We're the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, supporting our members to promote and protect human rights across wider Europe.
Brussels, Belgium
Joined October 2015
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For over 15 years, the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has been protecting and promoting human rights for all in Scotland.
In light of an ongoing parliamentary review of Scottish public bodies, including the SHRC, ENNHRI expresses support for the institution and this ongoing, essential work.
In a new public letter, we highlight how - as Scotland’s National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) – the SHRC is essential to advancing human rights, democracy, and the rule of law nationally.
We encourage the parliamentary committee conducting the review to take this opportunity to recognise the NHRI’s unique role in this respect. We also encourage it to support the strengthening of the institution in line with international standards on NHRIs.
@ScotHumanRights has been recognised as an A-status institution since 2010, attesting to its compliance with these standards and its credibility and independence.
👉 Read the public letter here – ennhri.org/news-and-blog/not…
👉 See our related article – ennhri.org/news-and-blog/enn…
ALT A dark blue text on a light blue background, featuring the ENNHRI logo, which says: Since 2008, the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has been protecting and promoting human rights for all in Scotland. With a parliamentary review of Scottish public bodies ongoing, including the SHRC, ENNHRI expresses its support for the NHRI and its vital work. We encourage the parliamentary committee conducting the review to recognise the SHRC’s unique role and value and to support strengthening it in line with international standards on NHRIs.
Happy #HumanRightsDay everyone 🙌 ✨ !
This year, let’s remember why #humanrights are so important to our present and future.
Human rights are a protective, preventative, and transformative force in addressing people's greatest concerns. From the personal to the professional and the societal to the structural, they shape all aspects of our lives for the better.
By embracing their full power, we equip ourselves – both as individuals and communities - to forge a just, inclusive and sustainable future for all.
Hear from our ENNHRI members and Secretariat 💭 below on why it’s so essential that we mobilise and #StandUpForHumanRights 📣 .
It’s time to come together for our rights and our future, right now ✅ .
Read more on this year’s @UNHumanRights campaign “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” 👉 ohchr.org/en/get-involved/ca…
Our busy Brussels week continued with a two-day meeting on a critical topic: the role and functions of #NHRIs operating in situations of armed conflict.
On 29-30 October, representatives from 16 NHRIs gathered to deepen their understanding of the multifaceted challenges NHRIs encounter during active and pre- and post-conflict situations, as well as possible ways to address these.
Taking ENNHRI’s 2017-2020 project on NHRIs’ role in (post-)conflict situations as its starting point, participants engaged in an open dialogue 🗣 on the difficult, diverse, and deep impacts of armed conflict on their operations.
Their accounts gave invaluable insight into the on-the-ground reality of protecting and promoting human rights in different conflict situations, including the practical challenges. The Ukrainian NHRI gave an in-depth presentation on its ongoing work in an active conflict. Participants also shared strategies, good practices, and experiences of adapting their roles under international hashtag#humanrights and hashtag#humanitarian frameworks.
Representatives from the Council of Europe, UNDP and the EU’s European External Action Service also joined the discussions. Their international perspectives further enriched the conversation.
The meeting was a major step in fostering further knowledge exchange and deepening ties between NHRIs, civil society, international organisations, and state actors committed to human rights protection in conflict-affected regions.
Moving forward, the rich insights from the meeting will shape ENNHRI’s work in this area. An ENNHRI paper on NHRIs in armed conflict is set to be published in the near future.
Learn more about ENNHRI’s and NHRIs’ work on human rights in (post-)conflict situations, including the dedicated project ➡ ennhri.org/our-work/topics/h…
Explore the online resource that conveys the rich knowledge and outcomes of this project ➡ ennhri.org/nhris-post-confli…
And just like that, our #ENNHRI2024 General Assembly concluded yesterday afternoon! It was a joy to have so many members in Brussels for two days of connecting, inspiring, and exchanging ✨ .
The second day of #ENNHRI2024 saw us elect new ENNHRI and GANHRI office holders and discuss a key emerging #humanrights topic - #securitisation.
ENNHRI members voted for a new ENNHRI Chair and Board and GANHRI Secretary, among other important governance positions. Congratulations again to all those elected and thank you to all who put themselves forward for nomination. See the full election results 👉 ennhri.org/news-and-blog/enn…
With its human rights impacts increasing, securitisation is a subject of high importance for #NHRIs. In groups, they discussed 🗣 the national challenges it poses, how to tackle these, and ENNHRI’s role in supporting their work. The rich General Assembly discussions will help shape future work on this vital topic. Securitisation is a thematic priority for the network this year and will remain so in 2025.
Being among peers always energises ⚡ and inspires 💡: we’re already looking forward to embarking on our common journey to develop our new Strategic Plan and towards #ENNHRI2025 next autumn.
📢 Important news from the #ENNHRI2024 General Assembly this morning: new representatives have been elected for crucial ENNHRI and GANHRI governance positions!
Our members cast their votes 🗳 to select a new ENNHRI Chair and Board and GANHRI Secretary, among other positions.
Meet our new Chair and Board Members, whose mandates start in March 2025:
📌 ENNHRI Chair and Board Member – Louise Holck, Danish Institute for Human Rights
📌 ENNHRI Board Member and @Ganhri1 Secretary – Alyson Kilpatrick, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
📌 ENNHRI Board Member – Tamar Gvaramadze, Office of the Public Defender of Georgia
📌 ENNHRI Board Member - Beate Rudolf, German Institute for Human Rights
📌 ENNHRI Board Member – Simona Drenik Bavdek, Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia
📌 ENNHRI Board Member - Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
We warmly congratulate 🎉 all those elected and thank all those who put themselves forward for nomination 🙏 . The commitment and expertise of all candidates was clear to see.
Discover all the new office holders here ➡ ennhri.org/news-and-blog/enn…
Learn more about ENNHRI’s governance ➡ ennhri.org/about-us/governan…
ALT Image outlining the new ENNHRI Chair and Board Members elected at ENNHRI's General Assembly in Brussels today
What a first day we’ve had here at the #ENNHRI2024 General Assembly in Brussels ✨ .
We opened with reflections on recent milestones and activities. ENNHRI’s Chair, Louise Holck, underlined the network’s continued progress in enhancing #humanrights promotion 📢 and protection 🛡 despite increasingly challenging circumstances. She highlighted recent assistance to members undergoing accreditation and while coming under threat.
Next, ENNHRI’s Secretary General, Debbie Kohner, expanded on how the network has continued supporting, strengthening and connecting its members and ensuring their expertise is at the forefront of regional #humanrights work. This has included engagement on landmark policies on artificial intelligence (AI); a new regional rule of law ⚖ report and tool to explore this; deepening NHRI knowledge 🧠 on AI and securitisation; and much more.
ENNHRI’s Working Groups sit at the heart ❤️ of the network. Chairs and representatives from our nine Groups presented 🗣 the wealth of work they are engaging in. This encompasses peer exchange, regional engagement, and more across a wide variety of topics.
After considering what has happened, the time was ripe to turn to the upcoming. Coming together in small groups, our members kicked off the development of our new Strategic Plan 📃 . They outlined various national challenges to address, potential opportunities to embrace, and the possible role to outline for ENNHRI in the Plan. This rich input will spur the initial phase of the Plan’s conception. The Plan will come into effect in 2026.
#ENNHRI2024 attendees also learnt more about our regranting programme, discovering the stories behind some of the nine national projects on vital human rights topics. See full details on the dedicated page ➡ ennhri.org/our-work/nhri-reg…
We have an exciting progamme coming tomorrow. Alongside exploring the #humanrights impacts of securitisation, ENNHRI members will cast their votes 🗳 to elect representatives for new governance positions.
Follow #ENNHRI2024 to keep up to date ✅ !
Today is the day 🤗 – we can't wait for the #ENNHRI2024 General Assembly to start later this afternoon! Running until tomorrow lunchtime, over 90 representatives from 45+ #NHRIs across #Europe are coming to Brussels 🇧🇪 for the occasion.
Each year, the General Assembly gathers the network to consider 💭 crucial network matters - looking both back and forward. Alongside reporting on the activities of the last few months, we’ll kick off the development of our upcoming Strategic Plan 🎯 and hold elections 🗳️ for future ENNHRI office holders. In addition, we'll look at how #NHRIs are responding to the #humanrights impacts of securitisation.
The next two days are also an ideal moment to (re)connect with new and familiar faces from across the network 🤝 .
This morning already saw Chairs and representatives of our 9 Working Groups meeting to discuss their work. Later, they’ll present this 🗣 to the General Assembly. In addition, an induction for new heads of institutions allowed them to meet ENNHRI's Board and find out more about ENNHRI membership 🌐 . The induction forms part of ENNHRI’s Leadership Programme.
Stay tuned and follow #ENNHRI2024 👀 for all the developments today and tomorrow!
Something exciting is happening next week: we're welcoming #NHRIs from across #Europe to Brussels 🇧🇪 for the #ENNHRI2024 General Assembly ✨!
On 28-29 October, we'll discuss 🗣️ vital network matters and look back at what has happened since our General Assembly in May in Geneva.
At the same time, we'll look to the future with sessions to kickstart the development of our upcoming Strategic Plan 🎯 and hold elections 🗳️ for future ENNHRI office holders. Alongside this, we'll consider how #NHRIs are responding to the #humanrights impacts of securitisation.
This occasion is special every year, and we can't wait to see familiar and new faces alike 🙏.
ALT ENNHRI group photo with around 70 people - both members and Secretariat staff alike - looking up at the camera. The photo is taken from above and is in a courtyard.
📢 Opportunity alert!
We’re seeking a consultant/consultants to help develop our new Strategic Plan💡. Do you have:
➡️ Experience of organisational strategic development?
➡️ Knowledge of #NHRIs?
Then apply by 23 October, 17:00 CEST! Full details 👉 ennhri.org/vacancies/
📰On Tuesday this week, we had the pleasure of participating in this event - ‘Joining forces to better support and protect Environmental Human Rights Defenders in Europe’.
ENNHRI and NHRIs actively work on strengthening, supporting, and protecting human rights defenders, including those focusing on the environment.
Speaking at the event, Edyta Tuta-Lorenz - our Senior Human Rights Officer - emphasised that: 📢
📌 We need common platforms to foster dialogue with environmental rights defenders.
📌 We need to strengthen existing tools for protection of environmental defenders by enhancing NHRIs mandates and deepening collaboration with civil society, media, and law enforcement to combat negative narratives and abuses.
📌 We need to ensure an enabling environment for NHRIs: being rights defenders themselves they also face threats for their work on sensitive topics.
🤝We look forward to contributing to further enhance the protection of environmental defenders, along with all other relevant stakeholders present at this meeting.
Find out more on ENNHRI’s work on the protection of human rights defenders 🔎ennhri.org/human-rights-defe…
Across the region, Environmental HRDs are increasingly under attack.
Today, @UNHumanRightsEU joined forces with a wide range of stakeholders to reflect on actions to better support and protect them.
Thanks to our partners @UNEP_Europe, @EURightsAgency, @UNECE and @coe!
Climate change ranks among the most critical #humanrights challenges we face today.
In advance of COP 29, our Secretary General Debbie Kohner participated on 2 Wednesday October in the International Baku Forum on 'Climate Change and Human Rights: The Role of Ombudsmen and NHRIs’. She moderated a panel session on multi-stakeholder partnerships for climate action. The Forum was hosted by the Azerbaijani NHRI - ENNHRI’s member in the country.
While in Baku, she also met with the Commissioner for Human Rights of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, to discuss ENNHRI’s support for the institution to promote and protect human rights, including in the context of the climate crisis.
Find out more about ENNHRI’s work on #climatechange and human rights - ennhri.org/our-work/topics/c…
Currently, the #humanrights of older persons are inadequately protected and scattered across various legal instruments. On this year’s International Day of Older Persons, we reaffirm our call for a dedicated #UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. This would offer the legal protection 🛡️ lacking for so long.
In recent years, European #NHRIs have advocated 🗣️ for this through our Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons.
Their engagement, including in the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, has contributed to the positive momentum in this area ✅. Collectively and individually, they’ll continue pushing for this essential binding instrument.
Read more about ENNHRI's work, including that of our Working Group, to promote and protect the rights of older persons 👉ennhri.org/our-work/topics/r…
💡 Stay updated by signing up to our #newsletter. 📰
Our third issue of 2024 is coming soon! There you'll find out our latest news & gain insight into how European NHRIs are promoting and protecting #HumanRights.
Subscribe & read previous editions 👉ennhri.org/newsletter/
📣 We're hiring!
📌 Are you a creative communicator, full of bright ideas 💡 ?
📌 Do you want to gain experience working in #HumanRights for a #European network 🤝 ?
Then apply to become our new Communications Trainee by 19 September! Full info 👉
ennhri.org/vacancies/vacancy…
ALT A hand holding a megaphone, a hand holding a newspaper, and a letter appear coming out of a laptop screen - all images are in a cut-out style and in front of a light blue background. Next to the image collage is a speech bubble that says "we're hiring" and below that is text that says "Communications Trainee" and "Apply by 19 September, 12:00 CEST"
We're delighted to have been able to support @NIHRC on this vital piece of work through our regranting programme 🙌 .
Learn more on the #Business & #HumanRights Index below👇& the eight other #NHRI projects supported as part of the regranting programme ➡ ennhri.org/about-us/funding-…
Yesterday, the Business and Human Rights Index Report was launched by @NIHRC and @qubschooloflaw, supported by @ennhri.
Find out more by reading the report here: nihrc.org/publication/detail…
@MarisaMcV @QUBHRC
ALT Three people stand in front of a Queens University Belfast building, with the middle person holding a blue document. All are smiling to the camera. Left to right: Anna Montgomery, Research Assistant; Dr Marisa McVey, QUB School of Law; Dr David Russell, CEO of NIHRC.
Discover the state of #ruleoflaw ⚖️ in #Europe with our new report & tool!
Find insights from 40+ countries, info on rule of law challenges Europe-wide, & #NHRIs' recommendations to policymakers to tackle these.
Explore this & previous years' findings👉rule-of-law.ennhri.org
ALT An illustrated figure of lady justice on the right-hand side of a blue and white background with the following text next to her: NHRIs reveal the state of the rule of law in Europe. Discover our new online tool with their insights.
This week our Board is in Copenhagen 🇩🇰 for a two-day retreat 🤝. With the ENNHRI Secretariat, they're considering how to best:
- Build on recent achievements 📈
- Prepare for future challenges 🛡️
- Achieve our key strategic goals 🎯
Read about our Board: ennhri.org/about-us/governan…
ALT ENNHRI's Board and senior Secretariat staff in a group of 12 look into the camera; they are in a room with wood panel flooring, light grey walls, and a portrait picture of a woman in an expressionist style hangs on the wall on the right-hand side. There is also a plant and numerous pieces of furniture.
In June, 23 NHRI staff members from across the OSCE region participated in the NHRI Academy 2024, focused on securitisation and human rights. 📢Find out what #NHRIs learnt about these topics ➡️ennhri.org/nhri-academy-2024….
Co-organised with @osce_odihr and hosted by @StrediskoSNSLP.
📣The EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is a milestone for #business and #humanrights in the region.🌐In our recent statement, we outline its benefits and drawbacks.
📰Read our statement and more: ennhri.org/news-and-blog/cor…
