread economic, social, humanitarian and human rights dimensions, the European Yearbook on Human Rights continues to provide a platform to address existing gaps in the systems designed to protect human rights and to bring forward suggestions to remedy identified weaknesses. Philip Czech is a researcher at the Austrian Institute for Human Rights, University of Salzburg and editor of the Newsletter Menschenrechte. Lisa Heschl is a post-doctoral research and teaching fellow at the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, University of Graz. Karin Lukas is a senior researcher and Head of Department at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights. Manfred Nowak is Secretary General of the Global Campus of Human Rights, Venice and Professor of International Human Rights, University of Vienna. Gerd Oberleitner is UNESCO Chair in Human Rights and Human Security and Director of the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.